During his introductory press conference on Nov. 29, 2011, new Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer said his goal was, “to make the great state of Ohio proud.”
The coach’s first recruiting class might be a step in that direction.
At around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Meyer and his staff had secured 19 student-athlete commitments to go along with six who have already enrolled in classes at OSU. Meyer lauded the effort of his coaches in assembling the 2012 class.
“It’s a great day for OSU and a great day for our coaching staff,” Meyer said. “Very impressive to pull this class together.”
During his opening remarks, Meyer highlighted six players in his class, adding that he could have spoken at length about each of his commits.
OSU’s new coach first mentioned three defensive ends — Cincinnati, Ohio, native Adolphus Washington, Harrisburg, Pa., native Noah Spence and Canton, Ohio, native Se’Von Pittman — calling, Pittman and Spence the “prize of the recruiting class.”
Washington is also a five-star recruit, according to Rivals.com.
Meyer singled out defensive back Jamal Marcus, a Durham, N.C., native, as well as offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Kyle Dodson, natives of Vandalia and Cleveland, Ohio, respectively.
Dodson announced he would join the Buckeyes at Cleveland Heights High School Wednesday afternoon, and Meyer said he was very happy to receive Dodson’s paperwork.
“I almost would have traded (Dodson) for any other player we’ve signed,” Meyer said.
Meyer said he did not want to call this the best class in OSU history, nor a “home run,” but rankings of national media outlets certainly suggest Meyer has succeeded with his 2012 recruits.
Those six players are just part of a 25-man class, currently ranked No. 3 by Scout.com, No. 4 by Rivals.com and No. 6 by ESPN.
Stay tuned to The Lantern for continuing coverage of OSU’s National Signing Day results.
