Signed: Devin Brown Gives Ohio State a Quarterback with a Rocket for an Arm Capable of Making Any Throw to Stretch the Field

Some of that may come from a fanbase's desire to look forward. But a greater reason they're able to do so is because of the talent being added to Ohio State's quarterback room in the 2022 class. 

Wednesday, four-star gunslinging quarterback Devin Brown signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Ohio State, something that only seemed like a pipe dream as recently as a few months back. OSU's quarterback room was crowded with four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, and Brown was already committed to USC. Then, Clay Helton was fired, leading Brown to reopen his recruitment. 

Brown took a visit to Ohio State on Nov. 20 when the Buckeyes played Michigan State, then officially decommited from the Trojans the following week. Exactly one week following his decommitment, on Dec. 1, Brown committed to Ohio State. Jack Miller III had already entered the transfer portal before Brown made his decision, and Ewers' choice came soon after the addition of Brown. Regardless of whether the former OSU signal callers stayed or not, Brown, who will be the lone quarterback signee in the 2022 class, made clear to Ryan Day and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis he's not afraid of competition. 

"With my decision, a big thing was being a competitor," Brown told 247Sports after his commitment. "Growing up my dad would always bring up other quarterbacks and tell me they were better than me. That just made me work harder and my whole life I've been working to be the best. I love that underdog mentality. I want to go up against the best in every moment and I want to go compete against the best in college. So I'm going to be a Buckeye."

It's a good thing Brown isn't afraid to be a competitor, because he'll find himself locked in a competitive position battle his first year, albeit for a non-starting role. In 2022, Brown will duke it out with returning quarterback Kyle McCord for the right to be C.J. Stroud's backup. The winner of that competition will likely have the head start to being named the Buckeyes' quarterback of the future starting in 2023. Brown is eager to get a head start learning the system, and plans to enroll with Ohio State in January to be ready for spring football. 

The Buckeyes are adding a quarterback that just completed one of the most renowned seasons a Utah prep quarterback has delivered. In 14 games for Corner Canyon High School (Draper, Utah) this year, Brown threw for a Utah single-season state record 4,881 yards and 57 touchdowns, running a spread offense. He also ran for 451 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year to give him a combined 65 total touchdowns in a magnificent senior campaign. 

Welcome to the Brotherhood, @dbrownqb33

From Buckeye Quarterback Joe Germaine pic.twitter.com/XJHni0SYt2

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 15, 2021

Brown's prior two seasons were spent running a pro-style offense at Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, under the watchful eye of former Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine, who coached Brown for two seasons. Germaine has no lack of faith in his former pupil. 

RELATED Q&A: Former Ohio State Quarterback Joe Germaine Says Devin Brown is “As Athletic and As Gifted As a Thrower of the Football As You're Ever Going to Get”

"(Ohio State) is going to get a quarterback who is as athletic and as gifted as a thrower of the football as you're ever going to get," Germaine told Eleven Warriors. "But then most importantly, you're going to get a young man who on and off the field is going to represent the university and the tradition of Ohio State football as good as anyone."

While Germaine lauded the rare arm talent Brown possess, he made it clear he believes Brown is capable of being a dual-threat quarterback at the collegiate level. 

"I think he's just a dynamic player," Germaine said. "What's really neat to see is watching him develop as an athlete. His arm talent was evident the first time we saw him, but in a short 18 months, we've seen this kid can run, this kid can jump, he's athletic and explosive. I think he's really developed athletically. I think really all-around, he can really do anything you ask him to do. I think he's going to be that guy that can push the ball down the field and be a pocket guy, but he can you make you pay and extend plays with his athleticism. That can really hurt defenses."