"They had the best room" - 4-star prospect Faheem Delane's father shares reason behind Ohio State commitment

Four-star safety Faheem Delane announced his commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, choosing them over Maryland, Virginia Tech, LSU and Oregon, among others. The move is a significant boost to the Ryan Day-coached program’s already impressive recruiting class, and Delane's father revealed why the Good Counsel High School athlete chose the Buckeyes over others.

Delane is ranked as the No. 44 overall prospect, the No. 3 safety and the No. 1 overall prospect in Maryland in the On3 Industry Rankings. 247Sports ranks the 6-foot-2.5, 200-pounder as the No. 50 overall prospect, the No. 4 safety and the No. 1 overall prospect in Maryland.

Ohio State’s flirting with Faheem Delane began over two years ago. Delane’s father, Jafau Delane, pointed out the quality of the safety room as a crucial factor in his son's decision.

"Obviously the fact of the room itself," Jafau Delane told On3. "Caleb Downs, we love the fact that a lot of seniors are coming back or guys that could’ve left chose to come back."

Downs is a transfer student, who earned second-team All-American honors as a freshman at Alabama and is expected to make a huge impact at Ohio State in the upcoming season.

Jafau Delane has a background in coaching football, and he mentioned the importance of leadership and development in his son's decision.

"For me, that was a separator," Jafau said. "Get developed, a lot of the development really happens with the players and mentality. Out of all the other schools, I felt they had the best room, the best locker room."

The strong relationship Faheem formed with the coaching staff, including former safety coach Perry Eliano and current coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri, also played a vital role.

“Obviously the coaches, we like the scheme and what they can do for him, but when all said and done, it’s going to be the players making those plays, and as an incoming guy, I like that he has leadership in the room,” Jafau said.

Faheem Delane will join an incredible recruiting class at Ohio State, which already includes five-star cornerbacks Na’eem Offord and Devin Sanchez, four-star safety DeShawn Stewart and three-star safety Cody Haddad.

Faheem Delane shares the reason behind his pledge to Ohio State

Faheem Delane has visited Ohio State multiple times since being offered a spot on the team in May 2022. He made his commitment following an official visit this month, as the program stood out on his list due to its hospitality.

“Every time I am there, it feels like a reunion with me and the coaches,” Delane said (via On3). “It’s all love, and the atmosphere is like no other. The fans bring that juice, especially this time with it being their only night game. I can’t compare it to any other game I have been to.”

A major influence on Delane's decision was his admiration for Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, and his confidence in the program’s defensive scheme.

"Their defense is a safety-driven defense, which means I have the opportunity to play early,” he said.

Faheem Delane led Good Counsel to a stellar 10-1 record this past season, amassing 69 tackles and 18 pass breakdowns.