Once an Ohio State target, four-star RB Robert Washington has bizarre commitment to Syracuse: Buckeyes recruiting

Robert Washington talks about his Ohio State visit Running back Robert Washington of Huntersville (N.C.) Southlake Christian Academy took a visit to Ohio State on Saturday. He met with reporters after the Buckeyes instructional camp came to an end.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four-star running back Robert Washington of Huntersville (N.C.) Southlake Christian Academy filmed a video with Bleacher Report on Thursday announcing his commitment to Florida.

Only minutes after the video was published, Washington publicly announced his decision to pledge to Syracuse.

Strange, but Washington told Syracuse.com, a sister site to Cleveland.com, that he changed his mind shortly after recording the Bleacher Report video. Either way, he's now pledged to the Orangemen.

Nothing changed between Florida and Syracuse, but he was driving back to North Carolina from Connecticut, where he was visiting his mother, when he had the change of heart.

"I was just thinking about it on the way down," Washington said. "I was praying and praying and thinking and I let God reach me."

Rated in the 247Sports composite the No. 12 running back in the 2016 recruiting class, Washington was once a top target for Ohio State. He even visited the Buckeyes last summer during the summer camp circuit.

The Buckeyes, however, don't have any more room for running backs in this year's class, as it has commitments from three of the top-five running backs in the country - five-star Kareem Walker of Wayne (N.J.) De Paul Catholic, four-star George Hill of Hubbard, Ohio, and four-star Demario McCall of North Ridgeville, Ohio.

Washington had more than 40 scholarship offers, but he narrowed down his decision between Florida, TCU, Alabama, North Carolina, Michigan and Syracuse.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound prospect rushed for 2,233 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. Washington had a similar season as a sophomore, a season in which he racked up 2,512 yards and 28 touchdowns.

His consistent play led to such an impressive scholarship list, which also included Notre Dame, Louisville, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee and others.

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