Ohio State rarely loses recruiting battles for guys it wants within the state's borders. But on Tuesday night, Notre Dame got the better of Ryan Day and Larry Johnson.
Brenan Vernon, a five-star defensive end from Mentor, committed to the Fighting Irish over the Buckeyes and a host of others.
@Coach_MattGray @CoachBerwald @MentorRedline @GPicheco @Nolan1vernon @megggss_22 @louislag77 @CoachMikeElston @Marcus_Freeman1 @NDFootball @CoachBrianKelly pic.twitter.com/ZnJyvXaNp6
— Brenan Vernon (@brenanvernon) June 29, 2021
Vernon's pledge to Brian Kelly, Marcus Freeman and the rest of Notre Dame's coaching staff comes just two days after he wrapped up an unofficial visit to South Bend. He visited Ohio State for a camp last week, too, and said then that there was "quite a distance" until he'd ultimately make up his mind.
Vernon is the No. 18 overall prospect and sixth-ranked defensive lineman in the 2023 cycle. He's the second-rated Ohioan, behind only five-star safety Sonny Styles of Pickerington Central. All eyes will now be trained on Styles, whose father played at Ohio State and whose brother plays for Notre Dame.
Provided he doesn't change his mind, Vernon will be the first five-star Ohioan to not attend Ohio State since Clemson won the battle for Jackson Carman, the offensive tackle in the 2018 cycle. He's the first five-star from Ohio to pick Notre Dame since 2016 Elder High School graduate Tommy Kraemer – the third-ranked offensive tackle in the country – did so in the middle of last decade.
