OSU's Baron Browning, Urban Meyer Prank Each Other During Commitment Process

Ohio State commit Baron Browning started his Buckeyes tenure by pranking head coach Urban Meyer, who retaliated with some deception of his own.

As the 5-star recruit recalled during national signing day, he tricked his family and Meyer by saying he chose Alabama instead, per Cleveland.com.

"

I already knew I was going to come here, but I just felt like messing around. That’s the type of guy I am. I like cracking jokes, having fun. So I told my parents that I was going to Alabama, and I texted Coach Meyer and Coach (Luke) Fickell. I was like: "Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, but I’m rolling with the Tide. Roll tide." And it was just funny all around.

"

Although Browning later declared his true allegiance to the Buckeyes on Twitter, Meyer didn't learn of the ruse until Browning's father explained.

Per 247Sports' Dave Biddle, Meyer told the story from his perspective:

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I look down, and I can't remember if he called or sent me a text, and he said: 'I'm going to roll with Bama,' or something. I took my phone and threw it against the wall. I sit down, and all of a sudden I hear it buzzing again over there. I look and it's his father, and his father says: 'Hey, we got him, coach, congrats.' I said: 'What the hell are you talking about? He's going to Alabama.' He said: 'No, he's just playing around.' So he got me good.

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Browning probably thought the pranking would end there. He didn't realize, however, that Meyer would strike back.

As Browning went on to say, Meyer crafted his payback by saying he accepted the Los Angeles Rams' head coach position shortly after they fired Jeff Fisher. He even received an assist from the recruit's mother. 

"But I guess I had that coming," Browning said. "And then he was like, 'That's payback. So don't ever do that to me again.'"

[Cleveland.com]