The Kerry Coombs effect has officially taken place.
Four-star athlete Cameron Martinez, a 2020 Ohio State commit recruited by the Buckeyes as a defensive back, announced on Twitter that he will be staying committed and will sign with Ohio State on National Signing Day next Wednesday.
I will be signing and honoring my commitment to be a Buckeye, a lifelong dream of mine!!! I couldnt be more excited and thankful to Coach Day and the rest of the Coaching staff!!! #GoBucks
— Cameron Martinez (@CM240) January 28, 2020
Martinez had been recruited by the Buckeyes heavily since receiving a scholarship offer from the staff on Feb. 15. Ohio State was going up against Northwestern and Minnesota (two schools he took an official visit to), Penn State and Notre Dame, but he ultimately has decided he will stay true to his original commitment to the Buckeyes.
After being committed to Ohio State for so long, Martinez's status was put in limbo in December when Jeff Hafley took the Boston College head coaching position. Martinez, who has never played defensive back in high school, chose to not sign during the early signing period. Instead, he was waiting to see who his position coach would be.
On Jan. 20, Coombs was officially announced as the Buckeyes' new defensive coordinator, returning after a two-year stint in the NFL as the Tennessee Titans' cornerbacks coach.
After meeting with Ryan Day and Matt Barnes on Jan. 17 in Michigan, however, it became clear the Buckeyes were making Martinez the biggest priority on the first day of the January contact period. Coombs visited Martinez last week, and it looks like Martinez is fully comfortable in the direction that Coombs will be able to take his career.
Coombs is well-known for his ability to develop defensive backs into high-caliber players at the collegiate and NFL levels.
Martinez's Twitter announcement came just moments after Coombs showed his excitement in landing a commitment with his own tweet.
Wait for it...wait for it...wait for it... BM#manicantbelievehowgooditfeelstobedoingthatagain!#onlythebeginning!#rememberitsnotagooddaybutagreatday! #GoBucks! pic.twitter.com/nhYQTvQnHV
— Kerry Coombs (@DB_CoachCoombs) January 28, 2020
Though not initially recruited by Coombs himself, this could be considered Coombs' first commitment since 2017, his sixth and final season of his first stint as Ohio State's secondary coach.
