Las Vegas Raiders 2019-2023 LB - Tommy Eichenberg ('21 Rose Def MVP, '22 and '23 First Team All-BIG)

Michigan offers St Ignatius 2019 LB Tommy Eichenberg - Buckeyes offered a little over a week ago. Will be an interesting run to signing day for Boston College commit.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) October 3, 2018

 

Ohio State chasing Tommy Eichenberg, pursuit heating up
Last week Ohio State offered Cleveland St. Ignatius linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, the state of Ohio’s 11th-ranked 2019 prospect according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. On Wednesday, it was Michigan who tossed its hat into the ring for the 6-foot-3, 230-pound inside linebacker.

However, Ohio State and Michigan have one major problem still: Eichenberg remains committed to Boston College.

One source close the Buckeyes told Lettermen Row that Ohio State is “working hard” on Eichenberg and believes that he’s a “difference maker” on defense. Gregg Eichenberg, his father, told Lettermen Row that his son has been talking to the Buckeyes daily and that there’s no pressure on him to make a choice from the Ohio State side or the Boston College at this point.

There is no doubt that Notre Dame, and the threat of an offer from the Irish, still looms. But even if that happens, this isn’t a slam dunk for any of the programs involved because Eichenberg really does like the Eagles and the Boston College staff.

The key for Ohio State will be to get him on campus again at some point soon and for Tommy and his family to see their sincere interest in person. He’s been to games in Columbus as a recruit, so it’s not really about the game-day vibe and all that. But it is about comfort and relationships — like recruiting always is. St. Ignatius plays most of their games on Saturdays so there are few natural opportunities to get to campus for a game anyway.

The chase for Eichenberg could continue for a bit still, so hang on tight.

 

#OhioState and #Michigan LB target and #BostonCollege commit @tommyike41 talks about offers from #Buckeyes and #Wolverines and what is happening moving forward VIP https://t.co/6Do5j0B9ms

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) October 11, 2018

 

4-star LB Tommy Eichenberg remains committed to #BostonCollege but plans to visit both #OhioState and #Michigan for games. One of Ohio's top players. https://t.co/bf2J0iWubx pic.twitter.com/pxRKkiVVQQ

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) October 21, 2018

 

#Rivals250 LB Tommy Eichenberg's mid-season move to the MIKE position is only increasing his productivity: https://t.co/lhDjKBh5Jj

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) October 23, 2018

 

MOVING TO MIKE
Since Ohio State offered Cleveland St. Ignatius linebacker Tommy Eichenberg on Sept. 26, many have talked about his potential at the inside linebacker position at the collegiate level. Thankfully for those experts, Eichenberg is now playing in the middle with St. Ignatius.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound four-star prospect has impressed throughout his senior season. For instance, in last week's 27-20 win over St. Xavier and future Buckeye Paris Johnson Jr., Eichenberg led the Wildcats' defense with 12 tackles.

As a junior, Eichenberg made a living off playing outside linebacker. He did the same early this fall as well. But since his move to mike, he's impressed thoroughly and shown his upside and potential at the position. For Ohio State, that means a great deal considering their current linebacker corps.




Put simply, Eichenberg's continuous production at mike makes him one of the Buckeyes' top remaining targets in the 2019 class. With how Ohio State's linebackers are currently playing, he can't arrive in Columbus soon enough.

Currently, the Boston College commit is considered Ohio's 11th-best overall prospect and the nation's 19th-best inside linebacker. He says even though he's committed to BC, Ohio State's offer has made his decision "really hard."

"They are telling me they want me to be a Buckeye, and I am thinking about what they're telling," Eichenberg told 247Sports about Ohio State assistants Greg Schiano, Billy Davis and Tony Alford. "It's really hard, because I like Boston College so much, and it's given me a lot to think about. I want to take that visit, and I think I would make a later decision on things."

Time will tell but one thing is crystal clear: the Buckeyes need a player like Eichenberg in their next recruiting cycle; especially after the decommitment from Kane Patterson.

I'm sure you'll also enjoy this article about Eichenberg and his friend and foe Caden Kolesar from cleveland.com. From the article:

If Caden Kolesar makes a game-changing play Friday for St. Edward, then St. Ignatius might have Tommy Eichenberg to blame.

Their first football encounter happened 10 years ago during a snowy recess at Dover Elementary School in Westlake. Eichenberg played quarterback and threw the ball toward Kolesar, playing defense almost like he does today. What happened next kindled their friendship and Kolesar’s love for football.

They meet Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium as high school seniors and football rivals. Kolesar plays defensive back for St. Edward. Eichenberg is the middle linebacker at St. Ignatius.

For them, it all started on the snow-covered blacktop as second-graders in Westlake.

To read the full article, click here.

 

Tommy Eichenberg will visit Michigan, not Ohio State this weekend
One of the players Ohio State really wants to add in its 2019 class will visit the Buckeyes biggest rival this weekend rather than heading to Columbus.

According to his father, Gregg, Cleveland St. Ignatius linebacker Tommy Eichenberg will visit Michigan for its home game against Penn State, a game that has serious Big Ten and national championship implications. Eichenberg and St. Ignatius play on Friday night and, with the earlier start in Columbus on Saturday, it’s a bit easier/more convenient to get to Ann Arbor this weekend. Eichenberg will see Ohio State the weekend of Nov. 24, when the Buckeyes host Michigan.

A Boston College commit, Eichenberg’s eventual decision is likely to come down to BC, Ohio State and Michigan but it will be the Wolverines getting the first crack at him on campus. Al Washington, Michigan’s linebackers coach, visited him in Cleveland last Friday night, as did Ohio State linebackers coach Billy Davis. Urban Meyer was at St. Ignatius on Friday as well.

 

1064682378604527617 is not a valid tweet id

 

Tommy Eichenberg decommits from Boston College
There may not be a more important remaining recruit for Ohio State in the class of 2019 than Cleveland St. Ignatius 2019 linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. I realize that sounds a bit dramatic for a player the Buckeyes offered just two months ago. But the need at linebacker combined with what appears to be another recruiting battle between Ohio State and Michigan for a top-ranked Ohio prospect has turned this entire recruitment on its ear.

Late Monday night, Eichenberg’s recruitment took another twist, though it was kind of expected.

Boston College had done a great job recruiting the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Eichenberg. But from the moment Ohio State and Michigan offered him, the odds of the Eagles holding on to his commitment all but vanished. Now, it’s more than likely a two-team race to the finish line, but the contest is really just getting started.

This weekend, the country’s 19th-ranked inside linebacker will visit the Buckeyes for The Game against the Wolverines. He’s already visited Michigan, taking in a game at the Big House in early November. There will almost assuredly be second visits officially made to each school in the next month or two as he tries to figure out his future.

Eichenberg grew up dreaming of playing at Ohio State, but so did Kyle Kalis, who opted for the Wolverines in 2011 when questions about the Buckeyes program were being raised amid the scandal that ousted Jim Tressel from Columbus. Ultimately, I believe that as long as Urban Meyer remains at the helm the Buckeyes will win this one. But it’s going to be a major battle over the next two months.

 

Cleveland St. Ignatius 2019 four-star linebacker and Boston College decommitment Tommy Eichenberg. pic.twitter.com/ZjLhLFxYEA

— Garrett Stepien (@GarrettStepien) November 24, 2018

 

Eichenberg will take official visits to both Ohio State and Michigan...…..has already visited both unofficially...…..

We could be looking at a January decision...……

My personal opinion is that he would be the sleeper in this class...…….

 

I think he would look good in scarlet and gray...…….

 

1070845122718416896 is not a valid tweet id

 

Eichenberg informed the Ohio State staff of his decision on Monday night, met with Billy Davis on Wednesday night - becomes commitment No. 16 today — https://t.co/pS5eYonMeW

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) December 7, 2018

 

#BOOM: Ohio State secures their first commitment of the Ryan Day era as four-star linebacker Tommy Eichenberg pledges to the Buckeyes. https://t.co/azdipFqJpK

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 7, 2018