4-star ILB Tommy Eichenberg signs with Ohio State on National Signing Day

No matter who the head coach is, trying to keep the top instate talent home has always been a major priority for the Ohio State football program while scouting potential Buckeyes on the recruiting trail.

Without question Ryan Day and company did that with their latest 2019 signee.

He might’ve not locked in his scholarship offer from OSU until late into his senior season, but none of that matters anymore as four-star Cleveland St. Ignatius inside linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has signed his paperwork with Ohio State and will arrive on campus in the coming months.

A longtime Boston College pledge before he obtained his chance to head to Columbus and suit up for the Big Ten power Buckeyes, Eichenberg, the brother of one time OSU target and current Notre Dame starting left tackle Liam Eichenberg, was the first 2019 prospect to verbally commit to Day once he was named the new Buckeye boss.

A key leader for the Wildcats last season, helping lead St. Ignatius to an overall record of 8-3, the 6’3, 235-pounder racked up over 70 solo tackles, and seven quarterback sacks as a senior.

Eichenberg is the 19th inside linebacker and 276th overall prospect in the class of 2019 per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Once on campus, he will have a hill to climb when it comes to hitting the two deep at Ohio State. With Tuf Borland, and Baron Browning returning, and numerous bodies ahead of him with college experience, his best shot at making an instant impact in the Scarlet and Gray will more than likely be on the special teams unit ala OSU linebacker Teradja Mitchell this past season.

Scouting Report

“I think Tommy Eichenberg is one of the most underrated recruits in the country, and I don’t just say that because I’m an Ohio State writer (trust me, I’m the last person you’ll get Ohio State homerism from). I say it because Eichenberg has both the body of work (114 tackles, 19 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2017) and the film to support him being ranked much higher than 324th, where he sits in the 247Sports composite.

He also has the body of work and film to support him having quite a few more offers than the 14 he reports. I’m not sure if it’s just a case of a kid flying under the radar or what, but Ohio State stole a top 100 caliber recruit from Boston College, and I think he could make an immediate impact in Columbus.

He’s a great athlete, and he has the ideal size to play in a modern Nickel defense, which Ohio State may be switching to this offseason. His coverage skills aren’t anything too special, but his ability to quickly process information, make decisions, and finish plays with his natural ability are absolutely Ohio State caliber, not in two years, but now, as a high school senior. We can only hope he has a competent, non Bill Davis linebackers coach in Columbus, but even if he has to deal with Urban Meyer’s best man “coaching him up” (or whatever Davis does), I think Eichenberg has the talent and intelligence to overcome it at star at Ohio State.”

- Patrick Mayhorn, Land-Grant Holy Land

Highlights