2024 RB Sam Williams-Dixon joins Ohio State football's recruiting class
Tony Alford landed another in-state running back for Ohio State's room.
Three-star Pickerington North running back Sam Williams-Dixon announced Saturday his commitment to the Buckeyes, joining offensive linemen Marc Nave, Ian Moore, Deontae Armstrong and Devontae Armstrong, along with wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham, linebacker/safety Garrett Stover, linebacker Payton Pierce, tight end Max LeBlanc and running back James Peoples in Ohio State's 2024 class.
Williams-Dixon picked Ohio State over his other two finalists Penn State and Kentucky. He is the No. 57 running back in the 2024 class and the No. 24 prospect from Ohio per 247Sports' composite rankings.
“That’s probably the hardest question to ask somebody: why they love what they do,” Williams-Dixon previously told The Dispatch. “But I love it because it brings joy to me. I feel more confident playing it and feel happy. That’s what I play.”
Williams-Dixon is Ohio State's second commitment Saturday after LeBlanc joined Ohio State's 2024 class minutes before the spring game.
The 5-foot-11, 203-pound running back is Ohio State's first in-state running back commit since Miyan Williams out of Winton Woods in Cincinnati flipped to the Buckeyes from Iowa State in 2020.
After adding both TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor in 2021, and Dallan Hayden in 2022, Ohio State did not add a running back in the 2023 class, initially having Fort Lauderdale, Florida running back Mark Fletcher in the class until he flipped and signed with Miami in December.
Williams-Dixon was the second running back to be offered by Ohio State in the 2024 class, while also being the second running back to join the Buckeyes' class along with Peoples, who is the No. 5 running back and No. 81 prospect in the country per 247Sports' composite rankings.
According to Williams-Dixon, Ohio State sees him as a versatility option in the backfield, one that can block, run through gaps on the offensive line and catch the ball as a receiver, making defenders miss in space.
“I can outrun people, run people over and just have that chip on my shoulder that I’m not doing this for myself,” Williams-Dixon said. “I’m also doing it for the men up front that block for me and for my team.”
After playing three seasons at West Holmes High School in Millersburg, Ohio, Williams-Dixon announced in February he would transfer to Pickerington North for his senior season.
Williams-Dixon's move from West Holmes to Pickerington North was not associated with football and was a family decision.
Pickerington North coach Nate Hillerich has high expectations for what Williams-Dixon can do in his backfield.
“I think he runs with power, and he makes guys miss in space,” Hillerich said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that’s going to be able to touch him in space.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football adds Sam Williams-Dixon to 2024 recruiting class
