ORLANDO – Relationships mattered most to Jeremiah McClellan and when it got here all the way down to resolution day, the four-star receiver felt he had higher ones with Oregon than Ohio State.
That’s how the St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers standout defined it Friday on the Beneath Armour All-America Recreation media day as to why he flipped his pledge from the Buckeyes to the Geese on Nationwide Signing Day.
“What made the distinction for me was the connection I had with the teaching workers,” McClellan mentioned. “I actually didn’t even know the place I used to be going till I’d in all probability say the day of. That Wednesday is after I knew the place I used to be going.
“I referred to as coach (Brian) Hartline and them and instructed them I used to be parting methods. They weren’t joyful about it, they weren’t enthusiastic about it, in any respect, however I needed to do what’s greatest for me.
“His response was, how do I say this, he sort of anticipated it coming. He was very refined with it however they actually tried to get me again. They stored on attempting to get me again and see if there was anything I wanted
“My relationship with coach (Dan) Lanning, coach (Junior) Adams and the entire whole teaching workers over there, I actually appreciated that lots.”
McClellan had been dedicated to Ohio State since August however the Geese by no means backed down, particularly down the stretch because the teaching workers went in-home quite a few occasions.
Ohio State did as effectively however the reference to Oregon was simply higher.
“Oregon got here, their complete teaching workers got here apart from Lanning, after which everyone got here once more together with Lanning, the offensive coordinator, the receivers coach, the tight ends coach and Lanning got here, the operating backs coach, all of them got here to see me they usually confirmed a number of love,” McClellan mentioned. “I actually felt at dwelling with them.
“After that, Ohio State got here. Coach (Ryan) Day and coach Hartline came around me, we sat down and talked for like three hours. We sat down (as a household) and talked professionals and cons and I knew my resolution on Wednesday.”
The household assembly revealed one factor: Everybody simply appeared to gravitate towards the Oregon workers extra.
“We needed to sit down and discuss concerning the professionals and cons of every faculty and it actually got here all the way down to Oregon and Ohio State, the professionals and cons of every faculty, and what actually stood out was the connection I had with every workers and the connection my dad and mom had with every workers,” McClellan mentioned. “We simply knew everyone at Oregon.
“Coach Hartline did a very nice job recruiting me. If there was any concern, he’d change it instantly and repair it straight away however we simply didn’t know lots of people at Ohio State.
“I used to be handled just like the No. 1 precedence at Oregon.”
After the Beneath Armour week, McClellan goes dwelling “for 12 hours” after which is off to Eugene on Jan. 5.
In his resolution, there have been different concerns. Whereas he’s shut with Ohio State signees Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham, McClellan additionally felt just like the third receiver within the class in Columbus. He additionally likes the quarterback scenario extra for the Geese after they landed Oklahoma starter Dillon Gabriel and former five-star Dante Moore from UCLA within the switch portal.
“JJ is my canine,” McClellan mentioned. “JJ and Mylan are my canines. I simply felt just like the third wheel there. I really feel like at Oregon I had slightly bit extra alternative there.
“I really feel like they’ve a extra sturdy program than Ohio State proper now. They’ve two excellent quarterbacks proper now so I’ll be set for the subsequent 4 to 5 years. That was huge for Oregon.”