The Buckeyes have added to what was already one of the country’s top 2021 recruiting classes as linebacker Reid Carrico from Ironton (Ohio) has committed to Ohio State.

“It’s a big choice,” Carrico told Bucknuts. “But I just felt like it was time.”

Carrico visited Ohio State on Saturday and was on hand as the Buckeyes rolled over Cincinnati in The Horseshoe.

“It just felt like I was home there,” Carrico said. “It feels like I’m supposed to be there. And I have the best relationship with the coaches there. When I was there Saturday I just felt like I should be a Buckeye.”

Carrico has been recruited by Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington and head coach Ryan Day.

“They were fired up when I told them (I was committing),” Carrico said.

Carrico has a long list of scholarship offers that in addition to Ohio State includes Clemson, Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, Duke and Iowa State.

“It was kind of a hard decision,” Carrico said. “I could have pulled the trigger early. But I took my time till I felt comfortable. After Saturday I felt comfortable.”

Carrico is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the country’s No. 34 overall 2021 prospect, the No. 1 inside linebacker, and the No. 3 prospect in Ohio.

Carrico joins an Ohio State 2021 recruiting class that already included the country’s No. 2 overall prospect in defensive end Jack Sawyer, 4-star quarterback Kyle McCord who was their No. 1 quarterback target in the 2021 class, 4-star in-state offensive lineman Ben Christman who is the No. 2 class of 2021 prospect in Ohio, and 4-star in-state wide receiver Jayden Ballard. The Buckeyes’ 2021 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 4 in the country in the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings.

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Day’s 2020 recruiting class is very strong too. The Buckeyes have 22 verbal commitments for their 2020 recruiting class. The 22 are quarterback Jack Miller, wide receivers Julian Fleming, Gee Scott Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, slot receiver Mookie Cooper, tight end Joe Royer, offensive tackles Paris Johnson, Grant Toutant and Trey Leroux, offensive linemen Luke Wypler, Jakob James and Josh Fryar who are interior offensive linemen with James projected to play guard, Wypler could play center or guard and Fryar could slot in at any of the positions, defensive end Darrion Henry, defensive end/tackle Ty Hamilton, linebackers Cody Simon and Mitchell Melton, cornerbacks Lejond Cavazos and Clark Phillips, safety Lathan Ransom, safety/bullet Kourt Williams, athlete Cameron Martinez and kicker Jake Seibert. Those 22 represent some of the country’s top class of 2020 talent. Day, Mark Pantoni and the Ohio State staff have a class that is currently ranked No. 4 in the country in the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings.