BY: ALDEN GONZALEZ (MiamiHerald.com) —

On Wednesday morning, Palmetto star running back Jaamal Berry made official what seemed inevitable more than five months ago: He’s an Ohio State Buckeye.

Berry, a bruising 5-11, 185-pound tailback, signed on the dotted line at his school’s auditorium during National Signing Day, opting to go with the university he fell in love with since he visited it during the annual Scarlet and Gray Spring Game.

”Tradition [is what set Ohio State apart],” said Berry, who told OSU coach Jim Tressel on Aug. 31 he was going to be a Buckeye. “They have a lot of people going to the NFL, and when I first went there, location wasn’t really a factor. I was just looking for a place to get a good education, and I want to go to the NFL, so I wanted a school that was going to [fit that need].”

Berry missed six games in 2008 — when he rushed for 600 yards and three touchdowns — because of a left high ankle sprain. But he said he should be at 100 percent pretty soon.

Berry could have a good chance to be a lead back with the Buckeyes, with Chris ”Beanie” Wells opting to go to the NFL Draft.

Berry also had interest from Florida, LSU, West Virginia, South Carolina, Auburn, FSU, Ole Miss and Michigan.

”I’m still going to have to prove myself when I get there, but I think I have a big chance,” said Berry, the No. 3-ranked running back in the nation by ESPN. “The coach is confident in me, and they think I can make an impact at the college level as a freshman. But it all depends on what I do when I get there.”

Also signing for Palmetto on Wednesday was wide receiver/defensive back/punt returner Darryl Williams, who opted to go to Western Kentucky after drawing interest from the University of Central Florida.