In the new world of college football, a verbal pledge doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot. With NIL money aplenty and sometimes just straight bags of cash, recruits can be swayed to renege on their word for what might seem like greener pastures.
Ohio State fans are understandably a bit gunshy when it comes to early commitments. The Buckeyes have been left at the alter more than their fair share in recent years and even recent weeks.
Names like Ty Lockwood, Dijon Johnson, Brock Glenn, and Mark Fletcher had all pledged to OSU only to back out and commit elsewhere. The latter two leaving Ryan Day without a quarterback or running back in the 2023 recruiting class.
No hard feelings. Fans just need to learn not to get too attached until pen meets paper on signing day. Of course, now the transfer portal threatens to woo our favorite athletes away even after signing … but that’s for a different discussion.
Buckeye Nation was given a little scare earlier this week when Cincinnati Winton Woods product, Jermaine Mathews tweeted that an “Important announcement was coming later”. Immediately Buckeye fans went into a downward spiral speculating that Mathews was going to flip to the Miami Hurricanes who had been working hard on the defensive back and were rumored to be offering stacks of cash for his services.
However, a few hours later, Mathews sent the following tweet and put OSU fans at ease that he would be heading to Columbus early.
Heard all the Rumors 🤦🏾♂️ I’m 1000% Locked in with THE Ohio State Buckeyes🌰 & I will be graduating early & enrolling in January @CoachTimWalton @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/dE6dO559Go
— Jermaine Mathews Jr (@Jr2Maine) December 8, 2022
Shortly after Mathews’ announcement, Kayin Lee, another highly touted cornerback, allowed Buckeye fans to breathe when he too reaffirmed his pledge to Ohio State. The Georgia native also plans to graduate from high school early and enroll at OSU in January.
ICYMI: Ohio State Commit Kayin Lee has reaffirmed his commitment as he will early enroll as a buckeye
The Trio of Simpson Hunt Lee and Mathews is gonna be a great trio in Coach Knowles Press Man Agressive Defense pic.twitter.com/69zN4Cr7VC
— Recruiting Edits (@614EditzDSGN) December 9, 2022
After some transfers and missing out on a few corners in the past couple of recruiting cycles it seems that cornerback is a must for the 2023 class. With Mathews and Lee as well as Calvin Simpson-Hunt, it seems like the Buckeyes have a nice trio coming in.
So for now, fans can breathe a sigh of relief… at least until the next cryptic tweet gets posted.
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