Ohio State lands Rivals250 DT
Ohio State landed their third in-state prospect in the class of 2013 and their third Rivals250 commitment on Monday when Austintown (Ohio) Fitch four-star defensive tackle Billy Price gave his pledge to head coach Urban Meyer and staff.
The commitment comes two days after Price made an unofficial visit to Columbus. He needed a few days to consider that experience and his conversations with the Ohio State coaching staff before making his commitment.
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"I was up there Saturday for a banquet and got a tour ahead of time," Price said. "It kind of clicked on campus. I really realized Columbus was my home. Talking with the academic staff, some of the football staff and some of the students, it really seemed to be my place.
"I talked with my mom and I talked with my grandfather on the way home. We talked about what we liked, what we were really comfortable with and the benefits of the Ohio State University over anybody else."
The 6-4, 280-pound Price has held an offer from Ohio State since last May, receiving the Buckeye's tender from then head coach Jim Tressel.
"Ohio State, that's just amazing," Price told BuckeyeGrove.com at the time. "I was in total shock."
Offers from the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, UCLA and Tennessee followed, but the home state Buckeyes always held a strong appeal and on Monday that interest turned into a commitment.
Price is rated four stars and ranked as the No. 130 player in the country. He has been recruited by different schools for either side of the football, but will start off at Ohio State on defense.
"Right now they see me as a defensive tackle," Price said. "They told me plenty of times that if need be I can be switched to offensive guard or offensive center, but as of right now I am a three-technique defensive tackle."
Price joins fellow in-state prospects Jalin Marshall and Cameron Burrows on the Buckeye's commitment list for 2013. Staying in-state to play his college ball was a major selling point for Price.
"It is a huge thing with the fact that my family will be able to come to the home games and some of the away games," Price said. "Then, everybody is supporting what you are doing and watching you play every Saturday in front of 105,000 people is unreal."