Ohio State football loses recruit following photo flap

Columbus, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – The Ohio State football program lost a recruit following a recent photo flap, as a convicted sex offender posted a photo on the internet of himself with the player.

Alex Anzalone of Wyomissing, Pa., decommitted from Ohio State’s recruiting class Friday shortly after the incident in which 31-year-old Charles Waugh, listed on Kentucky’s sex-offender registry, posed for photos of himself with Anzalone and two other recruits.

Waugh posted the photos, which also had Mike Heuerman, a tight end now committed to Notre Dame, and Ohio State commit Joey Bosa, a defensive tackle from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in them, on twitter along with messages to other OSU players and recruits.

Anzalone was reportedly upset by the incident and decommitted from the program. Waugh’s twitter account had been shut down by Friday night and Ohio State issued a statement about the incident.

“The issue surrounding the individual from Kentucky is being treated by the Department of Athletics as a student-athlete welfare issue. When the University became aware that this individual had been seen in pictures — taken in public places — with student-athletes, proactive precautions were taken and the Department of Athletics alerted more than 1,000 Ohio State student-athletes about this person,” the statement said.

“The email message also reminded them of the negative implications that can be realized through simple associations on social networking sites. This individual is not associated with Ohio State. He is not a booster. He has not engaged in any activities on behalf of the University. The Department of Athletics will continue to monitor this issue and it will remain proactive in its efforts with regard to precautions for its student-athletes.”

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