Northwestern '21 OH DE - Najee Story (Northwestern Verbal)

Watch as Solon, Ohio 2021 DE @Najeestory85 updates his recruitment. https://t.co/IcsKwFqKOs

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) August 16, 2019

 

Najee Story continues to build relationship with Ohio State
It’s been about six months since Ohio State offered Solon (Ohio) 2021 defensive end Najee Story and though the 6-foot-4, 240-pound lineman didn’t commit to the Buckeyes quickly as many suspected he would, he has continued to grow his relationship with Larry Johnson and the Ohio State staff.

“I have been staying in contact with Larry Johnson,” Story told Lettermen Row. “We just keep building the relationship and he tells me to keep in touch. He tells me that I’m going to be great when I get to 100-percent and I just need to keep working.”

Story is, he says, close to full speed after breaking his leg during his sophomore season. He worked out a camp with the Buckeyes in June and that allowed Johnson his first chance to work closely with him. Since then, Story has continued to move towards full health and says he’s seeing the changes in his body and quickness.

“I’m up to about 240-pounds,” he said. “And my leg is feeling pretty good, I’d say I’m 95 percent or so. I’m trusting it and just working on getting it as strong as my right leg now. I am been getting faster and faster as I’ve been progressing and it’s changed me a bit, I’m more in shape and definitely getting stronger.”

That’s go0d news for Solon and bad news for Solon opponents that line up across from Ohio’s sixth-ranked 2021 prospect. When he’s able to, Story says he plans to get to Columbus for a visit or two this season. He also wants to visit Notre Dame at some point and says that if things go well, he’d like to make a college decision sometime toward the end of the year.

“I say it might be towards the end of the season,” he said when asked when he thinks a decision could come. “But I’m not really focused on a decision as of now.”

 

Najee Story visits Ohio State for first game day
Ohio State offered Solon defensive end Najee Story back in the spring, but his recruitment has been pretty quiet since then. That’s Story’s story, I guess, since the 6-foot-4, 24o-pound junior chooses to be under-the-radar for the most part.

The country’s 11th-ranked strongside defensive end in the 2021 class was in Columbus on Saturday and watched the Buckeyes play for the first time in Ohio Stadium.

“It was great,” Story told Lettermen Row. “It was my first time in The ‘Shoe for a game, and I loved it. We showed up a little late, but I talked to [Ohio State staff member] Ed Terwilliger and [director of player personnel Mark] Pantoni at halftime.”

Story didn’t stay for any postgame conversations with the Ohio State coaching staff, but this trip was really about experiencing a game day with the Buckeyes. He’s stayed in regular contact with Ryan Day and Larry Johnson since the start of September and liked what he saw as those two and the rest of Ohio State staff handled in-game moments.

“Their defense was outstanding, and the defensive line dominated from the start,” Story said. “Both the defensive line and the rest of the defense stepped up in the absence of Chase Young, and that was huge. Their whole defense has great depth and talent, and I knew that there would be no problem.

“But 73-14? I loved the atmosphere and how much the fans were in it. I could see the coaches talking to the players on the sideline and teaching them as well.”

 

STORY IMPRESSED, WANTS TO MAKE ANOTHER VISIT
There’s another in-state defensive target who has interest in Ohio State right now, and he was on hand at Ohio State’s last home game against Maryland to soak in the atmosphere.

Najee Story came away impressed.

“My favorite part was just being able to watch the game and see the energy that was in the stadium” Story told Eleven Warriors. “A ‘wow’ factor was when I just looked at how big and packed the stadium was, and I thought I could really be playing in front of all these fans.”

Story had been planning a visit for a game for some time, but others things – such as having being scheduled on a Saturday, for instance – kept getting in the way this season.

But Story has now gotten his Ohio Stadium experience, and it was enough to make him want to get back in the building for the Penn State game. He says he plans on making a second visit to the Shoe for the critical showdown with the Nittany Lions.

Both Ohio State and Penn State have offers on the table to Story, who says he’s keeping his options open.

“My recruitment is still open as of now,” Story said. “Ohio State is a great school, and they are definitely going to be (high on my list). I’m keeping all of my options open so I’d say all schools are high on my list.”

 

Go wildcats!! 🟣⚪️@coachfitz51 @DLCoachLong @NUFBRecruiting @NUFBFamily pic.twitter.com/z3mr1XxswE

— Najee Story (@Najeestory95) May 3, 2020