Barwick is Hoosiers first in 2014

After signing their best recruiting class in recent memory this past February, Indiana had to wait until June to land their first commit in the 2014 class.

Cincinnati (Ohio) Summit Country Day three-star defensive tackle Michael Barwick announced his commitment to the Hoosiers on Sunday.

"I chose Indiana," Barwick said. "I just feel it is the perfect fit for me as far as the coaching staff. You cannot get coaches like that anywhere else. Coach [Kevin] Wilson is a great coach and Coach [James] Patton, Coach [Jon] Fabris and my recruiting coach, Coach [Greg] Frey, are great coaches as well.

"Every time I go down there I just really like the campus and the atmosphere. I think there are some very special things going on down there with that team as far as winning national championships, and I would like to help them do that."

Barwick joins an Indiana team that signed a strong defensive line unit in the 2013 class, which featured two four-star prospects. The Indiana coaches see the 6-foot, 291-pound nose tackle as a nice complement to what they already have on the roster.

"They have said a little bit of a 1-technique and 3-technique [positions]," Barwick said. "I think they rotate their defensive linemen, so I will be doing a little bit of both."

Being the first commitment in Indiana's 2014 class, Barwick plans to take it upon himself to help attract others to join him.

"Definitely I want to be very active in that process," he said. "Indiana has some great things going on. I would like to have some other guys be a part of that and go along with us."

With his college selection made, Barwick plans to get back to serious work developing his game not only for his upcoming senior season, but also his future at Indiana.

"This off-season I am training hard and getting ready so I can have a great senior season," he said. "I feel all the momentum I build up from that I will be able to bring that same stuff to the table at IU. Then, with all the other great players, we'll be able to do some special things."

Barwick is rated as the No. 38 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 45 player in the state of Ohio. He won the defensive line MVP award at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour in Cincinnati this spring and finished his junior season with 75 tackles, including 10 sacks.

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