Rakim Jarrett, Graham Mertz and Other Former Ohio State Targets Recall Being Recruited by Buckeyes at Big Ten Media Days

Earlier than every of the gamers chosen to signify their faculties at this 12 months’s occasion grew to become stars for his or her present groups, they had been as soon as highschool soccer gamers who had to decide on the place they wished to go to high school.

C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ronnie Hickman all selected to change into Buckeyes regardless of being out-of-state prospects who held provides from the highest applications of their residence states and plenty of others all through the nation. A number of different gamers at Large Ten Media Days, nevertheless, selected to attend completely different faculties within the convention regardless of holding provides from Ohio State.

5 gamers at this 12 months’s Large Ten Media Days match that standards: Illinois huge receiver Isaiah Williams, Maryland huge receiver Rakim Jarrett, Michigan defensive deal with Mazi Smith, Penn State defensive deal with PJ Mustipher and Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz.

Moreover, this 12 months’s Large Ten Media Days representatives included 4 gamers from the state of Ohio who didn’t obtain provides from Ohio State: Indiana tight finish AJ Barner, Michigan tight finish Erick All, Michigan State security Xavier Henderson and Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford.

Mustipher and Henderson had been each at Large Ten Media Days for the second 12 months in a row, and we already requested them about being recruited by Ohio State final 12 months. Henderson, a Reynoldsburg native, instructed us in 2021 that it was “an honor” to be recruited by the Buckeyes despite the fact that he by no means acquired a suggestion from his hometown program. Mustipher wasn’t excited about speaking about being recruited by Ohio State final 12 months, so we weren’t going to pester him with the identical questions once more.

As for the opposite seven gamers at Large Ten Media Days who both acquired provides from Ohio State or grew up in Ohio, Eleven Warriors caught up with all of them to ask them concerning the curiosity they acquired from the Buckeyes – or lack thereof – and what they appreciated or didn’t like about Ohio State earlier than in the end selecting to decide to the faculties they did.

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Maryland WR Rakim Jarrett

Out of all of the gamers at Large Ten Media Days who weren’t there as Buckeyes, Rakim Jarrett could have been the one Ohio State wished most. Early on in his recruitment, Ohio State was a frontrunner to land Jarrett, a five-star huge receiver who was ranked because the No. 27 general prospect within the 2020 class.

The Buckeyes ended up signing two different five-star huge receivers in that class – Julian Fleming and Smith-Njigba – however tried to promote Jarrett on teaming up with them. And Jarrett mentioned Tuesday he was intrigued by that chance.

“Early on, they had been fairly excessive on my record,” Jarrett mentioned. “I do know they might speak to us being the most effective receiver group coming in with me, Julian and Jaxon. And I appreciated Brian Hartline. He is most likely one of many prime receiving coaches within the nation. So I actually appreciated him.”

On the time, nevertheless, Ohio State was going by a training change, as Jarrett’s senior 12 months at St. John’s Faculty Excessive College was Ryan Day’s first 12 months as head coach following City Meyer’s retirement. Jarrett’s curiosity within the Buckeyes pale because of this.

“It simply wasn’t a match for me,” Jarrett mentioned. “They had been going by that teaching change with Coach City Meyer, and it did not really feel confirmed to me or strong, simply the entire program on the time.”

Jarrett initially dedicated to LSU in April 2019 earlier than flipping to Maryland on signing day. Jarrett, who grew up in close by Palmer Park, Maryland, determined that enjoying for his hometown program would imply extra to him than enjoying for an out-of-state powerhouse.

“I am from Maryland. I do know what I might have completed at Maryland would have been means greater than what I might have completed at Ohio State,” Jarrett mentioned. “I might have went to Ohio State, went first spherical (within the NFL draft) and they’d have had one other five-star in there after that. However I am going first spherical from Maryland, I am a legend eternally.”

Jarrett, who led Maryland with 62 catches for 829 yards and 5 touchdowns final season, mentioned he has no regrets about his resolution to change into a Terrapin. He mentioned all the things Maryland coach Mike Locksley instructed him as a recruit has been true to date.

“He did not promise me something he could not do,” Jarrett mentioned. “He did not promise me we had been gonna beat Ohio State. He simply mentioned I are available in there and do what I have to do, then he might help me get to the place I have to go.”

Even with out Jarrett, Ohio State ended up signing 4 huge receivers who had been top-100 general prospects within the 2020 class: Fleming, Smith-Njigba, Gee Scott Jr. and Mookie Cooper. Scott has since moved to tight finish whereas Cooper transferred to Missouri after one 12 months.

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz

Ohio State didn’t find yourself signing a highschool quarterback within the recruiting class of 2019 – which ended up understanding OK for the Buckeyes after they landed Justin Fields within the switch portal that offseason and C.J. Stroud a 12 months later – however that wasn’t resulting from a scarcity of making an attempt. There have been a number of quarterbacks who Ohio State pursued closely in that class, and one among them was Graham Mertz.

Though he dedicated to Wisconsin in 2017, Mertz made a go to to Ohio State in 2018 after receiving a suggestion from the Buckeyes. He constructed a bond with Day through the recruiting course of, and had nothing however good issues to say concerning the Ohio State coach – who was the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator on the time they had been recruiting Mertz – even 4 years later.

“I simply noticed Coach Day just a little bit within the elevator, he is a incredible man, incredible coach,” Mertz mentioned Wednesday. “He is a real man who desires the most effective for his household and his different household, which is the crew. So I would say he is a extremely good coach.”

In the long run, although, Mertz – who’s now getting into his third season because the Badgers’ beginning quarterback – caught to his dedication as a result of Wisconsin felt like residence.

“Individuals all the time joke about like, after they’re on a recruiting go to, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, that is the place I belong. That is my residence.’ And I had that the second I stepped on campus,” Mertz mentioned. “So for me, it was that one feeling that I simply could not do away with. I knew it was my spot.”

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams

A four-star athlete within the recruiting class of 2019, Williams acquired a suggestion from Ohio State in March 2017 and took part in OSU’s Friday Night time Lights camp that summer season. Receiving that provide and collaborating in that camp each piqued his curiosity within the Buckeyes.

“I really went to a camp at Ohio State. It was a dope expertise,” Williams mentioned. “It was nice studying from Coach Hartline (who was a top quality management coach for Ohio State on the time), getting to satisfy them guys. Getting recruited by Ohio State, getting provided by Ohio State, I imply, that was type of a dream come true. I bear in mind rising up watching them. Nice crew, nice teaching workers, however getting recruited by them, it was truthfully like a dream come true.”

Williams was recruited as a large receiver by Ohio State, however he wished to play quarterback popping out of highschool. That performed a giant position in his resolution to decide to Illinois, together with Illinois’ proximity to his hometown of St. Louis.

“I wished to play quarterback. I wished to provide it a shot, nevertheless it went,” Williams mentioned. “It did not go my means, however I a minimum of wished to be like, ‘Okay, I gave it a shot,’ did not simply hand over.”

After beginning 4 video games at quarterback for Illinois in 2020, Williams ended up transferring to huge receiver in 2021. Even so, he says he wouldn’t change something concerning the resolution he made to affix the Illini. He led Illinois with 47 catches for 525 yards and 4 touchdowns final season, and he believes his time spent enjoying quarterback was good for him in the long term.

“Generally individuals will probably be like, ‘Bro, you’re enjoying receiver now, you can have simply did that earlier.’ Then issues might have been completely different. However I really feel like my journey, it helped me change into a greater individual,” Williams mentioned. “Like them two, three years, it formed me into a distinct individual and I am completely completely different now. And perhaps if I did play receiver and say good issues occurred early on, I would not be the individual I’m now and I most likely would have misplaced management of it. So I am type of grateful for all the things that occurred in my life as a result of it formed me into the individual I’m in the present day.”

Moreover, Williams says he loves enjoying at Illinois.

“We haven’t received many video games previously few seasons, however the followers, they’re simply nonetheless there for us,” Williams mentioned. “I simply love the college. It is like a university city. I imply all the things about it, the teaching workers, all the things.”

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Michigan DT Mazi Smith

Michigan gamers are often reticent to reward Ohio State once we ask them about being recruited by the Buckeyes, however Smith – a four-star defensive deal with within the 2019 class who acquired a suggestion from Ohio State throughout his junior 12 months of highschool – was complimentary of the Buckeyes’ efforts to recruit him.

“They’re good recruiters,” Smith mentioned. “That they had D-line.”

Paradoxically, the Grand Rapids native’s resolution to remain in his residence state was pushed by his relationship with a coach who would find yourself leaving Michigan for Ohio State earlier than Smith’s freshman 12 months: Greg Mattison, who was Michigan’s defensive position coach throughout Smith’s recruitment however grew to become Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2019.

“Once I was getting recruited, I stored listening to all the things he touched turned to gold, and what y’all suppose I wished to be? Some gold,” Smith mentioned of Mattison.

Though Smith wished to play for Mattison, who retired from teaching after the 2020 season, Smith mentioned he didn’t maintain Mattison’s resolution towards him, understanding that’s a part of the enterprise of faculty soccer.

“That’s how the sport go. It’s an early lesson to be taught however an incredible lesson, very precious, invaluable lesson to be taught,” Smith mentioned. “Nonetheless respect him. Nonetheless appreciated what he did for me in getting me to Michigan.”

Smith, the one returning starter on Michigan’s defensive position, stays completely happy he selected to change into a Wolverine, describing that as “the most effective resolution that I might have made for myself.”

“Michigan has actually taken care of me,” Smith mentioned. “Taken care of me internally, externally as a person. I’ve simply grown so much at Michigan. I am not there but. However I really feel like when the time comes, I will probably be ready for the true world. I will be ready for the subsequent stage. No matter life has in retailer for me.”

Michigan TE Erick All

A four-star tight finish from Fairfield, Ohio, All acquired curiosity from Ohio State as a recruit and even camped with the Buckeyes in 2018, however by no means acquired a suggestion from Ohio State. All says the Buckeyes, who took only one tight finish in his class (Cormontae Hamilton, although Cade Stover later moved to tight finish), instructed him they wished to see him get greater.

“They talked to me so much. They recruited me. However I do not know, for them, my measurement, I used to be too small or one thing,” mentioned All, who’s now 6-foot-4 and 245 kilos however was listed at 225 kilos as a recruit. “It’s what it’s.”

Whereas All confirmed a minimum of some curiosity within the Buckeyes by tenting at Ohio State as a recruit, he says now he “by no means actually appreciated Ohio State.” 

“I simply don’t love them. I do not like their followers,” All mentioned. “I am a Michigan man. You simply cannot.”

Though he grew up in Ohio, All’s favourite crew as a child was Alabama. He by no means acquired a suggestion from the Crimson Tide both, although, and determined Michigan was the place for him after he made his first journey to Ann Arbor.

“My dad’s aspect of the household, being from Alabama, we had been all the time Bama followers,” All mentioned. “And ever since I stepped foot on Michigan’s campus, I simply fell in love with them and might’t imagine I did not love Michigan my complete life, as nice as Michigan is.”

Penn State QB Sean Clifford

It is likely to be onerous to imagine there’s nonetheless gamers in school soccer who had been in the identical recruiting class as Danny Clark, however that’s one purpose why Clifford by no means acquired a suggestion from Ohio State.

A four-star prospect from St. Xavier Excessive College, Clifford ended up ending the 2017 recruiting cycle because the top-ranked quarterback within the state of Ohio, however Clark’s dedication to the Buckeyes throughout his freshman 12 months of highschool successfully took them off the desk for Clifford. Even after Clark decommitted, Ohio State by no means circled again to Clifford, because the Buckeyes ended up signing Tate Martell as a substitute.

Like All, Clifford says he by no means had an actual affinity for Ohio State rising up in Southeast Ohio. In his case, he by no means acquired sufficient curiosity from Ohio State to think about whether or not enjoying for the Buckeyes can be match for him. However he’s pleased with the way in which all the things labored out getting into his sixth 12 months at Penn State.

“They weren’t searching for a quarterback, so once I began getting recruited, it was type of out the window,” Clifford mentioned of Ohio State. “And Penn State was my spot. I’m from Barrington, Illinois. I used to be born in Barrington; moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Love Cincinnati with all my coronary heart; love Cincinnati, love the state and all the things. However I did not have that deep-rooted love for a selected faculty. So no, they didn’t actually recruit me. However yeah, Penn State was my spot.”

Clifford says the household ambiance at Penn State – the place his youthful brother Liam additionally performs – was what drew him to change into a Nittany Lion, and he’s grown to find it irresistible an increasing number of over the course of his prolonged Penn State profession. He nonetheless hears loads of trash speak from his associates again in Cincinnati, although, when Penn State performs Ohio State annually.

“In fact. I imply, it is the identical means if a Pennsylvania man will go to Ohio, there’s gonna be trash speak on a regular basis,” Clifford mentioned. “So it is all enjoyable as a result of it is all enjoying the sport that we love.”

Indiana TE AJ Barner

A 3-star recruit who was ranked because the No. 44 prospect in Ohio within the class of 2020 out of Aurora Excessive College, Barner by no means drew important curiosity from Ohio State as a recruit. The Buckeyes signed only one tight finish in his class: fellow in-state prospect Joe Royer, who was ranked because the No. 9 Ohioan of their class.

Had Barner been recruited by the Buckeyes, he seemingly would have had curiosity in Ohio State. Former Ohio State offensive deal with J.B. Shugarts is his cousin, so he adopted the Buckeyes rising up.

“Clearly, rising up in Ohio, I do know lots concerning the Ohio State program,” Barner mentioned. “I might need gotten a letter or two, however actually by no means talked to the Buckeyes, no.”

Barner, who’s getting into his first season as Indiana’s tight finish, says not being recruited by the Buckeyes gave him “just a little bit” of a chip on his shoulder as an Ohioan. However he’s glad he ended up turning into a Hoosier.

“Anytime you are from Ohio, clearly lots of people root for Ohio State there,” Barner mentioned. “However I am extraordinarily completely happy that I ended up at Indiana and all the things’s labored out proper right here. I really feel like simply this system that Coach Allen has, all of the people who he has right here, it’s actually a individuals place, it is a particular place and simply the way in which they’ve developed me as a person but in addition as a soccer participant.”