Former Ohio State commit: Urban Meyer did not recognize me

Bruce Judson remembers the specific moment when he knew his commitment to Ohio State would not stick.

Judson, a four-star athlete from Cocoa, Florida, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that during a July visit for OSU’s “Friday Night Lights” recruiting event, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer did not recognize him. Judson, who had been verbally committed to OSU for five months at that point, was walking with another recruit (four-star Georgia commit Richard LeCounte) when Meyer stopped them.

 

Here’s how Judson described the encounter:

“Long story short, I was walking in the hallway about to go to the indoor field and work out. He was like, ‘Hey.’ I looked around. ‘Come here.’ He was like, ‘How you doing, you like your visit?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ Then he’s like, ‘What up Richard LeCounte? Are you showing this guy (Judson) around?’ I was like, ‘Coach, I’m showing him around.’ He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him Bruce. He said, ‘Oh, Bruce Judson from Florida. The speedy guy.’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘I’m glad that you’re on board and glad you got up here.’ After that, I knew I was de-committing.”

LeCounte corroborated Judson’s story to the AJC, though he said he thought Meyer may have been joking around since Judson was wearing a dark blue shirt. Michigan colors are frowned upon in Columbus, but Judson didn’t see it as a joke.

“We had met face-to-face before at a satellite camp, so he should have known who I was, especially with me being a commit,” Judson.

Judson, the No. 88 ranked player in the country, eventually backed off his OSU pledge in October. He said the level of contact with Meyer dropped off considerably after he made his verbal commitment.

"Once he got me, he told me make sure I keep calling him. But after a couple months, he just stopped talking to me," Judson said. “The rest of the staff stayed in touch, but I didn’t get any love from coach Meyer. If I’m committed there, you should treat me how you treat the recruits that you still want.”

Judson has visited Florida, UCF, Arizona, Georgia, Auburn, Florida State and Pittsburgh in recent months. He has yet to narrow down his list.