After a six months of courtship, Ohio's top cornerback prospect, Amir Riep, is a Buckeye.
Riep, a four-star talent for Colerain in Cincinnati, committed to Ohio State at a ceremony at his high school Saturday – his 18th birthday – selecting Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes over Michigan State, Alabama, Florida State, LSU and a host of other suitors.
The Riep File
- Class: 2017
- Size: 5-11/185
- Pos: Defensive Back
- School: Colerain (Cincinnati)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 15 (CB)
“I'd like to thank all of the coaches at the universities and the fans who wanted me to keep my academics and play the sport I love at their university,” Riep said from the podium at his ceremony. “With all of that being said, after my senior year at Colerain high school playing with my brothers, I will continue my academic and football career at the Ohio State University.”
The gathered crowd then erupted in thunderous applause.
Riep is considered a top-15 defensive back nationally, with excellent wheels and vision as a defender.
Dating back to the start of this year, the Buckeye State's No. 3 prospect may have been one of the hottest targets in the country. The Buckeyes extended an offer in late January and since that time, Riep picked up a slew of new offers, which now totals 48 from anyone and everyone who matters in college football.
Before Ohio State tossed its hat into the ring, Michigan State led for the services of the 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back. The Spartans extended an offer last October, days after Riep made his second unofficial visit to East Lansing, and leveraged the fact that they were the only power program really in on the prospect to build up rapport.
And then Ohio State entered the fray.
Blessed!! To receive offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY pic.twitter.com/ZnK5XJldWF
— Amir Riep (@Riep_Amir) January 31, 2016
Riep received his Buckeye offer after participating in Ohio State's “Junior Day.”
Not long after, Riep began to garner serious national attention, seeing new offers come in on a seemingly daily basis. Schools like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Michigan, USC and Notre Dame all entered the picture with offers for the versatile defensive back.
The Colerain product made numerous visits to Columbus throughout the spring and summer – each time warming up more to Urban Meyer and his staff. Riep stopped by the June 17 one-day camp at Ohio State and was, of course, back for Friday Night Lights at Ohio Stadium.
Prior to his trip up I-71 North for FNL, Riep was scheduled to make final visits to Alabama and Michigan State earlier in the week, but both of those visits were cancelled and the Spartans quickly offered another class of 2017 cornerback.
Riep, who is expected to play corner for the Buckeyes, has the size, speed, and range to play free safety or cornerback. He had seven interceptions last season and took home the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. His performance on the camp circuit this spring and summer also earned him a trip to Nike's The Opening earlier this month.
For the Buckeyes, Kerry Coombs has had his eye on this one for some time now, and the relationship with the long-time Colerain head coach is a big reason so many had the Buckeyes on top from the minute they extended an offer.
The 16th commitment in the class of 2017, Riep joins Shaun Wade, Marcus Williamson, Isaiah Pryor, and athlete Brendon White in what is almost certain to be the nation's top defensive back haul. Greg Schiano and Kerry Coombs are still looking to add one or two more to the secondary as the focus now will be on Texas's Jeffrey Okudah (Grand Prairie) and Pennsylvania's Lamont Wade (Clairton).
Stay tuned to Eleven Warriors for more on Amir Riep's commitment.
