Buckeyes add highly touted receiver to class

4-star Florida receiver, Johnnie Dixon, commits to burgeoning 2014 class

12/17/2013

COLUMBUS — Ohio State added to its blue-chip haul of prospects on Tuesday.

A day after the Buckeyes landed five-star Georgia linebacker Raekwon McMillan, four-star Florida receiver Johnnie Dixon became the 19th commit in their stalwart 2014 recruiting class.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Dixon, who helped lead West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer to a state championship last weekend, chose Ohio State over finalists Alabama and Miami.

"I will be attending The University of Ohio State," Dixon announced in a ceremony at his high school, unwittingly borrowing a line from the much-publicized commitment of former quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Fans, though, are surely willing to overlook the slip. Dixon is ranked as high as the nation's 39th overall recruit by ESPN.com and is the No. 16 receiver, according to 247Sports.com’s composite score — an average of the ratings by the major scouting services. He caught six touchdown passes during Dwyer’s five playoff games.

Dixon told reporters in a news conference he became enamored with OSU’s record-setting offense this season — "Coach [Urban] Meyer knows what to do with receivers," he said — and he wanted to leave his comfort zone in the south.

"I realized I didn’t want to be home anymore," Dixon said. "You’ve got to explore the world."

Like McMillan, Dixon plans to arrive in Columbus next month as an early enrollee. He also looks to be part of another late recruiting charge by Meyer.

Bill Kurelic, a recruiting analyst for 247Sports.com, said McMillan "may be just the first domino to fall with about a half dozen prospects." Next up could be a pair of four-star Cleveland Glenville prospects — athlete Marshon Lattimore and defensive back Erick Smith — both of whom are widely expected to announce they will attend OSU at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 4.

The Buckeyes’ recruiting class is ranked second behind Alabama by 247Sports, third by Rivals.com, and eighth by ESPN.

Contact David Briggs at: dbriggs@theblade.com, 419-724-6084 or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.