Shaun Wade Always Had Faith that Ohio State Was Where He Belonged
Shaun Wade proved plenty of people wrong by sticking with the Buckeyes.
When Shaun Wade committed to the Buckeyes back in January of 2015, the Ohio State coaches were in the middle of their gameday routine just hours before the national title game against Oregon, so you can forgive them for being somewhat preoccupied.
It was odd timing to commit, for sure, as OSU still had a game to play and nearly an entire month before they'd even wrap up the
2015 recruiting class. For Wade, however, the timing was perfect.
"That day, I was tenth grade I think. Tenth grade year, I was walking to the locker room," he recalled. "So I walked into the locker room and my coaches were like, 'Come talk to us outside.' And I was like, 'Am I in trouble or something?' I didn’t know. So they were just talking to me like, '(Ohio State) is a great fit for you and I think you should commit here.'
"I didn’t know what was going on because I was young. It was different, but I just felt great about it. I was always a basketball guy. I didn’t know I was going to play football. So he called my parents. My mom, she was like, 'No, you’re not going to do that.' My dad was like, 'You should.' They talked about it, they came to school and talked. I missed a couple of classes while we were doing that. I just knew that I belonged here. I listen to my coaches 24/7. We talk 24/7. All of my coaches. I know they’re going to tell me truth.
"My parents didn’t know because I’m the oldest so they’ve never been recruited or had a child that’s been recruited. Both of my coaches have been to the League, they’ve been recruited, they know what’s going on. They called my parents and said this is the best fit for me. I guess they just had a dream or something like I just belonged here. I prayed about it and God told me I just needed to make this decision, that was the biggest thing."
After making the decision, however, for the next two years people would question whether he would stick to that commitment. He continued to visit other schools, even with Ohio State's encouragement. Everybody wanted Wade to find the right fit, while OSU was confident that by seeing other places, they would stand out just as they had done in the beginning.
And that is exactly what happened.
"When I took my visit I knew I belonged," he said. "God just sent me the right way, that was it, and I prayed every day. When I first committed, I knew I belonged here. I talked to my coaches, they said I fit in their program. That was one thing that God sent that helped. I just knew I belonged here. Coach Meyer, he’s a great guy. Coach Coombs is a great guy. He has no kids (at home), so we’re like his kids."
Entire article:
http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...d-Faith-that-Ohio-State-Was-Where-He-Belonged