While Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaches are still working on closing out a stellar 2013 recruiting season, they're already working on a strong start to the 2014 recruiting class.
Webb is number two for the 2014 classThe Buckeyes picked up their first commitment on Christmas when Cleveland Glenville (OH) OL/DL Marcelys Jones pulled the trigger and became a Buckeye.
The second member of the 2014 class came as more of a surprise, when Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Damon Webb gave his verbal commitment to Urban Meyer shortly after the Buckeye basketball team's big win over Michigan.
The 5-11/180 Webb has the ability to play both corner and wide receiver in college, but will more than likely play defense at OSU. He posted 42 tackles and seven interceptions to go along with 10 pass breakups, while adding four forced fumbles in his junior season at Cass Tech. He also helped lead his team to their second consecutive state title.
Going into this weekend, Webb was considered by many to be a Michigan lean, since he is from a program which typically serves as a big pipeline for the Wolverines.
Things obviously changed dramatically this weekend, as Webb said he had an awesome time in Columbus and decided Ohio State was the best school for him. He ended his recruitment at the end of the visit.
We caught up with Webb to find out why he chose Ohio State, how his visit went as well as his plans for the future as a Buckeye.
You committed to Ohio State today. Why did you decide to become a Buckeye?
My parents and I went down to Ohio State this weekend to get a better look at what the school had to offer. We got a good look at the academics, which my mom really liked and got to spend a lot of time with Coach Coombs.
How did you commit to Coach Meyer? How did he react?
After the basketball game. He was really excited, he gave my mom, dad, and I each a hug.
Going into the visit, were you thinking about committing?
Yeah, I was thinking about committing going into the visit, but I wasn't 100% sure. The visit sealed it for me.
Most thought Michigan was your leader going into the visit. No truth to that?
No, Michigan was never my leader. I think people thought they were because I live near the school and a lot of my Cass teammates have gone to Michigan.
What did you get to see on your visit? What was your favorite part?
I got to see the RPAC Center, the football facilities, and the dorms. Najee Murray showed me a lot of things around campus too. My favorite part was the basketball game. It was hype!
What were the biggest factors in your decision?
Academics was probably the biggest factor in my decision. My parents and I thought it was really important to see the academic side. Also the chance to win championships – I think the Buckeyes are going to start winning national championships.
What's your relationship like with the OSU coaches?
I have a really good relationship with Coach Coombs. He comes to see me at Cass once a month. I also have a really good relationship with Coach Meyer.
Will you help in recruiting other 2014 prospects to Ohio State?
Most definitely. I'm going to get started on that as soon as I can. I got to meet the other 2014 commit, Marcelys Jones, right before I left.
Is your recruitment 100% over?
Yes, it's completely over. I'm not taking visits to any schools other than Ohio State.
What would you like to say to Buckeye Nation?
Tell them they're getting a hard-working athlete, who's really good in coverage as a corner. I can also play some wide receiver, but I'm going to be a corner at Ohio State. The future is really bright!
Comments
He sure makes it sound like this one is in the bag, but I am still not going to be totally shocked if he flips. Boy I hope not, I was more excited for this one than I would be for Bell (and I would be really freakin excited for Bell)!
Lets hope he can open up a Cass Tech to Columbus pipeline!
Tressel got his share of kids from that state up north, which I absolutely friggin loved. I was wondering if UFM would continue to try to steal athletes from TTUN's backyard. I guess the answer is a definite "yes."
I think Cass Tech is the "Glenville of Michelin." Good to get one from there. Brady has to be pissed.
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." Charlton Heston(1924-2008)
Hello to all! I am new here as far as posting, but have been lurking forever! I have loved the recruting updates that this place gives! I will say that when I say this comitt today I was suprised, and very excited. Boy it's cool to see UFM pull great kids out of SCUM's back yard!!!
Sounds like an intelligent young man that has his stuff together. Can't wait to see him play for the S&G!
Welcome to the family!
Sounds like a great kid, and I love the fact that he isn't going to take anymore visits other to Ohio State!
Got to admitt, I thought about doing this too when I read that line!
I did this
I donned the sweater.
Gotta love that question and answer....I'd say time to lay the "we better stay on top of Damon" stuff to rest. He obviously committed to tOSU for a reason...and he's not leaving...I love the flags Coombs and UFM have put up there in the state up north. Good stuff...
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
What a luxury we have here at Ohio state.. I love when these kids get to come on visits that show the atmosphere that all of us have come to love so much.. And with the basketball team being as solid as they have over the past 6/7 years, it has only helped be another beautiful angle to use for things like football recruiting.
Seems like a real, real quality kid who wants to be a buckeye.. Love it congrats young man!
Great interview, great responses, and great highlight tape! Welcome, Mr. Webb!
OH! (They should have a second pair of gloves like in the picture that does an H, so you can line up two players for pictures.)
Welcome aboard! Great addition..
Great start to the 2014 class. A fan of the buckeyes, often spotted wearing OSU gear.
WOW. Can you imagine the reaction if Hoke pulled a kid out of Glenville? *ichigan fans must be devastated right now. Which just makes it that much better!
Isn't frank clark from Glenville? I believe there have been a few, actually.
The two gleville guys they have we never pursued.
They are devestated. He was a big target for them and Meyer took him right out from under their nose. I think that sick feeling is starting to creep inside the gut of every Michigan fan, a feeling based upon what the future is going to hold for them, us and the rest of the BIG for the next several years.
To err is human. Really sucking requires having yellow stripes on your helmet.
I love this we need corners next yr b roby wont be back.im excited about whats to come for buckeye nation.i love how he said scum was never the leader.
This is a great pickup for the Buckeyes, I really hope he and Marcelys turn into great recruiters/ambassadors for the 2014 class a la cam burrows for this years class
Don't forget about Jalin Marshall.
"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
So the thing I find interesting about this, is that Damon Webb's young teammate, and the team's starting QB for its back-to-back state championships, is a 2015 grad. Already with an offer from Alabama, and another from Notre Dame. And as a dual-threat QB who may be more runner and distributor than pure passer, he'd likely be a better fit in Urban Meyer's spread than Al Borges' West Coast offense.
Jayru Campbell; Cass Tech '15:
Apparently, on the twitter machine he has been retweeting a lot of Pro-OSU comments that have been directed towards Damon Webb.
Help is on the way.
Not to be mean but...this dude kinda looks like a lion.....
"I'm One Bad Buckeye, and I approve this message."
I didn't even read the writing just saw the pic and first was like what? Britney Griner played football. haha whoopsss.
Upvote for the fro.
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." Charlton Heston(1924-2008)
If I remember correctly, the last time OSU had a starting QB that came from the Detroit area, OSU had pretty good season. ;)
Do you know this kid's measurables, MMan? Height, weight, 40 time, etc? Too lazy to do the research.
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." Charlton Heston(1924-2008)
I think you could have measured him yourself in Columbus recently ;-)
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/football/2012/12/2015-qb-jayru-campbell-and-2014-ath-damon-webb-visiting-ohio-state-next-month
247 Sports says he is 6'3" and 190 lbs. I believe the 6'3" part, although he is no more than that. I have no idea how much he weighs and I doubt that Jayru does either because he is so young and I think he has a lot of physical maturation yet. I like how they classify him as a Pro-style QB but then describe him as a dual-threat QB.
http://247sports.com/Player/Jayru-Campbell-14952
He's visited Michigan and is being recruited. He will get a Michigan offer.
6'3 with or without the fro?
Archie & Cornelius were sporting some pretty damn fine fro's back in the day! The next Cornelius Greene?
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
This is going to get very interesting!!! While Hoke was trying to pillage players in Ohio, Urban was in Michigan doing the same thing! Gotta love the direction this is heading!
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
Exact opposite Campbell is more passer than runner saw his high lights he slow as malasses lol,lol great arm though.
Thank you Kerry Coombs.
Help is on the way.
Here's hoping coach coombs locked in vonn bell the same way. Coombs definitely "gets it" when it comes to recruiting. Rest assured Buckeye nation, even without Bell, we will be unstoppable in short time.
"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
You're right... How can you not wanna be coached by this man?:
Love his intensity...he's my dude. I personally think he's my favorite current OSU coach besides UFM. Love him....coaches getting pumped makes me pumped....wish it was August.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
I'd almost ask that we put a moratorium on anything involving Kerry lest we all have to suffer intense bouts of craziness while watching the man fire someone up and being forced to realize we are just so far away from meaningful football. That guy could rent himself out as a personal anti depressant....
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I love your new pic bro....it's hilarious (I actually laughed out loud when I clicked on it;-). I'm a Bears fan....talk about anti depressants. I wonder time to time if Jay needs those. Gosh he seems so sad....
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
Smokin Jay Cutler is not sad. Smokin Jay Cutler doesn't get sad.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Ohio State has never had a problem getting ppl from the Public school league in Detroit.. V. Gholston.. Big Hank.. Not surprised by the pick up. His competition in HS isn't superior .. but he's super talented and has all the tools. very impressed with his highlights. NICE !
He may be the best prospect on that team that has 9 D-1 signed players including Dawson who's the #1 guard in this years class. Huge pickup imo. He should be highly rated next year by all the recruiting databases.
And don't forget the job Urban and Co. will do coaching him up, IN UFM's system a 4 star is a 5 star after a couple years... then look out!
"Statistics always remind me of a fellow who drowned in a river where the average depth was only three feet." - Coach Woody Hayes
Nice follow up with Damon, here's to a great senior season for him.
Good to get on board (and hoping he stays on board) early, didn't hurt that he saw a half decent basketball game yesterday.
Nonetheless, Glenville and Cass Tech represented for 2014. Whodathunkit.....not a bad way to start.
"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes
If there's anything that'll keep him on board, it's the hoards of UM fans that are currently harassing him on twitter, to the point where one of his pro-Michigan coaches is telling them to grow up.
I almost feel bad for the rest ofthe B1G... Great to be a Buckeye!
This was definitely a great surprise. And his attitude about it seems as solid as can be. This kid will be a lightening rod for other recruits for that class. He will help to bring them in for sure.
Sounds likes great kid and SOLID commit. Welcome Damon!
We are definantly going to be winning National Championships with more commits like Damon! Welcome aboard!
F--- Michigan!
Hoke downed 3 meat lovers pizzas in disgust! My man crush on Urban grows stronger every day
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
So, you are saying that Hoke lost his appetite over this?
Now that made me spit my coffee out!!! Thanks for the big laughs!
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
Beautiful - thank you sir!
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
Buckeyebacker98 - TOUCHE' !!!
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
I heard they actually names a pizza after Hoke. It is called the Hoker, it has all the meats, triple cheese, slab of ribs, 30 wings and is deliverd via ambulance.
At first the Hoke goes down easy and smooth, but at the end you end up choking.
To err is human. Really sucking requires having yellow stripes on your helmet.
I've noticed that someone(stalker) consistently down votes any Hoke-fat joke.
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." Charlton Heston(1924-2008)
Welcome aboard, young man! Can't wait to see you on the field for the Buckeyes. Here is hoping that he becomes the next great OSU defensive back, following the likes of Springs, Winfield, Doss, Gamble, Roby, etc.
This commitment was a very nice surprise, and Damon seems like a very good kid.
Welcome to Buckeye Nation, Damon!
AWESOME!! Welcome to "THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!"
GO BUCKS!!
------------------------------------------------------------
"The height of human desire is what wins, whether it's on Normandy Beach or in Ohio Stadium." ~Woody Hayes~
I watched the 7 on 7 of him & Laquan Treadwell...Damn. I know they are just padless drills, but he was all over him & didn't let him get a catch. Treadwell was never even close to being open! Welcome Damon!
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
He gets a little grabby at times, but to stick to one of the nation's best receivers on every route, especially one a year older than him, that shows some skills.
I hope he becomes part of the "No Fly Zone".