On June 28, St. Xavier's Paris Johnson Jr. tweeted out a picture, a screenshot and three of the most powerful words he's ever written: "I'm staying home!!"
With scholarship offers on the table from Division I colleges across the nation – including the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Notre Dame – Johnson chose Ohio State.
“It is amazing to receive an opportunity to play for your home state team,” Johnson told Eleven Warriors upon his commitment. “They have an impressive tradition and culture.”
But a little over a month after committing to Ohio State, Johnson's college of choice saw its football program's tradition and culture fall under a seemingly never-ending shadow of controversy.