Meyer Lands Play Maker Clark

Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Tom Herman was in Florida a little over two weeks ago to meet with wide receiver James Clark (New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach). Herman offered Clark a scholarship and asked him to make an official visit to Ohio State.

Clark caught 49 passes for 1,112 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season.

Urban Meyer soon followed up with a stop at Clark’s school and Meyer and Herman then made an in-home visit with the 4-star wide receiver that night and convinced Clark to take his last official visit to Ohio State rather than Florida.

That visit took place the weekend of Jan. 25 and paid off handsomely for the Buckeyes. Though Clark made an unofficial visit to Florida this past weekend, he announced moments ago that he is a Buckeye, in the end picking Ohio State over Florida and Clemson.

"It was definitely a close call," Clark said. "All three were good schools, and I really couldn't go wrong with any one of them. (But) Ohio State provides the best opportunity to have a long career and the best chance for me to have a good life after football. It seemed like home.

Clark made official visits to Purdue, Northwestern, Nebraska, Clemson and Ohio State. He had scholarship offers from all of those schools as well as Florida and some others before picking the Scarlet and Gray.

Clark vaulted up the Buckeyes’ recruiting board in just a few weeks. The 4-star receiver caught 49 passes for 1,112 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season.

The 5-foot-10 and 170-pound Clark is the country's No. 174 prospect, the No. 25 wide receiver and the No. 24 prospect in Florida.

So what is the impact of Clark's decision on the Buckeyes' team next year and after that? Click below for Bill Kurelic's story:

The James Clark Impact

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James Clark, WR

* School: New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

* Height, Weight: 5-10, 170

* 40-Yard Time: 4.45

* Vital Statistics: Clark has great speed and was a standout at track (10.2-second 100 meter time and 21.5 seconds in the 200). As a junior, he had 28 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two rushing scores. As a senior, he had 49 catches for 1,112 yards and eight touchdowns.

* Rankings: Clark was rated as the nation’s No. 175 prospect overall, the nation’s No. 25 wide receiver and the No. 24 prospect overall in Florida.