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?
Ohio State's spring game weekend started with a bang just hours before the scrimmage was set to begin. The staff got some good news when four-star offensive tackle Max Wray announced his commitment to Ohio State over schools like Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee.
Let's take a look at what Wray — the No. 4 tackle in America — brings to Columbus.
ON THE FIELD
At 6-foot-6.5 and 290 pounds, Wray has the ideal size and length to man one of the tackle spots along the Buckeye offensive line. There had been some previous concerns about him being a little bit on the thin side, but the former Georgia commit appears to have added about 15 pounds since his sophomore year.
Leading the charge for the Franklin High School offensive line, Wray and his younger brother Jake helped the Rebels offense average nearly 35 points and 235 rushing yards per game on their way to the state quarterfinals.
Simply put: The Buckeyes are getting one of the top offensive tackles in America. More good news? He is planning on enrolling early and arriving in January.
IN THE CLASS
Wray becomes the sixth member of Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class. Every single commitment thus far is ranked in the top 65 nationally in what very well may end rivaling the incredible Class of 2017.
The Buckeyes signed just one pure offensive tackle in 2017 (Thayer Munford), and this has always been viewed as a priority position for the new cycle. Landing a player of Wray's caliber goes a long way in helping to solidify the future offensive line – perhaps for well beyond the 3-5 years that he will be on campus. His younger brother – 2020 prospect Jake Wray – is already a nationally targeted tackle with offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, and others. Both brothers were on campus last weekend when the Buckeye staff turned the tide in this recruitment.
The Buckeyes are likely to take at least a pair of tackles for 2018, and the focus is clearly on five-star Jackson Carman – a native of Fairfield, Ohio and the country's top player at the position.
THE INTANGIBLES
Wray is a player who wasn't even really on the radar two weeks ago. Most thought that he was destined for SEC country even after the decommitment from Georgia. Clearly, last weekend's trip to Columbus shook up this recruitment. Wray was granted the opportunity to build relationships with past and present players and hear all about the connections they've developed while on campus.
Earlier in the week, his father Sam spoke with 11W about what they were looking for in a school: “[A chance to] play early, the coaching staff, academics and life after football. I think these schools provide that.”
Thanks to Urban Meyer and the great people with Ohio State football! pic.twitter.com/R2aXb9hcaM
— Sam Wray (@wray_6) April 7, 2017
The four-star was on campus with his entire family and they elected to extend their stay through Sunday, which is almost always a good sign that things are going quite well. With his younger brother already being targeted by some of the country's top programs, this may very well turn into a family affair in Columbus.
