Tucker talks Ohio State offer
Tucker (Ga.) safety Kirk Tucker named a top five last month and was looking like he was getting close to making a decision. Then Ohio State stepped up with an offer on Wednesday and threw a wrench in his plans.
"My coach told me Ohio State looked at my film today and they loved me," Tucker said. "They offered me on the spot."
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The verbal offer comes after a few weeks of courting by Ohio State Assistant Head Coach Everett Withers.
"I talked to him a few weeks ago in person but we could only say hi," Tucker said. "Then he hit me up and Facebook and said he was watching my film and they want me and (Rivals 100 teammate Elisha Shaw) to come out and visit."
Tucker had plenty of complimentary things to say about the Buckeyes and said he's familiar with the program.
"They've always been a powerhouse. Having a coach like Urban Meyer and the program the players they've produced shows a lot. My dad was so surprised but he was also so excited because he knows about Ohio State and what they do."
"They went undefeated last year, they could have been in the national championship. Producing seasons like that really says a lot about the program."
Tucker added that the quick success Urban Meyer has had in Columbus shows that his run at Florida was no fluke.
"Urban is a great coach," he said. "I know how he was at Florida and I know he is bringing that to Ohio State. The success he's had shows that he's a great coach and that's the kid of coach I want to be around."
The Buckeyes also offered Tucker's teammate, three-star linebacker Detric Dukes on Wednesday and Tucker said the duo plan on visiting this summer. He also said he's going to reconsider his decision timeline.
"Ohio State opened back up my list a lot," he said. "My dad and Detric and his dad are already playing when we're going to take our trip this summer."
Tucker said in addition to the Buckeyes he's also receiving heavy interest from Iowa, even though the Hawkeyes have yet to offer.
"Iowa is really recruiting me hard right now," he said. "They were at school today and I was joking with one of their coaches. They're really interested but I think they're waiting to see me on the field to offer."
Other schools in the mix include Arkansas, N.C. State, South Carolina and Stanford, a school he recently visited.
"It felt great to me," Tucker said of the trip. "The campus is one in a million. They really greeted me and my family with open arms."
"We're working on admissions now and I've been talking to a few of their commits and they're trying to get me on board."
Tucker said he's going to continue to evaluate schools going forward and will likely push is decision back until late summer.
"Right now I'm keeping my options open," he said. "I'm not trying to make a decision too fast. That's why I'm taking my visits. I plan on cutting down the list to a top 3 in the middle of the summer and possibly making a decision at the beginning of my season."