Kearney DL Arp commits to Ohio

It was a busy day for recruiting news around the state of Nebraska on Thursday.

The day started with Bellevue West wide receiver C.J. Johnson committing to Wyoming, followed by Papillion La Vista South defensive tackle Ryan Earith committing to South Dakota State.

However, by the end of the day Kearney defensive tackle Brian Arp joined the in-state July 3 commit parade by announcing his commitment to play for former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich at Ohio.

"Just talking with my parents about everything I wanted to make an early commitment so I wouldn't have to worry about who's watching," Arp said. "I just kind of wanted to focus on one school during my senior year and worry about doing some big things on the field and just focus on my team. Overall it was just a great fit and I liked it a lot when I went out there."

Arp also held offers from South Dakota State, South Dakota and Liberty. He camped at both Nebraska and Wyoming this summer as well.

The 6-foot-3, 265 pound Arp was being recruited as both a defensive tackle and offensive lineman, but the Bobcats specifically told him they want him for defense.

"I really liked their defensive coaches and what they do," Arp said. "They run kind of the same stuff we do at Kearney, so it's a perfect fit. The school there also has my major. It was really good just to get this decision off my chest."

Ohio is no stranger to recruiting Kearney either. Besides Arp, the Bobcats signed former Bearcat linebacker Noah Keller back in 2007 as well as offering former Nebraska kicker Brett Maher out of Kearney in 2008.

Even though Athens is over 1,000 miles from Kearney, Arp said the distance shouldn't play a factor for him at all.

"The distance kind of played a big factor, but it really doesn't bother me at all," Arp said. "Talking with my parents and coaches distance really doesn't bother me as long as the school was the right fit.

"The campus at Ohio is beautiful out there. Then with Solich and all their coaches having Nebraska ties and running it kind of like Nebraska all stood out to me. I really liked all of that."