ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Mason Wilt won’t have to change his color scheme when he graduates from high school and heads to college.

The St. Clairsville junior offensive tackle verbally committed over the weekend to attend Ohio State University to continue his academic and athletic careers.

“I actually committed last Thursday,” the 6-4, 300-pound Wilt said Monday afternoon prior to practice for Friday’s Division V, Region 17 quarterfinal playoff game at Garrettsfield Garfield. “That’s when I called the offensive line coach and told him. I was going to surprise Coach (Ryan) Day.”

Wilt took official visits to Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Michigan, West Virginia and Ohio State.

“They’ve been recruiting me since my sophomore year and they showed me the most love,” Wilt said of his commitment to the Buckeyes. “They also showed my family a lot of love and showed me the most attention. My entire family grew up as Buckeye fans and I want to win a national championship.”

He said the recruiting process, although stressful at times, was a good experience.

“It was really fun to see what everyone has to say about each place and the different traditions,” he explained.

Another factor in his decision was Avery Henry, a former St. Clairsville offensive lineman who attended Ohio State and is still involved with the team.

“I’ve looked up to Avery Henry since I was in 6th grade,” Wilt admitted. That worked into my decision, as well. I have a lot of connections at Ohio State and a lot of my family went there, too.”

Wilt said he was 6-foot, 200 pounds in the sixth grade and continued to get “bigger and bigger” from there on.

When asked what his favorite part of being a lineman is, he replied, “Beating the crap out of people and blocking down.”

Veteran St. Clairsville head football coach Brett McLean is overjoyed with Wilt’s decision.

“It’s a blessing to have kids have that type of ability. Mason is very deserving. He has worked hard from day one. We knew he had the size, but you need to have discipline, classroom ability, on-the-field ability,” MCLean said. “He’s been to the camps and combines and competed against the better kids in the nation in front of the best coaches in the nation. His entire body of work is what the coaches look for. He has that type of ability.

“He has handled this opportunity very well,” McLean continued. “His eyes are on the prize and being the best offensive lineman as a Red Devil that he can be right now. He’s a great teammate and has been a great leader for the young linemen we were breaking in this year.

“Ohio State is the cream of the crop.”

McLean also said this is huge for the Red Devils’ program, as well.

“I just hope that the families of our younger kids know the opportunities are there, but genetically, you have to have the right ability,” he said. “We’re constantly on those schools’ radars and we have them continually visit our hallways. Winning and being successful helps that happen.”