Ohio State landed its second commitment of the camp season on Friday afternoon when Fort Wayne, Indiana, three-star wideout Craig Young pledged his services to the Buckeyes following an impressive camp performance just three days prior.
#AGTG COMMITTEDPlease respect my decision. pic.twitter.com/H4Nx9ja6Ib
— YoungStuna (CY) (@craig_young00) June 15, 2018
The Young File
- Class: 2019
- Size: 6-foot-4, 212 pounds
- Pos: ATH
- School: Wayne (Fort Wayne, IN)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 92 (WR)
The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Young is considered the 92nd-best wide receiver and No. 684 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, but he’s likely to play on the defensive side of the ball at the next level.
During Tuesday’s camp, he received one-on-one instruction from defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Alex Grinch, cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, linebackers coach Bill Davis and defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“I thought I was just going to work out as a safety,” Young told reporters gathered at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “Coach [Urban] Meyer pulled me aside and said, ‘I want you to work [at linebacker and defensive end]. It was all fun.”
It then it became clear Young — who previously listed a Top 5 that also included Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue — was simply too talented for Ohio State to pass on, no matter the uncertainly regarding his position. He seemingly embraced the fact that he may never play offense again, either.
“I mean, anything to help my school and help my team win, that’s the main priority,” Young said. “I won’t be hurt if I don’t play on the offensive side of the ball. I can really be a dawg on the defensive side of the ball because everything came naturally today and I feel really good about it.”
Young first came onto the Buckeyes' radar last summer when he attended the program's annual Friday Night Lights recruiting extravaganza in late July. Wide receivers coach Zach Smith offered him a scholarship in late January and then invited him to attend a spring practice in March.
Young spent time with Meyer, Smith, director of player personnel Mark Pantoni and wide receiver Austin Mack — a fellow Fort Wayne native — and made it clear Columbus was where he wanted to play his college ball.
"Ohio State is the place to be," Young told Eleven Warriors.
Young returned to campus in mid-April for the annual Spring Game with hopes of committing, but there was still the hangup regarding his position. With several wide receivers on the board ahead of him, it appeared he would remain on the outside looking in unless something drastically changed. The message from the staff was simply to remain patient with the process.
“[They] told me I need to get better, stay focused and be on top of everything I do,” Young said. “I hope we just keep building chemistry.”
With that, Smith invited Young back to campus to participate in Tuesday’s one-day camp. The rest is history.
“It’s a winning program. You can’t fail here if you come and bust your butt,” Young said. “They’re going to be on you, and that’s what I want.”
Young becomes the 11th member of Ohio State's Dynasty '19 recruiting class, joining Georgia four-star Steele Chambers and New Jersey four-star athlete “Rocket” Ronnie Hickman as pledges with the athlete designation. The former will play running back and the latter will play safety, however.
