Ohio State landed a long-anticipated commitment on Friday afternoon when Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas four-star cornerback Jordan Battle pledged his services to the Buckeyes less than a week after his official visit, which coincided with the program's annual Friday Night Lights recruiting extravaganza.
Happy birthday ma @CoachHarriott @OSUCoachMeyer pic.twitter.com/QMB9x1Ux5O
— VII (@jordantofly100) June 29, 2018
The Battle File
- Class: 2019
- Size: 6-foot-1, 187 pounds
- Pos: CB
- School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 12 (S)
The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Battle is considered the 12th-best safety and No. 171 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, though he'll play cornerback at the next level. He picked Ohio State over more than two dozen other offers from programs such as Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Virginia Tech.
The Buckeyes extended a scholarship offer to Battle back in February and quickly became the favorite in his recruitment as he forged a strong bond with defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, wide receivers coach/area recruiter Zach Smith and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. He was supposed to visit campus on two separate occasions back in April, but the first trip was nixed because of a 7-on-7 tournament in Los Angeles while the staff asked him to delay his Spring Game visit since he wasn't particularly close to making a decision on his future.
The home-state Hurricanes made a significant push with Battle in recent months as a result. Ohio State seemingly cut off that momentum, though, when Smith and Johnson stopped at St. Thomas Aquinas during the Spring Evaluation Period in early May and reiterated the fact that Battle remained among the staff's top priorities. He scheduled his official visit right then and there.
Now having seen campus for the first time with his parents last weekend weekend, Battle decided it was time to end his recruitment and carry on the long tradition of Raiders becoming Buckeyes.
Battle becomes the 13th member of Ohio State's Dynasty '19 recruiting class, joining New Jersey four-star "Rocket" Ronnie Hickman and Maryland three-star Bryson Shaw in the Buckeyes' defensive backfield. Both Hickman and Shaw are expected to play safety, however.
Eleven Warriors will have more on Battle's pledge shortly.
