There are few players in the 2015 class more coveted more by Ohio State than Damien Harris, if there are any. The nation's top-running back, once committed to the Buckeyes' fiercest rival, has been priority one on the running back recruiting board for almost two years. A Kentucky native, Harris has been to Ohio State a handful of times since re-opening his recruitment last December and this past weekend the 5-foot-11, 205-pound tailback made his first official visit, and it went to the Buckeyes. Was there any discernible difference between this visit and his others? Not much, according to Harris.
"There really wasn't much different about this trip," Harris said. "I had an amazing time in Columbus, just like I have had every other time I've been there, and it wasn't just being at the game. Just getting a chance to be in the city was a great feeling by itself."
The Buckeyes, as you might've heard, fell short against Virginia Tech in front of a record crowd, 35-21. The disappointing loss for the fans and the football team didn't change how Harris felt about his visit.
"(The loss) didn't impact my trip at all. I feel the same about Ohio State as I would if they won the game. I of course imagine what I could do to help the team during the game, but everyone plays tough and games and loses occasionally."
The loss didn't affect the crowd or the atmosphere as far as Harris could tell.
"Ohio State has hands down one of the top gameday atmospheres in all of college football," he said of the experience surrounding Ohio Stadium. "It's unbelievable. The way an entire city comes together behind a football team like that? It's unbelievable."
The way an entire city comes together behind a football team like that? It's unbelievable.
Getting a chance to spend time with Ohio State's team and coaches really stood out to the Berea native.
"What stood out to me the most," Harris continued, "was getting to be around the players more. I got to talk to a lot of them and get a real feel for what it's like to be a Buckeye. When I got to talk to (Urban) Meyer he told me of course that he wants me to be a Buckeye, but that's not and has never been his only message."
"He gave me life advice about the decisions I've got to make and more than anything, we all just sat back and got more comfortable around each other. Coach Meyer, myself, my mom, coach (Buckeyes running back coach Stan) Drayton and even my little sister."
Ohio State has, undoubtedly, put in the time and effort to land the country's top running back. They've put themselves firmly in his top group, running neck-and-neck most people believe with home-commonwealth Wildcats of Kentucky. The question now is what is best for Damien Harris? That's what he's trying to figure out.
"I understand completely what Ohio State offers me," Harris said of the Buckeyes. "I know what they have that's right for me. I'm just in the process of trying to figure out who has the most things that are right."
Now the Buckeyes will wait. Harris has plans for the next month, but none after that. A decision date is not firmly established and it doesn't appear he'll set one at this point. He may or may not make an official visit to Kentucky, but that's irrelevant because he's been there so many times and the school is so close.
"I'm going to be taking an unofficial visit to Alabama next weekend (September 20th) and then an official visit to Florida on October 11th," Harris said. "That's all I know right now."
