Finding the right fit for your college football program isn't just about what happens on the field, but off it as well. Today, Ohio State added a key piece. How will that commitment impact the Buckeyes?
Although he arrived a few days early, the Tuesday night commitment of Cincinnati standout Jerron Cage wasn't necessarily a surprise. Ohio State offered Cage a month ago and since then he's been seriously considering an early commitment which he offered via social media this week.
What does the latest verbal add to an already stacked 2017 recruiting class?
ON THE FIELD
The old adage is "you can't teach size" and Cage, at 6-foot-3 and 275-pounds entering his junior season, is a prime example of this. The Winton Woods star defensive tackle has two years to grow into his frame and by the time he arrives on campus with the Buckeyes it'd not be a surprise to see him in 310-pound range.
What makes Cage special, and special enough to add to the 2017 class at this point? Potential.
"We really like his twitch and his quickness," one source close to the Buckeyes shared. "He's a player that can be consistently disruptive and be a good player here. We had in camp a month ago and were sold."
Ohio State's Kerry Coombs was the lead recruiter for Cage, but it's been Larry Johnson, Sr., who has been adamant since that camp session that Cage is the right fit for the Buckeyes, that helped land the junior-to-be. He should develop into a three-technique defensive tackle.
IN THE CLASS
The eighth commitment in Ohio State's 2018 class, Cage is the first defensive lineman in the group. He's the country's 17th-ranked defensive tackle and the 223rd-ranked overall prospect. He is the fifth Buckeye commitment from Ohio's Top 10 for 2017. Right now he's the eighth-ranked player in Ohio, but as he heads into his junior season he's got a chance to move up the rankings by proving game in and game out that he's capable of being dominant.
How many defensive tackles Ohio State looks to add in 2017 will be contingent on how many they end up signing in 2016, but having Cage on board this early does grant a bit of flexibility as they search for complementary players.
THE INTANGIBLES
Ohio State's had their issues in Cincinnati, especially when it comes to competing against Notre Dame, where Cage's brother Daniel is a sophomore. Landing Cage this early in the process means the Buckeyes have a chance to keep building relationships in the Queen City and with a 2017 haul that includes Matt Dotson, Jarell White, Matt Bockhorst and others, it's helpful to have a big name in the mix this early.
Will Cage be an active recruiter? That's hard to say. At present, he's a relatively quiet kid, at least with media types and social media, but committing this early means he'll get a chance this week at Friday Night Lights to start bonding with his future teammates.
