Four-star DB Jordan Battle commits to Ohio State, keeps Buckeyes recruiting momentum rolling
Ohio State didn’t get any public commitments during its Friday Night Lights camp last weekend, but in the seven days since, the commitments have been rolling in. Another one came Friday.
Four-star defensive back Jordan Battle of Fort Lauderdale (Florida) St. Thomas Aquinas became the fourth commitment of the week — and second in the 2019 recruiting class — when he publicly announced his pledge to the Buckeyes in honor of his mother’s birthday.
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“I am thankful for the gifts God has blessed me with,” Battle wrote on his Twitter account. “This has been an incredible journey and I want to thank all the schools and coaches that recruited me and a special thanks to the staff at UM. Thank you to all the coaches during my little league journey, thank you to my FBU football family, thank you to me SFE family and to all of STA coaches and family. I am forever grateful.
“Coach Harriott and Coach Smith, your life lessons and guidance will never part from me. Dad, mom and my entire family, thank you for being there from day one. I love ya’ll. Coach Urban Meyer, Coach (Alex) Grinch, Coach (Greg) Schiano and Coach (Larry) Johnson, thank you for your belief in me. I am honored to say I am committed to The Ohio State Buckeyes.”
A few thoughts on what Battle’s commitment means:
• Ohio State has taken eight defensive backs in each of the past two recruiting classes, so the Buckeyes are absolutely stacked at that position on the current roster, particularly because of the six defensive backs they signed in the 2017 class. Battle joins fellow defensive backs in four-star athlete Ronnie “Rocket” Hickman and three-star safety Bryson Shaw in the 2019 class, and this could signal the end — or close to the end — for Ohio State in its pursuit of 2019 defensive backs.
• Remember, the 2020 class has a ton of depth at defensive back and it’ll be a major emphasis for the Buckeyes next year. They already have a commitment from four-star Lejond Cavazos — who pledged early this week — and have offered 13 defensive backs in 2020, including five-star RJ Mickens of Southlake (Texas) Carroll, five-star Kelee Ringo of Scottsdale (Arizona) Saguaro, four-star Miles Brooks of Jacksonville (Florida) Trinity, and others.
• Ohio State’s biggest competition in landing Battle was Miami. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound prospect visited the Hurricanes before coming up to Columbus for Friday Night Lights. Battle, the No. 12 safety in the country in the 247Sports composite rankings, also held offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and others.
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• Battle will participate in Nike’s The Opening camp in Dallas this weekend. Given his rating, he’s one of the best defensive backs in the country. He’ll play cornerback at Ohio State.
• Battle is member No. 13 in Ohio State’s 2019 class that now ranks No. 5 in the nation in the 247Sports composite team rankings.
• Ohio State loves recruiting high school powerhouses like St. Thomas Aquinas because those high school programs are built like college programs. That’s why you see the Buckeyes present at places like Bradenton (Florida) IMG, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, St. Thomas Aquinas and others. Aquinas is an absolute juggernaut, and Meyer has had his staff as a mainstay in those hallways since the day he took the job in 2012. Given where Battle plays, it’s safe to assume that he’s going to be a polished prospect the second he sets foot on Ohio State’s campus.
— Reported from Columbus
Photo: Jordan Battle (247Sports)
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