Ohio State loses cornerback commitment Terrance Brooks to Texas
COLUMBUS — It wasn’t a move that anyone expected Terrance Brooks to make even three weeks ago.
But questions — and in some cases rumors — have cost Ohio State one of its premiere defensive commitments in the Class of 2022.
Brooks, the country’s No. 18-ranked overall prospect according to On3.com, has signed his National Letter of Intent to Texas, spurning the Buckeyes early Wednesday morning.
A 6-foot cornerback from Little Elm, Texas, Terrance Brooks committed to Ohio State on June 30, just 16 days after being offered. That decision came on the heels of his lone visit to Columbus, an official visit over the weekend of June 21. The On3.com five-star told Lettermen Row that his decision was an easy one.
“It’s hard to explain, but everything just felt right,” Brooks said after. “My dad told me that I would know the right place for me, that it would feel right.”
Things had felt right between Terrance Brooks and Ohio State since. Even as the Buckeyes defense struggled early in the 2021 season he didn’t waver. His intention was to come to Columbus and play cornerback for Kerry Coombs and believed Coombs reputation would help him best reach his potential.
“I know that there will be a higher level of expectations being a cornerback at Ohio State,” Brooks said. “But to me, it’s no pressure. I’m confident in my abilities because of the work that I put in and the ‘Brooks’ standard.
“I work from within. Whether I’m a first-round pick or not is going to be based on how others feel about my abilities.”
Everything in the recruitment of Terrance Brooks has been about development. Once he picked Ohio State, he had no intentions of playing the recruiting “game” at all. He went head-first into his senior season with his eyes on a state title. There was no concern at all about the status of his recruitment in Columbus.
The last few weeks, however, have given rise to doubts.
Rumors about Coombs future — and even speculation on Ryan Day’s — opened the door for Texas. The Longhorns have been selling a rebirth in Austin and Brooks and his family were listening. Steve Sarkisian made an in-home visit with the big-time defensive back prospect and made a mighty final swing.
On Wednesday morning, Sarkisian’s program connected and the Buckeyes whiffed.
With the loss of Terrance Brooks, Ohio State will have to take a look at other cornerback options ahead of the February signing period. A number of prospects could delay signing until then and hear from the Buckeyes.
Still, with widespread speculation about the future of Kerry Coombs, it’s unclear how the Buckeyes will approach the position between now and then.
