Armani Reeves Joins Teammate Camren Williams at Ohio State

Long thought to be a package deal to Penn State, Armani Reeves and Camren Williams decided to become Buckeyes instead. While Williams decided about a week ago, Reeves pulled the trigger yesterday three days before National Signing Day. Both players were once committed to Joe Paterno and Penn State, but amidst the turmoil surrounding the program, both opened up their recruitment.

While Williams visited way back in early December right after Urban Meyer was hired, both were on campus last week to take in Columbus and Ohio State. They came away impressed with the campus as well as the coaching staff. Both hail from West Roxbury, MA and attend Catholic Memorial High School. While Williams fills and immediate need at linebacker, Reeves also has the chance to step in and be an immediate contributor at defensive back with the losses of Dominick Clarke and DerJuan Gambrell to violation of team rules. Adding both of these four-star players helps boost a defense that needed some playmakers at these key positions.

Reeves had nothing but great things to say about the coaching staff, which he discussed with Bill Greene over at Scout, "Ohio State was the right place for me because of their coaching staff," Reeves stated Sunday night. "I've known Coach (Everett) Withers for a long time, and that relationship has been strong. Once I visited the campus, and saw everything, I knew it was a great place. Coach Meyer is a great coach, and I know he is going to do great things there. Everything just fit perfectly for me at Ohio State."

Also helping sway Reeves to Ohio State was his teammate from high school Camren Williams. "Cam and I have been friends since second grade, so it's great to be going to school with him," he explained. "I'm also friends with David Perkins and Tommy Schutt, and that's so great we are all going to be together. If I had gone to Michigan, Cam and I would still be friends, but when we played against each other, we would have been enemies. That would have been hard, but now we can go on and do great things together."

Williams, in an interview with ESPN, echoed the statements that his teammate Reeves said. On his second visit, "It was a great visit. We got to look at everything again. My mom came down for the first time, and I was really looking forward to just getting her on campus, and she could give me the input. I really liked it the first time (in December), so I just got to see what she thought of the school academically, athletically, what she thought of the coaches and everything. She loved it, I fell in love with the school again, and I knew it was the place for me."

On what Urban Meyer told him to expect, "He said it's going to be tough. Mickey Marotti is the highest-paid strength and conditioning coach in the country, and he's going to work you. He's going to get my body into the best shape that I could possibly be in, and really maximize my potential. It's going to be tough, but it's going to be a fun ride, and we're going to win a National Championship with the players that are around me, and the defensive linemen that are around me. So it's going to be a real good environment."

Beyond the jump we look at both players Camren Williams and Armani Reeves.

School - Camren Williams

Catholic Memorial HS
West Roxbury, MA

Measurements
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 200 lbs.
40: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Bench: N/A
Shuttle: 4.25 secs.

Stats and Rankings

Williams is a well rounded 4 star athlete, who possesses good coverage ability as well as the ability to stop the run. Since Meyer said he will not redshirt because of lack of depth on the defensive side of the ball, expect to see Williams on special teams and backing up the linebacking core next season. He had 60 tackles his junior year while also playing on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver.

Rivals 250: 4 Stars

Scout 300: 4 Stars

ESPN 150: 3 Stars

Positives

- Brings a much needed body to the line backing core. Along with Josh Perry, Luke Roberts and David Perkins, Williams seems like the most ready athlete of the bunch to start right away if needed. He brings aggressiveness and speed to the line backing position that Meyer will need right away next season.

- Coming to a college program with a teammate makes the transition much easier for both Williams and Reeves. They have obviously made friends with other recruits, but these guys have been playing together for years and should have a good comfort level for college when they both arrive this summer.

Questions

- The Buckeyes look to be finished at linebacker for this class, and have nabbed four decent players. I see Josh Perry maybe moving to another position and Roberts and Perkins maybe getting a redshirt. Can Williams provide a spark in his first season like Ryan Shazier did last year?

- Will he have to beat out Shazier, Storm Klein or Etienne Sabino in order to get playing time or will he play in special packages like Shazier did toward the end of the season last year? I can see either happening as lackluster play out of Klein and Sabino last year left the competition wide open this fall.

Free Film

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School - Armani Reeves

Catholic Memorial HS
West Roxbury, MA

Measurements
Ht: 5'10"
Wt: 185 lbs.
40: 4.51 secs.
Vertical: 36.1"
Bench: N/A
Shuttle: 4.05 secs.

Stats and Rankings

A 4* athlete all around and between him and Williams they bring the #1 and #2 athletes from the state of Massachusetts to the Buckeye State. He will bring his competitive nature and ability to play corner back at a high level right away to the Buckeyes. As a junior he had 37 tackles as well as four interceptions.

Rivals 250: 4 Stars

Scout 300: 4 Stars

ESPN 150: 4 Stars

Positives

- After the departure of DerJuan Gambrell and Dominick Clarke this offseason due to off the field issues, bringing in Armani Reeves will help right away in the defensive backfield. We saw last year how depleted it can get back there, so everybody has a chance to contribute, and I see Armani battling for a spot during fall camp.

- He is a solid cover corner, and is able to make plays stopping the run as well. He has good closing speed and can make plays coming from any angle on the ball.

Questions

- He lacks a big frame at 5'10" and 185 lbs. so he might have some work to do in the weight room to bulk up. He also may struggle a bit against the taller receivers that the Big Ten tends to have.

- How does he fit into the mix right away? I could see him opening the year starting at one of the cornerback slots. He will have to battle Bradley Roby for the spot but we shall see what happens this fall in this position battle.

Free Film

Click above to watch the twenty-third member of the Ohio State Buckeye recruiting class.