Jahsen Wint needed to make sure Ohio State coach Urban Myer was sure about him before he could be sure about the Buckeyes.
Myer came to visit the Erasmus Hall defensive back for pizza on Dec. 2 — four days before the city championship game — to get a feel for him as a person. Wint, who had verbally committed to Temple over the summer, used the chat to feel out his potential coach before eventually committing to Ohio State. Knowing how talented the Ohio State squad is, Wint simply asked how bad Myer wanted him — and he got the answer he was looking for.
“It made me feel good that he said he wanted me badly,” Wint said. “I just wanted to ask that to get it out of the way, because in my head, I’d probably be second-guessing it right now. I just wanted to see if he believed in and wanted me. I asked him straight, because he asked me if I had any questions. I didn’t hesitate.”
The candid exchange won over Wint, who Yahoo ranked as just a two-star recruit but who still held offers from Penn State, Rutgers, and Boston College. Ohio State showed interest after watching his highlight reel and seeing him make 12 tackles in a win over Midwood on Sept. 26.
He is one of New York City’s top players and the Brooklyn Courier’s All-Brooklyn First Team selection. Wint made 69 tackles during the regular season and had two fumble recoveries and an interception to help Erasmus reach its second-straight Public School Athletic League City conference title game. He runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.
Pundits think the 5-foot-11, 187-pound senior could play on Ohio State’s special teams unit right away because of his hard-hitting and physical style. He believes that being coached at — and competing at — one of the best programs in the nation will benefit his development as a safety.
“I want to see how I can compete with the best players,” Wint said. “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. I want to train with them and compete with them.”
The commitment will also reunite him with former Dutchmen teammate Curtis Samuel, who just finished up his sophomore season with the Buckeyes. Seeing a familiar face there will help his transition.
“I played with him before,” Wint said. “At least I will be out there with a dude from where I am from.”
Samuel has told him how hard he needs to work — and how humble he needs to stay — to make it at Ohio State. Wint is just happy for the opportunity to do so.
“It feels good that they are actually taking a chance on me and that they saw something in me,” Wint said. “I worked hard for that commitment.”