Ohio State's football program has attracted a number of brothers of the years. For class of 2017 athlete Connor Heyward, having a standout defensive lineman for an older brother makes familiarity with the Buckeyes even stronger.
Connor Heyward's brother is Buckeye alum and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive linemen Cameron Heyward. Connor, a sophomore from Peachtree Ridge High School in Sewanee, Georgia, came to Columbus many times to watch his brother play. According to Connor, loved every part of sitting in the stands.
"It was awesome to watch my brother play right in front of me like that," Heyward told Eleven Warriors. "I remember coming to the games with more than 100,000 people and how passionate those fans were. In Ohio, everything is about Ohio State football and that was always something I loved."
Now Connor could have a chance to change his seat at The Horseshoe. Instead of sitting in the stands and cheering on the team, he might be on the field, cheering on his teammates.
"I love everything about Ohio State," Heyward said of his interest in the Buckeyes. "I have been there so many times and I fell in love with the campus and facilities. I visited for a camp and that was pretty cool too. Getting coached by the coaches was important. I also got to hang out with Danny Clark."
Heyward is starting to socialize with Buckeye recruits as well. At a recent camp he hung out with Danny Clark, and he says they have become good friends in spite of their hectic schedules. According to Heyward, it is good knowing who his quarterback would be.
The busy schedule isn't limited to football. Heyward had a busy summer playing basketball, which kept him from attending Friday Night Lights. Since then, the 6-1, 190-pound athlete has made a trip to the University of Georgia and came away impressed. He was shocked how much he liked the visit, and even named then one of his top schools.
Connor not sure when he is going to be back to Ohio State but is hoping to come back for a game in the fall. His older brother Cameron has given him some good advice: that it's Connor's choice where to go and he'll be happy wherever Connor goes. Because of that advice, Connor is going through the whole recruiting process and taking a deliberate pace. If he chooses to make an instant decision, though, Connor could become the next Heyward to play in the Shoe.
