Ohio State placed a ton of emphasis on the state of Tennessee last cycle, landing commitments from Franklin four-star offensive tackle Max Wray and Murfreesboro Blackman four-star running back Master Teague III. That focus has paid dividends once again this year, as Nashville Christ Presbyterian Academy four-star linebacker Kane Patterson pledged his services to the Buckeyes on Monday afternoon.
615614 pic.twitter.com/gjZTZg3sEP
— Kane Patterson (@kane_prime4) July 9, 2018
The Patterson File
- Class: 2019
- Size: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds
- Pos: LB
- School: Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, TN)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 8 (ILB)
“[Ohio State has] everything I want: championships, coaches and elite education,” Patterson told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Patterson is considered the eighth-best inside linebacker and No. 194 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He picked Ohio State over finalists Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Patterson showed interest in the Buckeyes long before the staff extended a scholarship offer, as he attended the game against Oklahoma last September. Despite the on-field results, he was blown away by the experience.
“It was awesome,” he said. “I loved the atmosphere and the coaches.”
Head coach Urban Meyer, linebackers coach Bill Davis and running backs coach/area recruiter Tony Alford laid out a plan for how Patterson could land an offer from Ohio State, which mostly involved the two sides building a relationship. With that in mind, he reached out to the staff almost daily, and they returned the favor by offering in late January.
“It really means a lot to me,” Patterson said. “It's really exciting for a school like Ohio State to come to the table.”
Patterson returned to campus with his parents and three younger brothers for a spring practice in late March. This visit allowed him to spend more time with the coaching staff — including defensive coordinator Greg Schiano — and see more of what the program had to offer, rather than the brief encounters that come along with a game day visit.
“[They told me] how life after football is more important to them than your time there,” Patterson said. “That they will not only make me the best player I can be, but also the best person I can be, which really means a lot to me and my family.”
With a summer decision looming, Patterson made one last trip to Columbus in early June — scattered among stops in College Station, Knoxville and Tuscaloosa. And after a little over a month of deliberation with his family, he set an announcement date and promptly committed to the Buckeyes the following afternoon.
Former quarterback and current ESPN personality Kirk Herbstreit, heaped praise on the linebacker shortly after he committed.
“Kane, I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and your incredible family. Know how hard you worked to narrow the choices down and finally settle on “the one,” Herbstreit tweeted. “Congrats my man and welcome to Ohio State!! Bucks got an outstanding player and even better person today! Congrats Kane!!”
Patterson becomes the 14th member of Ohio State's Dynasty '19 recruiting class, joining Lexington four-star Cade Stover — and most likely Indiana three-star athlete Craig Young — at the linebacker position.
