When you've got a prized quarterback recruit committed like the Buckeyes do for 2017, it's imperative to give them the best offensive line to keep them protected. Ohio State started their quest to protect Danny Clark this week with a surprising early offer to Miamisburg (Ohio) lineman Josh Myers.
The offer is not surprising because Myers isn't talented — he is, and almost ridiculously so — but because of the timing and circumstance. The Buckeyes rarely offer offensive lineman they've not seen in person at on-campus camps, but Myers' talent isn't typical, so his recruitment won't be either. He was the first player in the 2017 class offered by Michigan and he's got offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, as well. This is not a player to wait on, and Ohio State is one of a handful of schools to recognize it.
"All of my offers mean the world to me," Myers said of the early attention."It means so much just that I'm was blessed and fortunate enough to be able to play college football."
For his part, Myers is just taking it all in and trying to keep an open mind about all the schools that have offered. He's got an older brother, Zach Myers, who just finished his redshirt freshman year at Kentucky, so he's fortunate to have seen how the recruiting process works vicariously through his brother recently. He's visited Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana for their junior days; and Ohio State this past week for a spring practice. It was Myers' second trip to Ohio State, he also took in the Buckeyes knocking off Indiana last November at Ohio Stadium.
"I really got to meet the coaches on this trip," he said when asked to differentiate between his two Buckeye visits. "I just got to see how they do things when the fans aren't there to watch. At practice there was nobody standing around ever, they went from drill to drill with intensity and with an expectation to win and I loved that about the program."
Ironically, Danny Clark, the aforementioned quarterback of the future at Ohio State, was on campus with Myers and the two freshmen stars spent some considerable time talking about all things Buckeye.
"(Danny and I) talked about (playing together) and it was pretty cool to get to meet someone thats in the same position I'm in," Myers said of Massillon's star quarterback. "We talked about the future and he was telling me all about Ohio State. He and his dad seem like really good people and I'm excited to get to know them better through the recruiting process."
Myers' relationship with Ohio State's Tim Hinton, who recruits the Dayton area for the Buckeyes, is another important part of the process.
"Our relationship is great," he added about Ohio State's tight end coach. "I can talk to him like a friend and not be nervous or anything. That was also the case with (Urban) Meyer, there coaching staff is just really friendly and they make you feel comfortable and welcome."
With three years of high school football left, the Miamisburg star isn't considering a decision anytime soon, which is certainly understandable. He won't rule out the possibility of an early choice, however, if the right situation presents itself.
"I cant say for sure really," he added about a timeline for a choice. "I don't plan on a decision any time soon but when it feels like the right time with the right school, I think that's when I'll make my decision. The biggest factors will be that I'm somewhere where I'm wanted, somewhere that they expect to win, and just what feels right."
