Welp, apparently Ohio State wasn't done. Montclair, New Jersey defensive end Darius Slade has signed with Ohio State today, according to his head coach, John Fiore. Ohio State wouldn't confirm the signing just yet, but it appears it's a matter of "when" and not "if."
"It will happen today," a source close to the program told Eleven Warriors. "It's a matter of logistics."
Slade however, confirmed his commitment to 11W via Facebook. (Full Commitment Story Here.)
"Yes, I signed with Ohio State," he said. Signing without visiting is rare, but Slade still expects to visit Columbus officially next weekend.
Slade, committed to Nebraska initially before switching to Michigan State just about a month ago, surprised many this morning when it was announced that he'd not be signing with the Spartans, electing to wait and schedule an official visit to Ohio State. Apparently this afternoon the Spartans issued an ultimatum to Slade, suggesting he needed to sign with MSU or find another option, and he has found another option, Ohio State.
The Darius Slade File
- Size: 6-5/238
- Pos: DE
- School: Montclair (Montclair, N.J.)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 30 (SSDE)
The Buckeyes gain their second pure defensive end in the class with a 6-foot-5, 238 pound edge rusher that set New Jersey records in his senior year with 23 quarterback sacks. Slade's cousin, former Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick, played for new Buckeye defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Sr., and it was that relationship which turned Slade's interest from the Buckeyes into something to look closely at.
"That was all Larry Johnson," one Buckeye source said.
Eleven Warriors will have more on this signing as it becomes available. Welcome to the "Dream '14," Darius Slade.
