Buckeyes get first big W for new head coach

Associated Press

Zach Harrison is one of the most highly touted recruits in the country, and he goes to high school 15 miles from Ohio State.

Yet not until Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, did the 6-foot-6, 245-pound defensive end commit to the Buckeyes, giving incoming coach Ryan Day his first victory as Urban Meyer’s replacement.

“Huge,” Day said. “This was one of those ones we had to win.”

Harrison’s choice, streamed out over Olentangy Orange High School’s website, was maybe the most intriguing development of what can now be considered the new signing day. This is year two of the early signing period in college football and just like last year, most of the scholarships have been scooped up. The traditional signing period in early February will mostly be for finishing touches.

“It’s not an early signing date, it’s the signing date,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

Alabama has already signed most of a class that was already considered the best in the country and added a couple more five stars on top of that. Ahead of the Crimson Tide’s latest College Football Playoff appearance and national championship pursuit, Saban has already locked up another recruiting title.

The Southeastern Conference is primed to have the four highest-rated recruiting classes after the early period ends Friday. According to 247 Sports’ composite rankings of major recruiting websites, Alabama is No. 1, followed by Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU.

Oregon rounded out the top five, the one interloper amid the usual suspects in a top 10 that included Clemson, Oklahoma and Michigan.

Ohio State has mostly lived in the top five during Meyer’s remarkable seven-year run as Buckeyes coach. But with a small class (the Buckeyes signed 15 and don’t have room for much more), and some uncertainty about Meyer’s future throughout the season, the Buckeyes trailed both Michigan and Penn State in the Big Ten in the recruiting rankings much of the fall.

Meyer was suspended for the first three games of this season after the university commissioned an investigation into his handling of now-fired former assistant Zach Smith, who was accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife. After Meyer’s return, there were questions about his future at Ohio State and health. He has a brain cyst that causes severe headaches.

Prospects can be apprehensive to sign with a coach who might be on his way out.

Meyer announced his retirement earlier this month. Day, 39, will take over after the No. 5 Buckeyes play No. 9 Washington in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.