RECRUITING: PARIS JOHNSON JR., OHIO STATE'S TOP 2020 COMMIT, EXPLAINS WHY HE STUCK BY URBAN MEYER IN THE MIDST OF CONTROVERSY
On June 28, St. Xavier's Paris Johnson Jr. tweeted out a picture, a screenshot and three of the most powerful words he's ever written:
"I'm staying home!!"
With scholarship offers on the table from Division I colleges across the nation – including the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Notre Dame – Johnson chose Ohio State.
“It is amazing to receive an opportunity to play for your home state team,” Johnson told
Eleven Warriors upon his commitment. “They have an impressive tradition and culture.”
But a little over a month after committing to Ohio State, Johnson's college of choice saw its football program's tradition and culture fall under a seemingly never-ending shadow of controversy. When the college football community received word of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer's three-game suspension in relation to the way he dealt with former wide receivers coach Zach Smith, Johnson says many other top-level programs reached out to him in an attempt to sway him from Columbus.
But as coaches and recruiters rushed in to coerce him into decommitting, the 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle reacted in a way he's all too familiar with: he stood his ground.
"I chose to keep my decision because I trust the Ohio State coaching staff and they treat me like family," Johnson said. "(Meyer) was important in my recruitment process because I liked the culture he established of striving to fully develop our genetic potential, as students and athletes. They also have a strong tradition of success."
Johnson's last visit to Ohio State came on Sept. 8, when the Buckeyes trampled Rutgers by a 52-3 final. That day, Meyer wasn't on the sidelines. Whenever Johnson returns to Ohio Stadium, his future teammates will have their leader back with them – Meyer returns this Saturday against Tulane.
"I am very excited he is back. He is a great coach, and even better person," Johnson said.
Entire article:
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...d-to-see-urban-meyer-back-and-explains-why-he