CLEVELAND — It took a little while, but it appears the coveted "Glenville Pipeline" is alive and well in Columbus.
Fresh off helping the Tarblooders win their first-ever state football championship, star cornerback Bryce West and tight end Damarion Witten both officially committed to play football for Ohio State on Saturday. It was a decision most had expected for some time from the soon-to-be high school seniors, despite a late push from other rivals in the Big Ten.
A consensus four-star prospect ranked among the top 100 players in the nation, West is known for his blazing speed, having also won a pair of individual OHSAA track titles in the 4x200 meter relay (Glenville also won the team championship both years). According to renowned recruiting website 247Sports, he intercepted four passes and did not allow a touchdown as a junior as the Tarblooders went 15-0 to take the Division IV crown.
Witten was originally recruited as an "athlete," but at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, his skills as a tight end quickly gained national attention. Those skills were on full display in the state title victory over Wyoming, where he caught three passes for 81 yards including a 39-yard touchdown. He also added two tackles as a defensive lineman, for good measure.
West and Witten each had offers from other big-time schools, with Georgia and Penn State courting both and West also having opportunities to play for Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma. In particular, Michigan made a hard push in recent months, but the two teammates chose to remain in the Buckeye State.
OSU has now gained four commitments from Northeast Ohio recruits set to graduate in 2024, with West and Witten joining St. Edward offensive line twins Deontae and Devontae Armstrong. Overall, On3 currently ranks the Buckeyes' 2024 class as the second best in the country.
At Glenville, fellow class of 2024 offensive tackle Fred Johnson says he will be headed to Louisville, while linebacker and 2023 graduate Arvell Reese is set to join Ohio State this fall. Under head coach Ted Ginn Sr., the program has produced numerous college and NFL stars, including former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith, former Browns Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner, and current New Orleans Saints cornerback and four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore.
