In-state running back target Sam Williams-Dixon commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State continues to put up its symbolic fence around the state and retain top talent for the future: that happened again Saturday when Sam Williams-Dixon committed to the Buckeyes.
The three-star Pickerington (Ohio) North running back chose Ohio State over a final five that consisted of Rutgers, Tennessee, Kentucky and Penn State.
Williams-Dixon is the No. 55 running back prospect by On3. He announced his decision via Twitter.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect visited Ohio State earlier Saturday and was on campus at the beginning of the month as well. Lettermen Row spoke with Williams-Dixon after his first visit earlier this spring about what it’s been like with Ohio State ever since he earned his long-awaited offer. Especially building up a relationship with head coach Ryan Day.
“We talked about life, where each of us is from and he was telling us all these great stories,” Williams-Dixon said. “[Day] told us all about how the opportunity to coach the Buckeyes happened and that was cool.”
The Buckeyes’ aforementioned recruiting strategy and emphasis on in-state recruiting are chiefly noted by Sam Williams-Dixon’s commitment. Perhaps in the past, he would have been a prospect they would have passed over or circled back on after a national miss. Instead, they closely scouted him and recruited him as hard as any other running back.
Ohio State now has two running backs in the 2024 class. Williams-Dixon joins four-star San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial running back James Peoples as the two tailbacks committed to Tony Alford and the Buckeyes. Peoples committed to Ohio State on April 3 after spending the entire weekend in Columbus on an unofficial visit.
Williams-Dixon joins a well-stocked class. Top-rated wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and five-star wideout Mylan Graham round out the receiver board for now. Four-star Chattanooga (Tenn) Baylor School tight end Max LeBlanc is another weapon in the class. Offensive linemen Ian Moore, Marc Nave, Deontae Armstrong and Devontae Armstrong are in the trenches in the class.
Most recently four-star Fairburn (Ga) Langston Hughes quarterback Air Noland committed to Ohio State on April 8.
Four-star Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut linebacker Garrett Stover and four-star Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy linebacker Payton Pierce round out the Buckeyes 2024 class.
Ohio State will continue to build up its 2024 class and it will continue with Sam Williams-Dixon at running back.
