Buckeyes add 16th commit in OL Tim Gardner

Last Friday, Ohio State held its first-ever Friday Night Lights event, bringing in top recruits for this class and the future. Following FNL, the Buckeyes received their 16th commit for the 2013 class in offensive lineman Tim Gardner.

Gardner gave Ohio State his commitment in June but was reportedly told by the OSU staff it wasn't wanted initially. Multiple media members have speculated this week that Ohio State asked Gardner to drop weight before they accepted his commitment.

Eleven Warriors notes that Gardner has dropped from 340 to 320 pounds. At 320 pounds, Gardner would be the heaviest offensive lineman on the Buckeyes. Junior Marcus Hall weighs 317 pounds.

At FNL, the Lawrence-North (Indianapolis) product worked with former OSU greats LeCharles Bentley and Orlando Pace.

Gardner is rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a two-star recruit by Scout.com. He's OSU's second offensive line commit after Evan Lisle.

Ohio State is fairly set at offensive line. Four of the five expected starters at offensive line are juniors. Only left tackle Jack Mewhort is a senior.

Gardner also had offers from Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, Toledo and others.