I don't follow recruiting like I used to, so I don't have many opinions on individual signees. And opinions on signees matter much less these days, since half of this class will probably disappear into the transfer portal (and others will magically appear in Columbus and we will all pretend that they were always Buckeyes for life). For my general opinions about the state of recruiting I would simply reiterate my thoughts from last year, which can be found in their entirety
HERE if you are interested.
Specifically, I proposed a five-prong recruiting approach:
1. Five-star recruits who will take less bag for more development;
2. Three-star recruits who have huge upside that can be developed over four or five years;
3. Four-star recruits who bleed scarlet and grey and will remain loyal to the program;
4. Transfer portal players who have already proven their worth elsewhere; and
5. Selling NFL over NIL.
Ohio State has had massive success in the transfer portal and that success will likely continue this year. Look for the Buckeyes to target several OL in the portal – it is much easier to sign college "free agents" than it is to identify, develop, and retain high school "draft picks", especially offensive linemen who often take years to physically mature and hone their talents. I am in no way concerned that Ohio State signed just three OL in the Class of 2025, only one of whom is a supposed "stud" (
Carter Lowe); I might be concerned after the portal closes. Let's wait and see....
Needless to say, Ohio State also needs to find a proven place kicker in the transfer portal. This would be my top priority.
As usual, the class of 2025 has several high-level prospects, with seven of the signees being in the top-100 (per 247 Sports), including two in the top-5 (QB
Tavien St. Clair and CB
Devin Sanchez). The Buckeyes did a better job this year of avoiding "bag chasers" but still got burned by a few top prospects.
I also note that 14 of Ohio State's signees (over half the class) are "unranked" nationally (meaning not in the top 247 overall prospects), which suggests that the Buckeye staff is indeed trying to identify more "sleepers" (low floor, high ceiling, #2 above). The chances are good that at least a couple of these unheralded prospects will develop into NFL talents in four or five years; of the rest, some will provide valuable depth, some will hit the portal and be replaced by better players.
Ohio State signed only five prospects in the middle tier (#3 above), and one of those (ATH
Bodpegn Miller) began the year as a super-sleeper prospect (as the best athlete on his high school team he naturally played quarterback, but he projects as a wide receiver or perhaps a "flex" tight end in college).
The most intriguing prospect in this class is edge rusher
Zion Grady – not only is he the first Buckeye signee from the State of Alabama in over 40 years (along with fellow Class of 2025 member RB
Anthony Rogers), he also fits the role of speed rusher that the Buckeyes have been lacking for some time. And despite his lofty recruiting ranking (#71 overall in 247 Composite, #5 Edge) he is still considered to be a high-ceiling prospect.
If I had to give this class a grade, I'd say A-minus. But with every recruiting class the real grade is INC, and this is especially true in the NIL/portal era.
www.nytimes.com
