Ohio State already had a stranglehold on the nation's top class in 2017, but the gap grew a little wider as the Buckeyes earned a commitment from 4-star safety Isaiah Pryor on Monday, per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
The 6'2", 190-pounder from Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia—who has 37 offers to his credit—selected the Buckeyes over powers such as Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma and USC.
"I just looked at all of the other schools and weighed the pros and cons," Pryor told Bleacher Report. "Ohio State has been on me for a really long time and I felt most comfortable with them."
Landing Pryor, who is the nation's No. 2 safety and the No. 38 player overall in the 2017 class, gives head coach Urban Meyer a pivotal piece for the future in the Buckeyes secondary.
The pledge caps an offseason in which Pryor canvassed the entire country, taking visits and competing in camps.
In fact, he just returned from a trip that included visits to four power programs over the weekend.
"We've really been traveling like crazy lately," Pryor said. "Most recently, we went to Baylor, LSU, TCU and Texas. We really wanted to make sure that we got to as many places as possible before making a decision."
Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs and safeties coach Chris Ash formed the primary duo responsible for recruiting Pryor—who noted that their approach in speaking with him about life away from football left a good impression.
"They have been recruiting me," Pryor said. "I've gotten to know them a lot. We don't just talk about football. We talk about me as a person. They are just really nice, down-to-earth guys. That's why I want to play for them."
While he's listed as a safety, the Buckeyes have told Pryor he could start out elsewhere in the secondary.
"Coach Coombs is recruiting me as a corner right now," Pryor said. "Depending on if I get bigger, he might move me to safety. Really, it's about me helping the team out in any way I can."
Pryor, whose father Richard played defensive end at the University of Iowa from 1984 to 1988, is an accomplished student who sports a 3.76 GPA with plans to major in psychology.
He is also on course to be an early enrollee.
While he is prep teammates with a host of elite prospects, including 4-star receiver Kyle Davis, 4-star offensive lineman E.J. Price and 2017 4-star athlete Jamyest Williams, Pryor said he will let them make their own decisions and only recruit them if they show interest in the Buckeyes.
With his commitment out of the way, Pryor will now focus on leading his high school squad to a state title.
As for his future at the college level, Pryor said he will continue to prepare in the same manner that has helped him emerge as one of 2017's top prospects.
"I'm a hard worker who is always striving to get better," he said. "I will focus on trying to give 100 percent and be a good teammate while I'm there."
Sanjay Kirpalani is a national recruiting analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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