Adam Bellamy was putting some young football players through their paces, urging them to give their all during a youth camp Monday in Aurora, Ohio, when his high school coached beckoned him.

Bellamy, a senior-to-be defensive lineman for Aurora, had just given his all the day before at Ohio State's summer camp. Aurora coach Bob Mihalik said OSU coach Jim Tressel wanted Bellamy to call him.

When he did, Tressel offered him a scholarship. After taking 24 hours to think it over, Bellamy yesterday became the 17th commitment to OSU's 2009 recruiting class. In 48 hours, he'd gone from hoping to gain an offer from the Buckeyes to having one in his hip pocket. His performance in camp made the difference.

"I knew I definitely had to step it up to have a chance of possibly being a Buckeye," said Bellamy, 6 feet 4, 278 pounds. "I just approached that camp with my normal mentality: I busted my butt. Then I got lucky and it came true."

Northwestern, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Vanderbilt and several Mid-American Conference schools were among those who already had offered him a scholarship. But OSU and Michigan were showing increased interest, and three days before he had planned to visit Michigan, he committed to OSU.

"I'm honored to have this chance," said Bellamy, whom Bucknuts recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic had rated as the 18th overall prospect in the state before the round of summer camps.

"Six months ago, I had no idea this could happen. I was really jacked up then just knowing that a couple of schools were looking at me."

"It just exploded here in the last few months. Now that I have given Ohio State my verbal (commitment), a lot of weight is off my back. I can kind of calm down and have fun this summer."