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 landed a commitment this evening from its top target at the wide receiver position when St. Louis Christian Brothers College four-star Kamryn Babb pledged his services to the Buckeyes on Tuesday night.
Let's take a look at what Babb — the No. 65 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — brings to Columbus.
ON THE FIELD
The 6-foot-1, 189-pound Babb, quite frankly, has the heart of a lion. When he's on the field, he never backs down from a challenge and his competitive spirit helps him fight for extra yards on every down. From a technical standpoint, Babb is among the most fluid route-runners in the country. He'll catch everything thrown his way, too.
Though he missed five games last season with an undisclosed injury, Babb still managed to haul in 45 passes for 784 yards and 14 total touchdowns to be named first-team all-state. He's showed no ill-effects from the injury this spring, as he set a Missouri state record 23-foot, 4.25-inch long jump and helped the Cadets to the state title in the 400-meter relay.
Babb suffered a torn ACL during practice in early August, and has been sidelined for the entirety of his senior season. It's been tough on him, naturally, but he's remained positive and supportive of his teammates throughout the rehabilitation process. The Cadets won the state championship in his absence, though, bookending his career with titles.
“It’s going well. I’m grinding every day,” Babb said at his U.S. Army All-American Bowl jersey ceremony last month. “I’m doing the things I have to so I can make it back while taking things slowly. I’m thanking God for allowing me to watch my teammates play, watching them do their thing, and just enjoying my senior year. God always has a plan. Going through the things I’m going through, it will lead to something better.”
You'll recall, Ohio State watched a pair of highly decorated commits go down over the last two seasons when defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Trevon Grimes each tore an ACL in the opening weeks of their senior campaigns. Bosa earned significant playing time as a freshman only 10 months later, while Grimes saw some action this fall, as well.
IN THE CLASS
Babb becomes the 20th member of Ohio State’s Supreme ‘18 recruiting class, and joins fellow four-star L’Christian “Blue” Smith at the wide receiver position.
There’s a decent chance draft-eligible starters Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin test the NFL waters this offseason. Combine that with the uncertainty surrounding Trevon Grimes’ status with the team as he attends to a personal matter back home in Miami, the Buckeyes are set to take three wideouts this cycle.
Babb's teammate at Christian Brothers College, four-star wide receiver Cameron Brown, has emerged in recent weeks as an option to round out the class. They Buckeyes will have to flip him from Nebraska, but he was on campus this weekend and is set to make a final decision by Dec. 20.
THE INTANGIBLES
When Babb found he had torn his ACL, his second significant injury in as many years, he immediately wondered if schools would rescind their scholarship offers.
So before news of his injury hit social media and became a national story, Babb picked up his phone and called the coaches at all nine of top schools to make sure their respective offers were still on the table.
The first call he made?
To Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and wide receivers coach Zach Smith. It wasn’t even a question in their minds, even though Babb feared for the worst.
Not surprisingly, every other school remained interested in spite of the news, as well.
