Ohio State got the boost its 2019 recruiting class needed Thursday when Cleveland St. Ignatius four-star linebacker Tommy Eichenberg announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.
Officially committed to The Ohio State University ⭕️❕#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/PsXWx6HeqC
— Tommy Eichenberg (@tommyike41) December 7, 2018
Formerly committed to Boston College since June 27, he was recruited by OSU over the past year. Ohio State jumped back into his process with an offer Sept. 26. Michigan extended a scholarship Oct. 3.
Since both offered, Eichenberg unofficially visited each campus. He took in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the then-No. 5 Wolverines’ 42-7 rout of then-No. 14 Penn State on Nov. 3.
Three weeks later, his trip to Columbus the weekend of Nov. 24 resulted in the then-No. 10 Buckeyes’ 62-39 romp over then-No. 4 U-M. The week of Eichenberg’s experience at OSU, he reopened his recruitment Nov. 19 and decommitted from BC.
Cleveland St. Ignatius 2019 four-star linebacker and Boston College decommitment Tommy Eichenberg. pic.twitter.com/ZjLhLFxYEA
— Garrett Stepien (@GarrettStepien) November 24, 2018
The 6-3, 225-pounder marks Ohio State’s first pick up since Rockwall, Texas, four-star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba pledged Nov. 4 to the Buckeyes’ 2020 class. OSU’s most recent commitment for the 2019 class also came Nov. 4 in the form of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian Academy three-star running back Marcus Crowley.
With Eichenberg’s addition, Ohio State’s count for the current cycle rises to 16 — four from Ohio. Eichenberg joins Lexington, Ohio, four-star outside linebacker Cade Stover as the Buckeyes’ second player at the position while Fort Wayne (Ind.) Wayne three-star athlete Craig Young might end up there as well.
Eichenberg is the 247Sports composite‘s No. 339 overall prospect, No. 19 inside linebacker and No. 8 player in Ohio. His commitment bumps OSU’s 2019 class up two spots in the 247Sports composite team rankings, cracking the top 10 in the nation and remaining second in the Big Ten behind Michigan. The Wolverines are seventh in the country with 24 commitments.
Eichenberg is Ohio State’s first pledge since athletic director Gene Smith announced Tuesday offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day replacing Urban Meyer as the Buckeyes’ 25th head football coach. Meyer retires Jan. 1 after No. 6 OSU (12-1) faces No. 10 Washington (10-3) in the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. ET.
Despite the change, Day for Meyer brings Ohio State continuity. The familiarity of the Buckeyes’ coaches under Day starts with Meyer’s support staff — head strength coach Mickey Marotti, football operations director Brian Voltolini, player personnel director Mark Pantoni and player development director Ryan Stamper — staying in Columbus. In Eichenberg’s recruitment, Pantoni was among OSU’s key cogs.
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