By: SAM KHAN JR. (Houston Chronicle) –
Sometimes, playing the waiting game can backfire on a football recruit. That appeared to be the case for Eisenhower quarterback Kenneth Guiton.

After fielding four offers from Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Rice last summer, the 6-2, 178-pound standout decided to wait. And why not? After throwing for 2,592 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior and with a big senior campaign ahead, Guiton figured there would be more to come.

Before long, he waited himself out of offers as those schools withdrew. Guiton got lucky by picking up an offer from Prairie View in January and was set to become a Panther — until Ohio State came calling.

The perennial Big Ten power offered Guiton a scholarship Thursday and hosted him on an official visit Saturday. By Wednesday morning, he was sitting wide-eyed with his Eisenhower teammates signing a national letter of intent to spend his college career with the Buckeyes.

“It was a relief,” Guiton said. “I called the coaches as soon as I faxed my letter to be sure they got it and everything went well.”

Eisenhower coach Ray Evans said he was surprised how quickly Ohio State moved. Recruiting coordinator John Peterson flew down Wednesday in search of a quarterback to add to the two the Buckeyes have on their roster. He met with Evans, watched game film and picked up Guiton’s transcript information. When Peterson returned to Columbus the next day, he called and informed Evans that head coach Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes were offering Guiton a scholarship.

“It was literally a 24-hour process,” Evans said. “I only dealt with them a short time, but they sure do know how to do business.”

Guiton, who threw for 4,262 yards and 34 touchdowns in his final two seasons, is thrilled to be heading to Columbus.

“It’s just a whole different level of football and I feel it’s a level I can compete on,” Guiton said. “I’m going to come in as the third-string quarterback and I’m hoping to work my way up from there.”