Looking back on it, Ben Christman now says he rushed his decision a bit.
The four-star offensive lineman from Richfield became the fourth commit in Ohio State’s class on June 26, 2019 shortly after experiencing what he remembers as a “great day” at the Buckeye Bash & Barbecue.
Paving the way for a huge future! @BenChristman_ is officially a Buckeye #GoBuckeyes #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/jJ0avnrMUl
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 16, 2020
The Christman File
- Class: 2021
- Size: 6-foot-6/299 lbs.
- Pos: OG
- School: Revere (Richfield, Ohio)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 124 (6 OG)
Maybe he did go into it a little too quickly. That happens sometimes with high schoolers who get coveted scholarship offers and have the spotlight on them.
What’s important for Christman, however, is that he never wavered. Never thought about decommitting or looking elsewhere even though he picked up offers from Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, Florida and others early in the process. Eighteen month after his pledge, he signed his National Letter of Intent to become a Buckeye on Wednesday, and he did so while feeling better about his choice to spend the foreseeable future in Columbus than ever before.
“It worked out perfectly,” Christman recently told Eleven Warriors. “It went from what felt like a rushed decision to being the right decision, and just having those conversations with them I felt the most comfortable. I’m happy that I’m gonna be a Buckeye.”
Along the way as a long-time commit, he turned into an asset to the coaching staff as a promoter of the Ohio State football brand, helping to recruit several other prospects and promote the Emeka To Columbus movement to get five-star wideout Emeka Egbuka into the fold.
“Just playing with those guys and just working with those guys, I can’t wait,” he said.
Some Eleven Warriors articles on Christman throughout the process:
- June 25, 2019: Visit makes big impression on Christman
- June 26, 2019: Christman commits to Ohio State
- June 26, 2019: What Christman's commitment meant
- Sept. 19, 2019: Christman likes the Buckeyes offense
- Dec. 12, 2019: Meet Christman the basketball player
- March 12, 2020: Film breakdown on Christman
- July 16, 2020: Christman accepts Under Armour All-American game invite
- Sept. 13, 2020: A Q+A with Christman
Now that he’s locked in, along with the rest of his class, he’ll turn his attention to what’s next for him in Columbus. Once a borderline five-star prospect playing for Revere who slipped to No. 124 overall and sixth among offensive guards by December, he enters offensive line coach Greg Studrawa’s room as a mauler who could end up at a couple of different spots.
More than likely, the 6-foot-6, 299-pounder will slot in as a guard along with fellow signee five-star Donovan Jackson while the other offensive lineman in the class – four-star Zen Michalski – plays tackle. But Christman could potentially get a look on the outside of the line.
Those decisions will be made at some point after his arrival in Columbus. The Buckeyes just know they have a well-built, powerful lineman coming down Interstate-71 as an early enrollee in January who’s been waiting well over a year to get things started as a college football player in his home state of Ohio.
Finally, Christman took the next step this week, and he’s plenty happy about it.
“I didn’t feel fully comfortable, but this last year and a half I’ve never felt more comfortable. This is the most comfortable I’ve felt with this staff, and it’s a blessing,” Christman said.
