Signed: Jeffrey Okudah
Ohio State's early enrollee class won't have to go through traditional National Signing Day activities like the rest of the members of the Select 17 class will. For players like Jeffrey Okudah, the day will start with classes and a have a chance to work out with his future teammates on campus as the semester is already underway for the talented defensive back out of Grand Prairie (Texas).
The five-star safety/cornerback made his pledge known at the U.S. Army All-American game less than a month ago but the Buckeyes had been heavily favorited for much of the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder's recruitment. Florida State and Oklahoma were other schools under consideration and truth be told, Okudah honestly could have named his destination as the true definition of a national recruit.
Okudah is just one of several talented Texans to be making their way to the Ohio State program and the Buckeyes are getting one of the nation's best with the talented playmaker.
"(I am a) technician, versatile, athletic and (have) a willingness to learn," Okudah said of himself in a video produced by Ohio State Football upon arriving on campus to start the January semester. "I want to take in everything that I can at every opportunity that I can."
There will be opportunity in the Ohio State secondary immediately as the Buckeyes are sending three DBs to the draft for the second consecutive year with all three DBs from 2015 making NFL teams last season. The opportunity to be coached up to potentially play at the next level is an attractive idea to any player and Okudah is excited to be part of that.
"They have had so many guys come through here and be elite cornerbacks so you know their plan works," Okudah said. "So, for me to put myself into that plan and to see where I can just take my game to, I am excited for the future."
The Buckeyes will be getting a very versatile player in Okudah, a player who could excel at either corner or safety or even another wrinkle if the game plan called for it.
"Okudah is a rare talent that can be used differently each Saturday, depending on what the strengths of the opposing offense are," BuckeyeGrove.com recruiting analyst Marc Givler said of Okudah when he committed to Ohio State in January.
It was a team effort by the Ohio State coaching staff to pull Okudah out of Texas and the new Ohio State signee is thrilled with the entire coaching staff. He has especially enjoyed his time with Kerry Coombs and feels his vocal style of coaching will help him during his journey at Ohio State.
"He is a great guy, he has a lot of juice so he is going to have us pumped up all the time and I want to be around a high-intensity guy who can bring out the best in me," Okudah said.
Even with all of the success on the college field and with putting players in the NFL, those were not the things that drew Okudah to Ohio State.
"It was not the on the field stuff for me, it was really the off the field stuff with Real Life Wednesdays," Okudah said. "Coach (Urban) Meyer has really emphasized getting his players networked outside of football. So when you take all of that into account, I don't see what school could be better for you than Ohio State."