Ohio State continued its recruiting hot streak on Tuesday morning when Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth four-star defensive back Andre Turrentine pledged his services to the Buckeyes over finalists Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.
So Blessed 🙌🏾
1000% Committed ‼️ pic.twitter.com/S5pGRyqxJb— ANDRE TURRENTINE ✨ (@KingATIII) March 17, 2020
The 6-0, 175-pound Turrentine is considered the sixth-best safety and No. 136 prospect overall in the class of 2021, though Ohio State views him as someone who could potentially play in the slot at the next level. He recorded 73 total tackles to lead the Tigers to the state semifinals last fall.
Running backs coach/area recruiter Tony Alford extended a scholarship offer to Turrentine last August, and he made his first and only trip to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ 28-17 win over Penn State on November. That visit lasted two days, as Turrentine spent time with Alford, head coach Ryan Day, then-co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Jeff Hafley, director of player personnel Mark Pantoni and several players.
Hafley’s departure for Boston College could have halted Ohio State’s momentum, but new defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs picked up right where he left off and visited Turrentine’s school in late January. The two immediately hit it off, so Turrentine set up an unofficial visit to Columbus for April 3.
That, of course, has been cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has made the Buckeyes’ recent string of commits even more noteworthy. Now expect him to return to campus whenever the recruiting ban is lifted and take an official visit in the fall.
Turrentine becomes the 14th member of Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class, joining St. Louis De Smet four-star corner Jakailin Johnson, Cincinnati La Salle four-star safety Jaylen Johnson and Cincinnati La Salle three-star corner Devonta Smith in the Buckeyes’ defensive backfield.
