When Ohio State landed a commitment last April from four-star offensive tackle Max Wray, it seemed as if it would be only a matter of time before his younger brother — Marietta, Georgia, four-star offensive tackle Jake Wray — followed suit.
It took nearly a year, but the younger Wray finally admitted the inevitable and announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Monday afternoon.
Committed to THE Ohio State University. #GoBucks O-H pic.twitter.com/i0bSyKwaR4
— Jake Wray (@jakewray77) April 23, 2018
The Wray File
- Class: 2020
- Size: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
- Pos: POS
- School: Marietta (GA)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 14 (OT)
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Wray is considered the 14th-best offensive tackle and No. 91 prospect overall in the Class of 2020. He picked Ohio State over two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas and UCLA.
The Buckeyes offered a scholarship to both Wrays on the same day last March, with Jake becoming just the second prospect in his class to hold such distinction.
“It means a lot,” Jake told Eleven Warriors. “I know Ohio State is a great program, both football and educational, and they have great tradition.”
The two made their first trip to campus just a few weeks later for a three-day unofficial visit, which sealed the deal in Max’s recruitment. He pledged his services to Ohio State during the Spring Game later that month.
“[The visit] was first class,” Wray’s father, Sam, said. “They're definitely among the leaders. The people there, the need for tackles, the personality of the coaching staff... It just clicked.”
The Wrays returned to campus for the Buckeyes’ Friday Night Lights recruiting extravaganza last July, at which time Jake made it clear he wasn’t simply going to follow in his brother’s footsteps. He wanted to forge his own path and be recruited as his own person.
“All of the coaches I've had in this process have recruited me as me and not as my brother's brother,” Wray said. “I really appreciate how Ohio State has done a really good job with that."
With that, Wray took an unofficial visits to Ann Arbor, South Bend last fall. But a return trip to Columbus with his family in October for the win over Penn State only enabled him to form a stronger bond with head coach Urban Meyer and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa.
"Ohio State is a great place to be. It's a great atmosphere. They've always had success in the past. I really love it here," Wray said. "They pretty much say, 'Show me another university that's better.'"
Wray becomes the first member of Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class.
