It was an unusually quiet week on the recruiting front for Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes, who dished out just one offer to a 2017 prospect.
The Buckeyes already have four commitments for their '17 class, which is rated No. 1 by 247Sports. A trio of 5-star recruits—Josh Myers, Shaun Wade and Bruce Judson—anchor the group, but Ohio State is still working hard to bring in more elite-level talent.
That process turned the Buckeyes' attention to Clairton, Pennsylvania—the hometown of one of 2017's top defensive backs.
Lamont Wade, 4-Star Cornerback (2017)
Ohio State already has a commitment from the second-rated cornerback for 2017 (Shaun Wade), but Meyer wants to pair him with another standout defensive back.
That's why the Buckeyes locked in on Lamont Wade, who got the good news last Wednesday.
Wade, a 5'10", 185-pound sophomore standout, is a highly versatile athlete who already boasts offers from Boston College, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. He plays both cornerback and running back for Clairton High School, but he's projecting mainly as a defender at the collegiate level.
Will his collegiate career take place at Ohio State?
The 4-star recruit is already familiar with the area. As a freshman at Rivals' football camp in Columbus, Ohio, last May, Wade looked more like a first-year college star than a 15-year-old on the brink of his first year in high school.
“[Wade] looks like a college freshman, really,” recruiting analyst Adam Friedman said, via Chris Harlan of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I was very impressed with him. When you first look at him, you don't think he's a freshman. He isn't super tall, but the kid is really built well.”
That solid build is what helps Wade thrive on both sides of the ball. After logging time at cornerback and rushing for an incredible 2,762 yards and 47 touchdowns in 2014, via Tony Gerdeman of TheOzone.net, Wade was named First-Team All-State and The Daily News' high school football player of the year.
But after receiving those big honors, Wade was focused on the future.
“My goal is always to get better,” Wade said, according to Dave Mackall of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.“Next year, if I don't get 2,000-some rushing yards, then maybe I can get 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 receiving. Or maybe I can help in other ways. The idea is to grow and get better.”
Even with all of his success on offense, Wade is still generating the most interest from defensive coordinators. Beyond the schools currently on his offer list, Michigan is also showing heavy interest in the Clairton standout. In fact, Wade was one of the first prospects Wolverines secondary coach Mike Zordich visited after he was hired in late January.
Rated as the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 44 prospect overall for 2017, Wade's offer list is sure to grow over the coming months. Meyer and the Buckeyes coaching staff are hoping their early offer will set them apart.
Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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