Alex Anzalone Decommits From Ohio State Amid Sex Offender Concerns

The Ohio State Marching Band plays before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Buckeyes and Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won the game 37-7. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio State recruit has told the Buckeyes he will not attend the university, according to several published reports, amid concern that a convicted sex offender had interactions with players and recruits associated with the program.

Alex Anzalone, one of the nation's top linebacker recruits, committed to Ohio State last month in what was turning out to be a stellar class for new coach Urban Meyer.

But Anzalone, of Wyomissing, Pa., will reopen his recruiting process, after being contacted by Charles Eric Waugh, 31, of Ashland, Ky. In 2008, Waugh pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of underage sexual content. And this year, across Twitter, he contacted several Ohio State coaches athletes, and even recruits, including Anzalone. He also posed for photos with some of them.

Dr. Sal Anzalone, Alex's father, told the Reading (Pa.) Eagle late Friday that "something is just not right at Ohio State. It's not for him."

As news spread of Anzalone's decision, and of Waugh's past, the school put out a statement on Friday night.

"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."

Anzalone visited Columbus last month during spring game weekend. While there, he and other potential recruits posed for a photo with Waugh, who later posted it on Twitter.

"You don't want your son to go to a place where there's a potential issue," Sal Anzalone told the Eagle. "You expect the staff to have some sort of control on how things are handled with recruits when they visit. This is ridiculous."

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Comments

[dbrett480]

07:29 PM on 05/16/2012

What affiliation does Waugh have with the university?

[Jacob007]

03:03 PM on 05/06/2012

Don't worry the SEC welcome mat is always open for him.

[Beal]

06:09 AM on 05/07/2012

Sour grapes my friend? You have an ex SEC coach and you're not complaining.

[chemistrydoc]

01:42 PM on 05/06/2012

This is such a non-issue. My guess is that this kid (or his dad) was looking for a reason for him not to go there in the first place. While it's not desirable, if the kid really wanted to go to OSU, it would have been just as easy for him to turn the whole situation around on the guy and look like a hero. Pathetic fail.

[Beal]

06:10 AM on 05/07/2012

Non-Issue?

[chris hatala]

05:50 AM on 05/06/2012

Let's see if he goes to Penn State.

[OHCelt]

10:49 PM on 05/05/2012

This whole story is as phony as a three dollar bill. If this kid is too stupid to see his Dad's agenda, then God help him. Clearly OSU has no control over the background of the 81,000 that turned up to the Spring Game, and every large crowd has its share of undesirables, so Anzalone senior clearly has some other agenda. Perhaps OSU didn't make enough fuss of him?

Either way, good riddance to this over-entitled kid and his self important father.

[BGM1906]

09:11 AM on 05/06/2012

So, if your son/daughter was a recruit at a school that had this exact same circumstance it wouldn't be a big deal to you!?! Get real....smh

[chemistrydoc]

01:40 PM on 05/06/2012

Not for me. Not one moment of hesitation. Anyone can interact with anyone in public pretty much at any time. Get used to it.

[David8067]

08:04 PM on 05/06/2012

How would you propose THE Ohio State University - or any other school - prevent this circumstance from happening? The guy is not associated with the university at any level.

[cheeriogirl]

02:11 PM on 05/05/2012

This dad sounds overbearing and self righteous. Good riddance.