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This is a recurring feature leading up to National Signing Day where we will preview each teams recruiting class and who each team’s best recruit is and who can make an immediate impact. We’ll go in order from worst to first based on 2016 standings. All ratings come from the 247 composite rankings.
Yep, Ohio State didn’t finish first in the conference. Don’t care, they are the last team previewed because this class is far and away better than the rest. In fact, they could beat Alabama at recruiting. No one has done that in years!
Where do they stand?
Pretty damn good. Ohio State is 2nd in the nation, 1st in the Big Ten. In fact, they’re almost tied with Alabama heading into national signing day. Crazy.
How does the class breakdown?
Ohio State currently has 19 commits, 9 of which are early enrollees. If you thought Ohio State already had a good defense, this is going to make it better. Ohio State currently has 11 defensive commits, 7 on offense, and the nations top kicker. Here is the positional breakdown:
- QB: 1
- RB: 1
- WR: 3
- OL: 2 guards
- DL: 3 (1 DE, 2 DT)
- LB: 2
- DB: 6 (5 CB/ 1 S)
Load back up in the secondary! Here is the complete class, via 247:
Is the talent any good?
Better question: Is there anyone not highly rated? Ohio State has taken all four stars in this class other than their kicker. They are hitting the “my depth is four star players you wish you had to start” territory.
Who are they still after?
Ohio State is still on the trail for a few recruits but the two biggest are Marvin Wilson, the nations #1 DT, and James Robinson, a top 15 WR this year. If Ohio State lands both and Alabama misses on the few five stars left then they very well could overtake Alabama in the rankings.
Can anyone contribute early?
Yes. When you take the nations top two cornerbacks (Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade) and they are both early enrollees I would say they have a very good chance to crack the two deep. Oh, what about the other 4 star early enrollee CB (Marcus Williamson)? Yep, I suppose at 5’9 he will probably have a good shot at cracking the two deep at nickel as well. What an embarrassment of riches they’ve collected. Chase Young could also see time in the DE rotation but OSU already has young talent there so I wonder if they attempt to redshirt.
A National Signing Day preview will be up later this afternoon or leading off tomorrow as the open thread. We’ll have the televised commitment schedule as well as who is left for each team that hasn’t announced.