Malik Barrow knew there was a chance a commitment to Ohio State could be coming this weekend. Moments after he and his parents sat down with Urban Meyer on Friday afternoon, he knew Columbus is where he wanted to be. Today, on the heels of Ohio State's 2015 spring football game, Barrow and his family are Buckeyes.
The Barrow File
- Class: 2016
- Size: 6-3/260
- Pos: DT
- School: IMG Academy (Tampa, FL)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 17 (SSDE)
"I wanted a great school with great football and great coaches that will help me get where I want to be," Barrow told Eleven Warriors about his choice."Ohio State was the best fit for me."
The country's 17th-ranked defensive end, Barrow is a great fit for the Buckeyes as well, because he's going to play defensive tackle. Ohio State's coaching staff got their first look at the Tampa native last summer when he traveled to Columbus for a Buckeye camp, his only previous visit to campus.
His versatility and ability to move down the defensive line is one of the things that has separated him from other prospects Ohio State has considered. At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Barrow will almost assuredly enter his freshman year at Ohio State in a role similar to that of departing Buckeye senior, Michael Bennett. He excels with his first step and as he gets stronger under Mickey Marotti should end up near 300 pounds without losing much quickness.
The Buckeyes had stiff competition for Barrow, including Michigan State, Miami, Duke, Penn State, Nebraska, Georgia Tech and others. This weekend's visit was as much about making sure his mom was comfortable with Ohio State as cementing his own opinion about the Buckeyes.
"They gave my mom a tour (yesterday)," Barrow said. "I wanted her to feel comfortable with the school."
With the family on board, the choice was easy and Barrow say he's comfortable shutting down his recruitment.
"There will be no switching up," Barrow said. "I will stick with it unless something big like a coaching change happens."
Barrow is the second four-star pledge in the 2016 class for the Buckeyes this weekend. Bolingbrook, Illinois linebacker Tuf Borland joined the class Friday night.
