Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football coaching staff put together one of the nation’s top recruiting classes Wednesday, signing 19 incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day.

“It was a great day,” Meyer said. “I thought it was going to be a very good day, but I’d put it in the great category.”

Sixteen of the 19 recruits had previously committed verbally to OSU, but the Buckeyes picked up three commitments on National Signing Day. James Clark, a wide receiver from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Vonn Bell, a safety from Rossville, Ga., both announced their intentions to sign with OSU on Wednesday morning. Ezekiel Elliott, a running back from St. Louis, Mo., became the 24th official member of the recruiting class when he reaffirmed his commitment during a 5 p.m. press conference Wednesday.

Meyer characterized the battle with Tennessee and Alabama to sign Bell, who is rated as a five-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, as a “street fight.” Meyer said he did not know Bell would sign with OSU until approximately two minutes before he made his announcement during a televised press conference.

The previously committed players to sign National Letters of Intent on Wednesday were tight end Marcus Baugh (Riverside, Calif.), defensive lineman Joey Bosa (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), athlete Gareon Conley (Massillon, Ohio), offensive lineman Tim Gardner (Indianapolis, Ind.), defensive lineman Michael Hill (Pendleton, S.C.), linebacker Trey Johnson (Lawrenceville, Ga.), athlete Darron Lee (New Albany, Ohio), offensive lineman Evan Lisle (Centerville, Ohio), wide receiver Jalin Marshall (Middletown, Ohio), linebacker Mike Mitchell (Plano, Texas), defensive lineman Donovan Munger (Shaker Heights, Ohio), defensive lineman Billy Price (Austintown, Ohio), wide receiver Corey Smith (Akron, Ohio), defensive back Jayme Thompson (Toledo), athlete Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas), and safety Christopher Worley (Cleveland).

The Buckeyes also have five incoming freshmen who have already enrolled at OSU: cornerback Eli Apple (Voorhees, N.J.), quarterback J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas), cornerback Cam Burrows (Trotwood, Ohio), defensive end Tyquan Lewis (Tarboro, N.C.) and defensive end Tracy Sprinkle (Elyria, Ohio).

At one scholarship below the limit of 25 for the recruiting class, the Buckeyes’ recruiting class was ranked No. 1 nationally by Scout and No. 2 nationally by Rivals as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. Per Rivals, the Buckeyes have two 5-star recruits, 16 4-star recruits and six 3-star recruits.