OSU gets first 2012 verbal

By Tim May

The Columbus Dispatch

That Lewis Center Olentangy High School junior Joshua Perry on Tuesday became the first commitment to Ohio State’s 2012 football recruiting class was a case of serendipity as far as he was concerned.

“It didn’t really matter to me,” the linebacker said. “It’s just something that happened that way.”

Not that he was about to change his mind. After a strong showing in two days of Ohio State’s summer camp last week, he was tended an informal scholarship offer. Yesterday afternoon he and Olentangy coach Ed Terwilliger met with OSU coach Jim Tressel in his Les Wexner Football Complex office.

That sealed the deal, said Perry, whose strong academic standing could have taken him almost anywhere, which explained why Duke was probably No.2 on his list.

“I came up with a list a while ago, probably back in January, and I have been narrowing down that list ever since, and OSU has always been at the top,” Perry said. “So the opportunity presented itself [to commit early].

“So I thought today would be a good time to do it, after sitting down with him and having a good conversation. I like the way Coach Tressel runs his program, and I just want to be part of it.”

The Buckeyes are still in the process of filling their 2011 class, which stands at 15 but could grow by two or three more by week’s end. Yet making Perry the foundation for the 2012 class made sense to veteran recuiting analyst Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.

“He’s a really good player who looks like he’s only going to get better, and he’s a very strong student,” Kurelic said. “He is the prototypical first commitment for a Jim Tressel recruiting class.”