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?
Boy, that escalated quickly.
Coconut Creek, Florida, wide receiver Binjimen Victor, a four-star wide receiver ranked as the country's 12th-best, has committed to Ohio State.
How does Victor impact the Buckeyes moving forward?
ON THE FIELD
If you've ever watched Victor, all 6-foot-4, 175-pounds of him, you've seen that he can be the most dominating player on the football field at any given time. Unfortunately, there are moments when he can be neutralized, especially by bigger, more physical defensive backs. What you're getting with Victor is a ton of potential.
He's big, he's fast, he can jump out of the gym and physically he's a guy who has earned a label with the dreaded "F-word."
"He's a freak," one source shared of Victor. "He's a grinder who wants to be great. He isn't afraid of anything that will stop him from getting there, either, whether it be competition, distance, hard work, or cold weather."
Another source familiar with Victor shared a similar point of view.
"Victor is a pretty raw athlete," the source said, citing a need for physical strength to be developed. "There's a ton of upside."
IN THE CLASS
Victor will join Austin Mack, who for months had been the only "true" wide receiver in Ohio State's 2016 group.
After the NFL departures of Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall, and with questions surrounding the healthy return of players like Noah Brown and Corey Smith, Ohio State's need at wide receiver for 2016 and beyond is well-known.
With the addition of Victor, the Buckeyes now have 19 commitments in 2016, a class that had–until Monday–been feeling a touch stagnant but now is racing towards a tremendous finish. Two more commitments could happen by the end of the day.
THE INTANGIBLES
Victor has 43 scholarship offers to his credit, making him one of the nation's most sought-after wide receiver prospects in the 2016 class. As a South Florida star, he's one of the more liked players in his class, regularly lauded as one of the "most fun" guys for other players to be around.
In 11 years of covering football recruiting, @BinjimenVictor is one of the best people I've dealt with. Great player, better person.
— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) January 18, 2016
Likable off the field, but a monster on it, Victor's personality makes him a perfect fit for Ohio State where mental toughness marks the difference between the haves and have nots.
The addition of Victor is another major win in the Miami area for Ohio State wide receiver coach Zach Smith, who landed Johnnie Dixon and Torrance Gibson in the last two years. The Buckeyes' momentum in Florida could continue in 2017: they're the runaway leader at this point for the country's top-ranked receiver in that class, Fort Lauderdale's Trevon Grimes.
