Five-Star Challenge LB MVP chooses Buckeyes
Dublin (Ohio) Scioto linebacker Nick Conner
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has made his rounds this off-season, racking up offers and accolades, but the
four-star's recruitment came to an end on Tuesday when he was offered by the
Ohio State Buckeyes.
"They were always the team to beat pretty much," Conner said. "It just felt good to get the offer."
After showing passing interest following his junior season, Ohio State did not ramp up their recruitment of Conner until the last few weeks. He attended their camp on Tuesday and earned the offer immediately after.
"I went by myself because I only live 15 minutes away," Conner said. "When we got done with one-on-ones it was me and Coach (Urban) Meyer and we talked for a little bit. Coach (Luke) Fickell came over and I pretty much told him right there I wanted to be a Buckeye."
That Conner made the most of his opportunity to impress Ohio State coaches at their camp should not surprise. The four-star linebacker took advantage of a late cancellation to secure a spot at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge
Presented by Under Armour earlier this month, then walked away from the weekend carrying the Linebacker MVP award.
From the Best of the Midwest Camp in February to the Rivals Camp in Columbus in April and finally the Five-Star Challenge two weekends ago, Conner has improved each time we saw him and used his opportunities to compete alongside the top players in his region and the country to get to where he is at today.
"I definitely think it helped," he said. "You definitely gain a lot of confidence going to those things and going up against the best. You know that you can hang in there. Definitely all the hard work, working my trainer and definitely all the camps have helped me become a better player.
"This year was my first year going to camps, so it was a little different. I had never done the one-on-ones before. My dad said, 'seeing you from the first camp to now, you've changed 100 percent.' I think I did as well and it feels good to progress."
Now that his recruitment is over, Conner is going to use the relationships he made at camps this off-season to help grow Ohio State's 2015 class.
"I am definitely going to talk to Christian Kirk because he was on my team at the Rivals Camp," Conner said. "I know he just visited Ohio State and is a big recruit for them, so I want to talk to him and see what's going through his mind. Also, Chris Clark was there tonight and I told him I committed there."
The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Conner is currently ranked as the No. 218 player in the 2015 class and the No. 8 inside linebacker. He has not had a chance to discuss exactly what position the Buckeyes plan to play him at with their coaching staff, but will be making a return visit to campus on Thursday.
Josh Helmholdt is the Midwest Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
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