Ohio State landed a commitment Tuesday from a prospect who hails from the hometown of its biggest rival Tuesday when 2017 linebacker Antjuan Simmons pledged to play football in Columbus.
The Simmons File
- Class: 2017
- Size: 6-1/205
- Pos: LB
- School: Pioneer (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 27 (OLB)
A three-star linebacker from Ann Arbor, Michigan – he went to school literally across the street from Michigan Stadium – Simmons is the nation's 27th-ranked outside linebacker, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Rivals is the service highest on Simmons, pegging him as a four-star and the state of Michigan's No. 5 prospect in his class.
Simmons committed to the Buckeyes last night, according to sources, but confirmed it today according to his Twitter account – all while Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was holding a spring camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Scarlet and Gray!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/lvNLhhc4M3
— antjuan simmons (@_antjuan_) March 1, 2016
Simmons committed to Ohio State over Georgia, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame in addition to many others. His most recent visit, to Michigan, had many believing that things could start swinging the Wolverines' direction. His most recent top schools "list" was released in mid-January and the Buckeyes' inclusion on the list was not a surprise, but Michigan not being on the list caused a stir for many.
Kerry Coombs led the way for the Buckeyes, who offered Simmons in September and subsequently saw him on campus three separate times during the football season, highlighting his interest in the program. The relationships with the Ohio State staff, from the start, is what the fast-rising prospects prospect pointed to as the reason for his affection for the Buckeyes.
“I talk to the Ohio State coaches all the time and whenever it's a recruiting period they make it a priority to come in and see me,” Simmons told Eleven Warriors. “No matter what. They've always been straight up with me from the start, you know? It was ‘Okay, we know who you are – come down for camp.’ I did good at their camp and it's just been a growing relationship since then, you know? I have great relationships with all the coaches and I felt very comfortable there when I visited a few times in the fall.”
Simmons is the 12th commit for the Buckeyes in their 2017 class and the first linebacker in the group. He's also the first Ann Arbor prospect the Buckeyes have ever received a commitment from.
Eleven Warriors will have more on the commitment on Antjuan Simmons shortly.
