FOOTBALL
Buckeyes continue to wait on decisions by recruits
Receiver from Indy is latest commitment
Monday, January 31, 2005
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Even as Ohio State picked up a commitment from Donald Washington yesterday and gained positive vibes from Brian Robiskie, the 2005 recruiting race seemed destined to go down to the wire.
In fact, it might be best if
OSU coaches kept at least one television in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center tuned to ESPNEWS this week. Blue-chip running back Jason Gwaltney of North Babylon, N.Y., plans to reveal his choice of
OSU, Southern Cal or West Virginia on that channel Tuesday.
Last night, the mother of defensive end Lawrence Wilson of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary said her son will announce his choice of
OSU, Notre Dame or Florida on ESPNEWS on Wednesday, which is national letter of intent signing day.
Defensive tackle Walker Ashley of Eden Prairie, Minn., considering
OSU, Southern Cal and Minnesota, also plans to announce on Wednesday, though it wasn’t clear whether he was seeking air time.
Washington, on the other hand, didn’t wait to become the 16 th member of the 2005
OSU class. He made his announcement by cell phone as he headed back to his home near Indianapolis yesterday following his official visit. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver from Franklin Central High School said
OSU was exactly what he expected.
"The support the Buckeyes get in Columbus reminds me of the way people in Indianapolis support the Colts," Washington said. "Ohio State’s facilities are the best; it’s a great campus that’s big but small enough to get around.
"And the tradition with the football program, you can feel it."
Washington, who said he had scholarship offers from Indiana, Wisconsin and Stanford, among others, didn’t get an offer from
OSU until eight days ago. But as far as he was concerned, it was better late than never.
"An offer is an offer, no matter if I get it the first day or the last day," said Washington, who had 45 catches for 800 yards and eight touchdowns last season. "If they offer, they think you are good enough. I know they have high expectations for me."
Robiskie, a receiver from Chagrin Falls who also gained a late scholarship offer from the Buckeyes, made his official visit over the weekend. He said on the way home that he was pondering his final two of
OSU and the University of Miami. He could not be reached for comment later last night.
But
OSU insiders last night said confidence was high that the Buckeyes would pick up a commitment from the son of Cleveland Browns interim head coach Terry Robiskie.
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