Taron Vincent Recruiting Profile
6-2 285 | IMG Academy
Bradenton, Florida (via Baltimore, MD)
247Sports: 4-Star #1 DT
Scout: 5-Star #1 DT
Rivals: 5-Star #1 DT
ESPN: 4-Star #1 DT
Composite: 5-Star #1 DT
The Buckeyes got some very good news early Sunday evening when 5-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent out of the IMG Academy in Florida announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State. He announced his commitment via Twitter.
Just would like to thank God for taking me along this journey! Proud to say that I've committed to THE Ohio State University ‼️‼️ #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Qka5ZjbmKn
— Taron Vincent (@t_lova23) April 2, 2017
After failing to secure their top target at the defensive tackle position over the past few seasons, the Buckeyes finally were able to land a potential game changer in Vincent. The big defensive tackle selected the Buckeyes over his other finalist the Florida State Seminoles.
Vincent is a composite 5-star recruit and is the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the country according to all major services. He is currently ranked as the No. 14 overall prospect per the 247Sports Composite and is the Buckeyes highest-ranked recruit in the class of 2018.
Vincent joins fellow OSU commits Jaelen Gill, Emory Jones, and Jaiden Woodbey in the Composite’s top 36 players, and running back Brian Snead (No. 65) gives the Buckeyes five players in the top 65 prospects in the nation.
Vincent played his freshman season in Baltimore, Maryland before transferring down to Bradenton, Florida to play for the high-powered IMG Academy with the nation’s best high school athletes. The Buckeyes were the second team to offer him back in March of 2015 when he was just a freshman. The Ohio State coaching staff made him a priority early and all of their hard work paid off in landing this game-changing commitment.
At one point in his recruitment Vincent was 100% crystal ball projected to the Buckeyes, but some visits to Florida State late last year and this year started changing the tide of his recruitment. Ohio State was able to get the final visit this past week before the decision was made, as both Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson knew they had to close strong. Vincent made the visit with his parents and clearly all went well for everyone involved.
A year after losing out to Florida State in the Marvin Wilson sweepstakes, the Buckeyes were able to stave off Jimbo Fisher on this one.
Vincent becomes the first defensive lineman to commit to the Buckeyes for the class of 2018, however he will not be the last. Ohio State is still recruiting Penn State defensive end commitment Micah Parsons along with Ohio stars Tyreke Smith and Aeneas Hawkins, among others.
We saw the defensive back recruiting in the class of 2017 turn out to be something special, and we might be saying the same thing about the defensive line class of 2018 next year.
We will have more on Vincent’s commitment later on this week.
[…] selected to participate in the camp, and this year they already have five invitees. Banks will join Taron Vincent, Jaelen Gill, Jaiden Woodbey, and Brenton Cox in […]