Big, versatile, athletic offensive tackles are at a premium in today's college football realm, and the Ohio State Buckeyes acquired a great one in Eleanor Roosevelt High School product Isaiah Prince.
Here's a look at Prince's decision, courtesy of The Buckeye Nut:
The 4-star recruit is the seventh-ranked offensive tackle by 247Sports' composite ratings. He also rates as the nation's 105th overall prospect and is considered the top recruit out of Maryland.
Prince boasts some impressive physical measurables, standing at 6'6" and weighing 272 pounds. He has experience anchoring both sides of the offensive line, logging time at right and left tackle.
Since displaying some impressive athleticism on the left side as a sophomore, Prince added some weight and strength, helping him make the switch to a run-blocking force on the right side as a junior. He continued to develop during his senior season, displaying good explosiveness, leg drive and the ability to catch opponents off balance with this quickness.
Roosevelt coach Tom Green summed up his star tackle during an interview with Matt Zenitz of The Baltimore Sun in July:
A lot of people look at his size and the fact that he's close to 6'7" and close to 275 [pounds]. But what makes him special is his flexibility. His hips are really flexible. He can sink in a hole. He can move for a big kid. He can change direction. A lot of kids aren't natural benders, and he's a natural bender.
With that description in mind, take a look at the sheer dominance from the towering tackle during his senior season with the Raiders in this video from hudl.com (which opens up with a massive pancake block):
That prowess earned Prince All-American honors:
We saw what Ohio State is capable of accomplishing when the running game gets going (the answer is a national championship). A big part of the team's success on the ground was due to a solid offensive line that has four starters returning for another season, according to Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch.
During a press conference, via Sebastian Salazar of CSNBaltimore.com, Prince expressed his desire to contribute immediately at Ohio State.
"I want [to play] as a true freshman," he said.
While Barton Simmons of 247Sports loves what Prince brings to the table, he also thinks the tackle may need to develop a bit before playing:
With Prince, he is another kid with a great frame. He is so long. He is 6'6" plus. He has really good feet at that size and length. He has to continue to get stronger and also needs to learn to play with leverage. His tools he has to work with make him another impressive prospect.
He'll be able to work on the edge and keep your quarterback clean. He may be a couple years away from that but he has a chance to be really good.
Prince may still be a bit raw. However, he boasts some impressive power and acceleration off the line. While he does need to improve in pass protection and work on lowering his pad level, he has the length and athleticism to play on either side of the line with the Buckeyes.
With a budding skill set and an ideal frame, Prince may not see some action in a starting role in the immediate future, but he should be expected to become one of Ohio State's standouts down the road.
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