By now you all know Shaun Wade's story.
The 6-foot-1, 177-pounder committed to Ohio State on Jan. 12, 2015, the same day the Buckeyes beat Oregon to capture the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship, but continued to look at other schools in the meantime to make sure he was making the right decision.
After visiting Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech this fall, Wade reaffirmed his commitment to Ohio State in December, and everyone's fears of a flip to the Crimson Tide were soon forgotten.
The roller coaster ride certainly wasn't unexpected — I mean, the chances the Buckeyes held onto a prospect from the South for more than two years are slim. But in the end, Wade never truly wavered from his intentions to attend Ohio State.
Earlier this month, Wade joined eight future teammates in San Antonio, Texas, for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he recorded three tackles and one pass breakup to help the East to a 27-17 win over the West.
He was also named the Lockheed Martin Defensive Back of the Year during the Army Bowl festivities, as he recorded 63 tackles and seven interceptions to lead Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian to its fourth consecutive state championship.
Of course, Wade's been pretty busy over the last few weeks, between the game, moving to Columbus and starting classes at Ohio State. But he still took a few minutes of his time to pen the following letter about his experience, what it means to win national awards and his goals moving forward:
My overall experience at the Army Bowl was a blast. There are several people I made friends with and got to know as a person. I got closer to all my hard-working teammates on the East Team. Also, all of the Ohio State commits that were at the game, we got close, got to know each other and how we act.
I know all the early-enrolling commits are ready to work hard and win a national championship at Ohio State again.
The Army Bowl taught me many lessons. I went to the children's hospital and met different kids with diseases such as cancer, etc. There was one kid who stood out to me. He broke his leg on the trampoline and he played football. He had to get a crucial surgery so they can repair his leg. That showed me that God can take anything away real quick. I knew I had to keep in first and just keep working hard.
God blessed me with a couple of awards in high school, too. I won the USA TODAY Sports Defensive Player of the Year award and the defensive back award, too. Those are some goals I was striving for to end my high school career.
I am thankful to win them, but I have to forget about the awards. Now it is the past to me. I have new goals as a freshman in college at Ohio State that I have to make come true.
#GoBucks
#DoItFor24
#PatienceChase
- Shaun Wade
