Back when he first began his football career, Sam Hart was just hoping he might be able to land a Power 5 offer.
Today, he officially signed his name to become an Ohio State Buckeye.
Yessir! Welcome to the tight end room @sam_hart82 #GoBuckeyes #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/h3C2iLhkJg
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 16, 2020
The Hart File
- Class: 2021
- Size: 6-foot-5/225 lbs.
- Pos: TE
- School: Cherokee Trail (Aurora, Colorado)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 389 (15 TE)
When asked last week to preview the emotions that would be running through him when he signed his name to the Big Ten program, the three-star tight end laughed in a bit of amazement.
“It’s gonna be crazy because a few years ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be in this position going into a school like Ohio State to play football and go to school there,” Hart told Eleven Warriors. “A few years ago, I was just hoping to get a few schools to look at me and maybe go D1, FBS or maybe Power 5.
“It’s been a great opportunity, and I’ve really been blessed. This whole recruiting process has been a lot of fun. I’ve been so happy with my decision, and I’m really excited to get up there as soon as I can.”
Hart, the nation's No. 15-ranked tight end in the 2021 class and a player tucked into the top 400 overall out of Colorado's Cherokee Trail High School, took a life-changing trip to Columbus in November for the Buckeyes' win over Penn State.
It was during that trip that Hart got a bit awestruck and realized there was no way that he would have the heart (see what we did there?) to call somewhere other than Columbus his home for the next four years.
“I kind of had Ohio State in my mind. I went on visits at the end of June and in July, and I went on some game day visits to Notre Dame and USC. Those were my other top-two choices,” Hart said. “But I kind of knew Ohio State was my favorite throughout that, and then that Penn State game it was like, ‘This is my home. I’m ready.’ A few weeks later, I called up Coach (Tony) Alford, Coach (Kevin) Wilson and Coach (Ryan) Day and committed, and I’ve been so happy with my decision.”
One of the biggest reasons he's happiest with his decision? The Minnesota native now has some bragging rights on his dad (a former offensive lineman at Minnesota) and his two older brothers (one a former tight end for the Gophers, the other a middle linebacker at New Mexico) now that he's joined the most prestigious program of the bunch.
“I had two older brothers who played Division I football, and my goal was always to be the best one because we talk a lot of smack to each other,” Hart said. “I was just hoping to be better so I could talk a little more smack.
“I can talk smack and say I’m going to a winning team, and they get jealous of that.”
