The future stars of Ohio State football officially begin their college careers, as standouts from all over the country put pens to their National Letters of Intent.
Three years ago, a late offer to Huber Heights Wayne three-star defensive tackle Robert Landers resulted in him flipping his commitment from West Virginia to Ohio State.
It is official!!! @Williams99_PN will be a Buckeye!!! pic.twitter.com/shKpXrX5qI
— Panther Football (@pnfootball) December 20, 2017
A similar scene unfolded this afternoon when Pickerington North three-star defensive end Alex Williams pledged his services to the Buckeyes on the day he was expected to sign with the Mountaineers.
The Williams File
- Class: 2018
- Size: 6-foot-7, 250 pounds
- Pos: DE
- School: Pickerington North (OH)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 32 (WDE)
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Williams is considered the 32nd-best weak-side defensive end and No. 590 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He originally committed to Iowa State in April 2016 — thanks, mostly, to the brotherly connection between then-Panthers head coach Tom Phillips and then-Cyclones director of player personnel Doug Phillips — but flipped his pledge to West Virginia more than a year later when the staff extended an offer during Junior Day.
Both coaches have moved on to become assistants at Cincinnati in the meantime.
Williams, who also holds offers from Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Virginia and Western Michigan, wasn't a priority target for Ohio State until five-star defensive end Brenton Cox reopened his recruitment in early December. With a glaring need at the defensive end position, head coach Urban Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson stopped by Pickerington North last Thursday an extended an offer.
Williams mulled it over, but the opportunity to play for the home-state Buckeyes was just too difficult to turn down. He now becomes the 22nd member of the Buckeyes' Supreme '18 recruiting class, but first player at the defensive end position.
