Ohio State Recruiting: Big Signing Day for Urban Meyer
Quite a finish for the Ohio State recruiting class.
Urban Meyer already had most of his outstanding 2018 Ohio State recruiting class filled but the players who signed today made it even better. The recruits who had committed but hadn’t yet put pen to paper did so, and coach Meyer landed a five-star offensive tackle and a four star linebacker.
There was more good news as Urban said defensive coordinator Greg Schiano will be returning to Ohio State.
Here is what coaches Schiano and Meyer had to say about the situation as reported by Dan Murphy of ESPN.
"“At the end of the day, my family and myself love it here.” Schiano said on Wednesday.“He’s informed that he’s 100 percent staying at Ohio State University,” Meyer told reporters during a press conference on campus Wednesday."
Keeping Greg Schiano in the fold is certainly comforting to Urban Meyer after losing cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs to the NFL recently. To lose two outstanding coaches and recruiters in the same offseason would have been a difficult situation for coach Meyer.
Now about the players who were just added to the Ohio State recruiting class.
Just think a short time ago it looked like Urban Meyer may not be able to secure a second offensive tackle in the class. Today Nicholas Petit-Frere, the No. 1 player in the country at the position, chose to leave the south and play for Ohio State.
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Of all the recruits Urban has pulled in at the end of a recruiting cycle, I think this has to be his biggest get yet. Petit Frere has a five-star rating beside his name for a reason, and few had him heading north to play his college ball until recently.
Four star linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste is an intriguing prospect. He has a similar build and skill set to a player who was a project in the 2014 Ohio State recruiting class, Sam Hubbard.
It has been speculated that Urban Meyer has plans to put weight on the 6-5, 215 pounder and turn him into a pass rushing defensive end. It worked for Hubbard didn’t it?
These two players, along with DE Tyler Friday and WR Chris Olave honoring their commitments, made it quite a haul for Urban Meyer today.
Next: What Buckeye fans can expect from DE Tyreke Smith
The 2018 recruiting class didn’t finish at the top of the rankings as the Georgia Bulldogs have that honor. But adding terrific players, along with coach Schiano coming back, made this National Signing Day a special one for the Buckeyes and their head coach.