Trey Johnson Commits to Ohio State: Urban Meyer Shows He Still Owns the South

Ohio State has always claimed a college football recruiting stronghold in Ohio and across the Midwest, but with the recent commitment of stud Georgia linebacker Trey Johnson, head coach Urban Meyer proved that the Buckeyes are a recruiting force well south the Ohio River.

When Meyer came to OSU after his tenure with the Florida Gators, the Buckeyes knew they had brought in one of the best recruiters in college football.

However, they couldn't have known just how well he would do below the Mason-Dixon Line.

With Johnson now in the fold, six of OSU's 20 commitments for the class of 2013 hail from Southeastern Conference territory.

Johnson, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., is the No. 2 inside linebacker in the nation according to ESPN.

When the Central Gwinnett High School product announced his pledge to OSU during the Under Armour All-America Game, he did so by snubbing a host of SEC powers including Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.

Also for this 2013 class, Meyer dipped back into the Sunshine State, which was so kind to him during his tenure in Gainesville.

There, he went to perennial high school power Saint Thomas Aquinas and snared blue-chip defensive tackle Joey Bosa from the likes of Alabama, Florida and Florida State.

Back when he was with the Gators, pulling big-time prospects from the South was common place. From 2006 to 2010, ESPN ranked Florida's recruiting classes in the top five all five years, as Meyer pulled recruits from all across Dixie including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.

Now in the North, the OSU boss simply picked up right where he left off. 

The Buckeyes have already accepted commits from prospects in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and new SEC states Missouri and Texas.

By comparison, OSU brought in just one recruit from an SEC state last season. Currently on Ohio State's 104-man roster, only 11 players hail from an SEC territory—a figure that is sure to change with Meyer now in charge.

With respect to rapper T.I., Urban Meyer is still King of the South.

And with the King plucking recruits from that talent-rich region, the Buckeyes have cemented their place in the Big Ten Conference and national title picture for years to come.