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BuckeyePlanet Recruiting Team's Class of 2015 Recap
@LordJeffBuck - After hitting so many home runs on the classes of 2013 and 2014, the staff could afford to sign some projects in 2015 - WR A.J. Alexander, TE Rashod Berry, OT Grant Schmidt, OT Branden Bowen, DT Robert Landers, DT DaVon Hamilton, and DB Joshua Norwood to name a few. Each of these prospects has a high upside but will need plenty of coaching up (and probably a redshirt year) in order to earn some playing time.
@Krenzelicious - With recruits from twelve different states, the staff cast an extremely wide net to land this class. And they did an excellent job of protecting Ohio's borders as well - just look at the LBs. While some may be disappointed at the lack of 5-stars, I could not be more pleased with the class as a whole. It may take a bit longer for members of the 2015 class to see the field than it did for those in the last few classes, but this class is full of potential. I am very glad to see a strong offensive line class for the second year in a row. I was also quite relieved to see Berry and Alexander added, assuming that both end up at TE. With Heuerman graduating, our TE depth is suddenly quite thin.
@MD Buckeye - A very good class overall, addressing several areas of need. As the staff indicated on signing day, OL & DB were areas that needed depth and the staff did a great job addressing that. As others have stated, this may not be a class full of instant impact players, but I see many players being able to contribute after a redshirt year and some time in the S&C program.
@wadc45 - Certainly a good class but isn't quite great. I would give it a solid B+ overall. With some top end talent and some high ceiling guys this is the type of class that will be fun to re-evaluate in a couple of years. Does it end up like the 2013 class or like the 2003 class? Time will only tell but the staff addressed several glaring needs with warm bodies if not real talent. Defensive tackle and safety recruiting was not up to classic Meyer standards but quarterback and linebacker recruiting certainly were. This has the chance to be a great class because it could be buffered between the deep 2013 and 2014 classes and what we expect to be outstanding classes in 2016 and 2017.
LordJeffBuck - There are two vacancies at wide receiver, and K.J. Hill should be a strong candidate to take one of those open spots.
Krenzelicious - K.J. Hill. Would put Stump here as well if he wasn't coming off an injury. Agree with LJB that there will be opportunities for young receivers to see the field in 2015 if they work hard enough. There may also be some room for a young CB to make an early impact.
MD Buckeye - I'm going to go with Eric Glover-Williams here. He may not see immediate playing time at DB, but I see him being a force on special teams...whether it's on kick coverage, or even as a return man. Based off his high school career, his performance at the Friday Night Lights camps & then a great showing at the UA Game, I think 'Superman' is exactly the type of player this staff is looking for. He's certainly not afraid of competition and will put in the work to improve his game as a DB.
wadc45 - Luckily with as much talent returning as OSU has there won't be a need for anyone in this class to produce right away. KJ Hill will certainly have his opportunities early and may have a chance to see the field in three wide receiver sets with Michael Thomas and Corey Smith depending on how James Clark and Johnie Dixon are able to get themselves back in the mix after serious injuries. And Terry McLaurin has been drawing rave reviews. As much as Coach Fickell rotated guys in the middle I could see Justin Hilliard spelling Josh Perry early and often as well.
LordJeffBuck - Torrance Gibson, especially if he decides to play wide receiver.
Krenzelicious - Gibson and Weber could both potentially enter Heisman conversations before their careers are over.
MD Buckeye - Easy answer here....Torrance Gibson. Arguably the best athlete in the country for the 2015 class. He may not be your prototypical NFL QB, but he doesn't need to be....especially at Ohio State.
wadc45 - Torrance Gibson is by far the best combination of size, speed and athletic prowess that the staff recruited in this class, with all due respect to EGW who I think is pound for pound one of the best athletes in this class as well. Gibson can win games in OSU's system at QB. He can earn himself a living as a WR in the NFL. It will be up to him to see which route he goes. But he can be a force at either position while at OSU. Add his personality to the mix, be it for better or for worse, and you have the makings of a potential star at OSU.
LordJeffBuck - No one really stands out as a "can't miss" prospect, so I'll go with OT Isaiah Prince - he's got a great frame and lots of potential, but he's awfully lean right now. And it's always difficult to project offensive linemen.
Krenzelicious - One of the linebackers. All three of Baker, Conner, and Hilliard will have opportunities to entrench themselves as multi-year starting Silver Bullets.
MD Buckeye - Matthew Burrell. I think he's the most college ready out of the OL group, if not the entire class. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the two-deep early at Guard.
wadc45 - Combining work ethic with God-given talent lands both Jashon Cornell and Justin Hilliard at this spot. Those two will push each other, and several of their teammates, to be the best they can possibly be. Combine that kind of ferocious hunger to improve with the natural ability they both possess and I don't see any way they don't both contribute early and often in their careers. I think it would be a mistake to not also mention Liam McCullough here. He will slide right into the spot eventually vacated by Bryce Haynes and should fill that role superbly.
LordJeffBuck - Torrance Gibson, again. He could be a superstar if he finds the proper position and does everything right off the field.
Krenzelicious - Rashod Berry. This guy is a freak athlete. If he can turn it into production on the field as a TE or DE, the coaches could have something special on their hands.
MD Buckeye - As LJB stated, Torrance Gibson. If things don't work out at QB, he has the potential to be superstar at WR.
wadc45 - Rashod Berry is my answer as well. You can only hear about how impressed opposing coaches and spectators have been with this kid on the football field, on the basketball court and in the weight room before you have to start to wonder if he wasn't undervalued by the recruiting services. The kid is just a freak. The fact that he doesn't have a true position at the next level is the only reason he wasn't rated higher, but I know first hand that the OSU staff sees him as a flex tight end who can create match-up nightmares for opposing defenses. Brandon Bowen is another guy to consider here...with his size, length and agility he could thrive under college coaching and strength training.
LordJeffBuck - Lots of candidates for this dubious honor. I'll go with DT Josh Alabi, who needs to show that he can play with athleticism at 300 pounds.
Krenzelicious - Kevin Feder. Would love to see a man of Feder's size prove me wrong.
MD Buckeye - Josh Alabi...I was a bit surprised when they accepted his commitment...not saying he doesn't have the chance to contribute at OSU, but he obviously has some work to do. Also agree on Kevin Feder here, especially with the lack of playing time at OT....though we're all witnesses to what Coach Warinner can do with 'projects'.
wadc45 - Kevin Feder is one of the easy answers here, given his limited experience at his eventual position. I did not see OSU-caliber film out of Josh Alabi at any point and severely doubted the legitimacy of his early offer. The good news is that whoever you name here, they will have the opportunity to be coached by some of the best in the business...in Feder's case Ed Warinner and in Alabi's case Larry Johnson, Sr. I also think Damon Arnette is another guy who is going to have to work very hard to develop into someone who can contribute at OSU.
LordJeffBuck - Half of this class are sleepers. I really like OT Grant Schmidt and CB Joshua Norwood as prospects with excellent size and lots of room for improvement.
Krenzelicious - Joey Burrow. I call him a sleeper only because Gibson has drawn so much of the attention. But a kid who throws 63 TDs to 2 INTs during his senior year, regardless of the level of competition, shows the kind of decision-making ability that it takes to become a star at the quarterback position. TD:INT ratio, to me, is one of the most critical of QB stats, if not THE most critical. I would throw Joshua Norwood in there as well - take a look at his film and you'll know why.
MD Buckeye - Robert Landers. A late bloomer that had a great senior season and has a chance to be the steal of the class.
wadc45 - Josh Norwood and Robert Landers are the easy answers for me based on the fact that both were very late bloomers but showed the ability to dominate a football game in very different ways. Norwood is absolutely explosive with the ball in his hands but will undoubtedly start his OSU career at corner. He has a chance to be a very similar player to Doran Grant in my opinion...if he puts in the work. Grant's name is listed all over the WHAC as one of the hardest working guys in the film and weight rooms. If Norwood can show that kind of dedication to his craft he could be a star in Chris Ash's defense. Landers' domination of the OHSAA D1 state title game is well documented...but even more impressive to me was the form he used to absolutely take over that football game. And he has the motor on and off the field to maximize his ability. Although he lacks ideal size that could put him on a track to the NFL, he certainly has the tools to be a very good collegiate defensive tackle and again, will have Larry Johnson, Sr. to study under.
LordJeffBuck - The Signing Day commitment of OT Isaiah Prince.
Krenzelicious - Isaiah Prince. I thought we were out of it. Urban and staff never cease to amaze.
MD Buckeye - Isaiah Prince. Committing to Bama a few weeks before Signing Day, we all thought this one was over. Coach Meyer, again, reminded everyone never to count him out.
wadc45 - I was ready to put Porter Gustin's name here, unfortunately. The fact they held on to Gibson was not surprising to me...the fact that they did so three months is what was really surprising. Gibson was always going to be a 9th inning battle, despite the fact that he chose to give OSU his verbal in November of last year. Isaiah Prince was obviously a wonderful late surprise as well. I was also very surprised the OSU staff was able to flip Mirko Jurkovic, Jr. away from Nebraska as easily as it seemed they were.
LordJeffBuck - In terms of talent and ability, DE Porter Gustin. In terms of position of need, DT Neville Gallimore.
Krenzelicious - Gallimore/Wilkins/Beckner Jr. I like our class of DTs, but I would have liked to get one of these guys (monsters). And a few months ago, I felt pretty sure that we would.
MD Buckeye - Gustin, Gallimore, Wilkins, or Beckner Jr. Pick any of those names out of a hat & that's my answer.
wadc45 - Christian Wilkins was the guy they targeted early and I thought they could land. To lose out on him was surprising. To lose out on him to Clemson was stunning. Damien Harris would have been nice but Mike Weber is no consolation prize. He can be a great workhorse in this offense. Christian Kirk was another guy the staff targeted early who made several visits and initially seemed to hit it off with other OSU recruits only to look elsewhere. I know for a fact this staff really wanted Hale Hentges as their top tight end on the board. He flirted with OSU only to, like Harris, eventually sign with Alabama. A name not mentioned for quite some time that looked poised to potentially be in this class was Rashad Roundtree. Without him it would have been nice to hang onto either Ben Edwards or Carlton Davis. As a result, I see Arnette and Jamel Dean starting off as safeties at OSU despite being listed as corners on the staff's big board.
LordJeffBuck - This is a well-balanced, highly-rated class with 27 signees, so it doesn't really lack anything. If I had to nitpick I'd like to see more "sure things" and less "projects", but with such a young talented roster already in place, the staff could take some risks in 2015.
Krenzelicious - The obvious answer is more star power on the interior defensive line, but I trust in Coaches Johnson and Marotti to have Landers, Hamilton, and Alabi ready when they need to be. Maybe also a true Center, with Boren moving into his senior year, although Elflein, Price, and perhaps Jurkovic will be looked at to fill that role next year. In short, I honestly don't think this class lacks much.
MD Buckeye - Not much really....you could make the case for interior DL, but I'm happy with who OSU landed here. Again, this is a very solid class that addressed areas of need. Now on to 2016........
wadc45 - Firepower at tackle and safety. One more explosive athlete at receiver. But those are things that can easily be addressed in 2016 and 2017 and this class will build nicely on Coach Meyer's efforts the year or two prior.
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