Buckeyes get in-state pledge from impact defender
Despite a recent pair of visits to Notre Dame that made Ohio State fans uneasy, outside linebacker Dante Booker gave a verbal pledge to the Buckeyes on Thursday.
The 6-3, 215-pound Class of 2014 product from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (Akron, OH) is a big in-state pickup for Urban Meyer and his staff as they look to continue to bring impact defenders into Columbus and assemble future SEC-like defenses.
Booker, who is one of the best players in the state of Ohio and a U.S. Army All-American, chose the Buckeyes over offers from major programs such as Notre Dame, Michigan and Tennessee, among others. He is the second St. Vincent-St. Mary product in the Buckeyes' 2014 class, joining teammate Parris Campbell, a wide receiver who gave his pledge to the Buckeyes in February.
Last season, Booker recorded 72 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions, which helped him earn first-team all-Ohio honors.
Linebacker has been a major focus for Ohio State during this recruiting cycle after landing Mike Mitchell and Trey Johnson this past February. Both are expected to see action this fall. Booker joins fellow northeast Ohio linebacker Kyle Berger, who committed to the school in April, in the 2014 class. OSU is still going after Georgia's Raekwon McMillan and Pennsylvania's Chase Winovich as well.
