Ohio State football: Maryland linebacker verbally commits

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

One day before Independence Day, Mitchell Melton gave Ohio State fans something to celebrate early.

The three-star linebacker added to the Buckeyes' hot streak on the recruiting trail, verbally committing Wednesday to become the 17th member of coach Ryan Day's 2020 class.

“I’d like to thank God, my family, friends, and coaches,” he wrote on Twitter. “Committed to The Ohio State University.”

With a picture of himself, he also included, “Proverbs 29:23.”

In the New International Version of the Bible, that verse instructs, "Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor."

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Melton is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect, at least as far as the recruiting services are concerned.

He ranks 657th nationally in the 247Sports Composite and 19th overall in Maryland, where he attends Good Counsel High School.

Melton is the No. 43 outside linebacker prospect in the country at this time and picked Ohio State from an impressive and lengthy offer list that also reportedly included Michigan, Notre Dame, Maryland, Nebraska and many others.

He is the first player from Maryland and the second linebacker (joining Cody Simon of St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey) to commit to Ohio State for 2020.

His commitment comes one day after Cincinnati Elder tight end Joe Royer joined the class.

Simon committed Saturday along with Cincinnati Princeton defensive lineman Darrion Henry.

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