Before Grant Schmidt, no player from South Dakota had ever signed with Ohio State University. His choice of schools was not the lineman's only first. He was also the first offensive lineman to join the elite 15 and he did so after just two tours of the campus. As a high schooler, Grant Schmidt stood 6 feet and 6 inches tall, weighed in at 275 pounds, and played tackle for Roosevelt H.S. in his hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Grant chose the Buckeyes over several popular universities with talented teams. He turned down North Carolina, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Washington, Utah, and Rutgers. At the time, Grant Schmidt was at the top in South Dakota and as offensive tackle, he was ranked at 38th in the nation. He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as an observer at Ohio State and the coaches were just as impressed with his skills.

Grant chose Ohio State for reasons other than the football program and when he begins his first year for the Buckeyes, it will be as an important member of the recruiting class of 2015.

One benefit to having chosen a school already is that Grant Schmidt can focus on high school and competing for the state title. As one of South Dakota's best players, Grant could have formed a bloated opinion about his celebrity, but he finds that he would rather concentrate on learning as much as he can and growing in the game. He views Ohio State University as a chance to hone his skills.