Yesterday kinda sucked,
but I’m already over it. Still very likely gonna finish with a top two class that will keep us in perennial championship contention
Posted Dec 21, 2017, 7:10 PM UTC
29
Having a top 5 recruiting class is still amazing. I'd rather have guys who have wanted to be a Buckeye for a while than some of the other immature knuckleheads we see on signing day.
5
Petered out to a typical recruiting class for Meyer sort of. Missed out on some of the top level guys but still a very solid base of 4-star players to build on. My take on their misses:
Missing out on Jackson will make a difference, but they still have 5 guys from the last two classes: Munford, Myers, Davis, Jones and Wray, ultimately making a complete O-line of expected starters.
Exchanging Cox for Smith is a step down, and even though Smith would allow a nice rotation of 4 natural DEs, it's a little worrisome considering Bosa and Young will probably leave as soon as they're eligible since both are potential 1st round picks. They'll likely court Harrison from Olentangy Orange pretty heavily next year, especially since 2 of the top DE prospects are already verbals for Michigan. Given how many DTs Ohio State has, I'm expecting Cage, Cornell, or Haskins to be asked to play both inside and outside if any of them are athletic enough (maybe they'll see if Booker, Jones, Harrison or Hilliard can put their hands in the dirt?). Don't know if there's a chance to get Oweh still, but I expect it's an easy pitch to show they are needing guys who will play in the '18 or '19 seasons, and if you're in their top 4 rotation you're going to the NFL. Weirdly, after having such consistently great 4-3 DEs, and still having two exciting ones going into next year, the last two classes are seeming equally or more suited to adapt to a 3-4 look, maybe it's something they'll show, especially if they like all their linebackers.
They still have two 4-star safeties after losing Woodbey, so the position isn't in danger whatsoever, just missing that elite talent (which won't stay in school long anyway). Among Pryor, White, Johnson and Proctor the safety play should be solid at minimum.
You'd like to take a 4-star QB every year to add to the development/competition pool, but missing out this year just means next year's 4 and 5-star guys will be more attracted to OSU.
2
If next year. we get both the high 4 Star WV OTs who are Buckeye fans (1 committed already) we should be good at OT.
Zach Harrison is the truth and can start day 1 but probably will end up first sub in as a freshman. DE will only be a question over the next 2-3 years if, god forbid, we have a major injury or 2.
I’m actually concerned about CB in 2-3 years. No top end recruit this year (I think Johnson is a natural safety) and the only high end guy that really liked us next year just committed to MSU. We’re stacked at least the next couple of years but recruiting is really about 2-4 years in the future.
Also QB is a minor concern as we don’t seem to be in on many high end guys next year after taking a slight risk this year (very little playing experience from him)
Finally, LB play has been down this year so we’ll need to really hit on our guys this year as well as hoping a couple of the young guys on the roster develop and I hope Cade Stover continues to improve as he has a very high ceiling.
This is all just nitpicking as we’re stacked to contend for it all for the next few years.
2
With corner, Okudah and Wade might be in and out, but then Arnette, Sheffield; Riep, Williamson; and Hooker, Banks are likely to provide background continuity that is staggered so that they will have upperclassman options for the next 4 years.
I think a similar thing will happen at linebacker where, regardless of if we see more of Harrison and Borland, or if Browning and Hilliard grow into their potential, there will inevitably be two or three background guys who will stay for their whole eligibility, maybe Harrison, Jones and Werner for example.
1
I think Browning is gonna be a superstar, but I don’t have much hope for Hilliard anymore. Too many injuries
1
I wouldn’t consider Smith much of a step back. Maybe a tiny one at most
1
Wait... Kinda sucked? Dude. By most accounts we have an even better class than The Dawgs. Our player ratings were higher. And we’re getting Grinch as a defensive coach! Yesterday was an awesome day for THE OSU
2
Yesterday sucked if you were hoping that OSU was gonna land the greatest recruiting class of all time. As of now we are still #2 overall and #1 in player average ranking, so UGA can take their 6 5 stars, and I will gladly take our 2-3 5 stars with 14 4 stars (UGA has like 9). It actually does suck that Jackson Carman signed with Clemson, I'll give you that. It's been a while since a first-team HS All American OL has been in a recruiting class. God knows we need to find much more reliable OTs than Prince and Munford [well, Prince more so than Munny], and I bet Carman would have competed for a starting role on the line this season.
I really just wanted to land (1) Jeremy Ruckert- signed, (2) Jalean Gill- signed, Matt Jones- signed, (4) Taron Vincent + Tommy Toglalaiaialaia + Antwuan Jackson all at DT- all signed, and (5) a 4-star, top-100 WR (we got 3).
Very excited for 2020, we will be better than 2005 USC or 2000 Miami.
1
I mean, Georgia really came out of left field and cleaned up. I'm not worried though. Of course coaches are going to use any arrow in their quiver they can to flip the best recruits. I assumed after we got shit on by Iowa it was going to flip a few recruits the wrong way so we have to live with the consequences and just look forward to next season.