Signed: Ryan Watts

A big flip for the Buckeyes occurred this fall when Ohio State was able to gain the pledge of four-star Texas defensive back Ryan Watts. The 6-foot corner had been committed to Oklahoma for several months, but quietly considered both Ohio State and Penn State over the summer and into the fall after visiting both programs in an unofficial capacity during the month of June.

Ohio State was able to secure a late September official visit and a few weeks later Watts switched his pledge from the Sooners to the Buckeyes, canceling an official visit to Penn State in the process.

That move completed the cornerback class for Ohio State at the time, giving the Buckeyes a trio of four-star prospects at the position. When co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley recently announced he was taking the Boston College head coaching job, Watts was initially disappointed, but quickly reaffirmed with Ohio State.

"It’s a Blessing to be a Buckeye," Watts said of his signing. "Overall I didn’t only feel comfortable with Coach Hafley but ultimately I felt comfortable with the school, the city, and all the coaches. I just couldn’t go wrong with Ohio State."

Watts seems like a perfect fit for that Shaun Wade hybrid corner/safety role. While exceptions are made in certain cases, the Buckeyes love the big six-foot corners with long arms and that is exactly what Watts is..

Wade's role in this year's defense also requires the size to hold up in run support and Watts will bring that to the table as well. While he still has some filling out to do, there is no reason that Watts can't ultimately play at about 200-pounds and give the Buckeyes a physical presence in the secondary.

This is a versatile defensive back prospect that Ohio State identified pretty early and kept working on. The time and effort put into flipping Watts shows just how coveted he was and he has a chance to be a very good one for the Buckeyes down the road.