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?
Moments ago, Ohio State secured a major commitment in the 2017 class when four-star quarterback Tate Martell chose the Buckeyes.
Let's take a closer look at what the Scout.com five-star quarterback brings to Ohio State.
ON THE FIELD
Let's address the elephant in the room: Tate Martell is kind of short.
OK, moving on.
There are few players in the country who have done a better job of leading their team over the last two years than Tate Martell. Since he took over as a starter at Bishop Gorman two years ago, Martell is 30-0 for the Gaels and for good measure he's 52-2 in 7-on-7 games.
"He's a little shorter than the guys they've had lately," a source said of Martell. "But he checks off every single box beyond that. He's got great touch, can zip it when he has to and he's as capable a runner as any quarterback in the country. He's the right fit for what Ohio State does and he's a winner, flat out."
IN THE CLASS
The 14th member of Ohio State's top-ranked 2017 class, Martell is the second quarterback to commit, joining Akron's Danny Clark.
A former Texas A&M verbal, Martell is the first Ohio State pledge for Urban Meyer's program since Texas running back J.K. Dobbins picked the Buckeyes in March. The nation's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback, Martell is the 33rd-ranked overall prospect in the country.
With Martell in the fold, Ohio State now has eight players ranked inside the Top 100 on the 247Sports.com composite rankings.
The Bishop Gorman star intends on enrolling in January.
THE INTANGIBLES
Beyond the fact that he's a two-time national champion at Bishop Gorman, Martell is one of the fiercest competitors in the country.
"The first time I saw him live," a source said of Martell, "I kind of expected him to be a showboat with all the Twitter stuff that you see. He's got the reputation of being kind of flashy and cocky and all that but as soon as he stepped between the lines on the field? That completely changed. He was a different dude. It's obvious why all the kids he plays with go to battle with him the way they do."
Martell – similar to Dwayne Haskins Jr. in the 2016 class – is a player that others gravitate to. For all of the physical reasons he makes sense at Ohio State, there's much more that makes him the right fit for the Buckeyes.
"I talked to Trent Dilfer about him after the Elite 11," the source continued. "Dilfer told me that he always labels each kid, kind of gives them a nickname, an identity. He told me he called Martell 'Over My Dead Body,' because that's what it would take to beat Tate – at anything. He will fight you until the end. He's going to make himself a player and put himself in a position to play and he'll make everyone else in the quarterback room better. He will not stop until he's the best."
