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Ohio State won’t get the No. 1 class after all, but the 2018 class still closed with a bang.
The Buckeyes, who already got an earlier commitment from 5-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, got another big late addition on National Signing Day.
They signed 4-star outside linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who committed to OSU over Nebraska, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.
The decision is in. It’ll be Ohio State for Bergen Catholic 4-Star DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, choosing the Buckeyes over Texas A&M, Nebraska and Virginia Tech. Story to follow. #NSD18 pic.twitter.com/AQnq19g42C
— JJ Conrad (@JJ_Conrad) February 7, 2018
That news came after Ohio State made a late push to sign the Oradell, New Jersey native. Jean-Baptiste was considered a likely Nebraska signee earlier in the week, but a full-court press from the Buckeyes changed that. He visited all three schools in the last month.
Jean-Baptiste is ranked the No. 16 outside linebacker and the No. 219 player overall in the 2018 class. He was recruited by Greg Schiano, who came out and squashed reports that he was leaving to take the defensive coordinator job with the New England Patriots.
It’s uncertain if the 6-5, 215-pound Jean-Baptiste fits in as an outside linebacker or as a future defensive end. He racked up 88 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles as a senior at Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey.
With Jean-Baptiste on board, it appears that the Buckeyes’ 2018 class is locked in. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Georgia has already locked up the No. 1 class.
Breaking: Georgia secures the No. 1 recruiting class for 2018 https://t.co/bBl9ot8Bj7 pic.twitter.com/fROnosHqeB
— 247Sports (@247Sports) February 7, 2018
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.