Caleb Houser
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Reassessing the 2025 offensive line class, where Ohio State can still pivot
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes may want to take a look inside their own border for the rest of their 2025 offensive line haul.
The Ohio State 2025 class is loaded everywhere — except the offensive line.
Just two commits thanks to in-state prospects, the Buckeyes have lost out on a couple of guys as of late, including their top offensive tackle target, David Sanders Jr., which seems to be a trend the last several classes.
Not that it’s easy by any means to land an elite national offensive lineman, especially when you factor in aspects such as NIL and proximity to home. But when you have all that Ohio State has to offer, it’s not acceptable for the Buckeyes and their staff to keep missing out on guys they’ve put so much time and effort into.
Justin Frye and Ohio State for all their trying need to dig deeper and see what the solution is. It’s been noted how few of players this staff has offered along the trenches in comparison to other schools such as Alabama and Georgia, and while that may or may not be the real issue at hand, it’s something to look at when you wanted the 2025 class to have depth and there’s currently only two players in the fold.
That all said, with Ohio being seemingly the main recruiting ground the Buckeyes have taken advantage of the last two cycles, maybe it’s time to once again take another look within their own backyard and see who is out there that could be a player worth taking a chance on — even if they are committed elsewhere.
A 6-foot-6, 260 pound athlete out of Massillon Washington, Davenport is currently committed to Wisconsin and has been since this past June.
A player that holds over 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes are one program that has not offered their in-state native. Some of the more impressive schools include Missouri, Penn State, Stanford, Wisconsin, and more, but again Ohio State hasn’t pulled the trigger for whatever reason.
The No. 691 player nationally and 52nd best offensive tackle in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Davenport may not have the highly-coveted ranking Ohio State fans would like to see, but with his size you wouldn’t exactly be taking too much of a risk knowing what could be down the line if he develops.
Add that to the fact that Wisconsin thought enough to offer him, you have to look at how successful the Badgers are up front to see that this prospect might be one that the Buckeyes try and make up for lost time with.
Certainly not a guarantee that Nolan would give Ohio State much attention considering they’ve yet to offer, but when depth is needed, it makes sense that you’d turn over every rock looking to make additions, especially when it’s an in-state kid and at the tackle position.
In watching film on Davenport, he is not a finished product, but who is when they’re still a senior campaign away from leaving the high school ranks? Knowing full-well that offensive line is a position that takes time and rarely sees a player starting within their first two years, the continued thought here is wondering why this current Ohio State staff and Frye specifically hasn’t offered one of the top guys just two hours away from campus.
Obviously this staff deserves to be trusted, but seeing his ability on film and the nasty streak he has tells me he would be worth another evaluation, especially once this weekend comes and he has a senior game under his belt. Yes, his move from tight end to offensive tackle in the last year could be what is holding up the Buckeyes, but that might just provide a little bit of extra athleticism on top of his size having played another position prior.
Maybe the Buckeyes are looking heavily at his upcoming season and seeing if his stock rises, but even then he is still committed elsewhere to a program that made him much more of a priority. As it goes, when an in-state kid gets an Ohio State offer you have to imagine it least carries some sort of weight and is cause for consideration.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes may want to take a look inside their own border for the rest of their 2025 offensive line haul.
The Ohio State 2025 class is loaded everywhere — except the offensive line.
Just two commits thanks to in-state prospects, the Buckeyes have lost out on a couple of guys as of late, including their top offensive tackle target, David Sanders Jr., which seems to be a trend the last several classes.
Not that it’s easy by any means to land an elite national offensive lineman, especially when you factor in aspects such as NIL and proximity to home. But when you have all that Ohio State has to offer, it’s not acceptable for the Buckeyes and their staff to keep missing out on guys they’ve put so much time and effort into.
Justin Frye and Ohio State for all their trying need to dig deeper and see what the solution is. It’s been noted how few of players this staff has offered along the trenches in comparison to other schools such as Alabama and Georgia, and while that may or may not be the real issue at hand, it’s something to look at when you wanted the 2025 class to have depth and there’s currently only two players in the fold.
That all said, with Ohio being seemingly the main recruiting ground the Buckeyes have taken advantage of the last two cycles, maybe it’s time to once again take another look within their own backyard and see who is out there that could be a player worth taking a chance on — even if they are committed elsewhere.
Nolan Davenport
A 6-foot-6, 260 pound athlete out of Massillon Washington, Davenport is currently committed to Wisconsin and has been since this past June.
A player that holds over 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes are one program that has not offered their in-state native. Some of the more impressive schools include Missouri, Penn State, Stanford, Wisconsin, and more, but again Ohio State hasn’t pulled the trigger for whatever reason.
The No. 691 player nationally and 52nd best offensive tackle in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Davenport may not have the highly-coveted ranking Ohio State fans would like to see, but with his size you wouldn’t exactly be taking too much of a risk knowing what could be down the line if he develops.
Add that to the fact that Wisconsin thought enough to offer him, you have to look at how successful the Badgers are up front to see that this prospect might be one that the Buckeyes try and make up for lost time with.
Certainly not a guarantee that Nolan would give Ohio State much attention considering they’ve yet to offer, but when depth is needed, it makes sense that you’d turn over every rock looking to make additions, especially when it’s an in-state kid and at the tackle position.
Film Study
In watching film on Davenport, he is not a finished product, but who is when they’re still a senior campaign away from leaving the high school ranks? Knowing full-well that offensive line is a position that takes time and rarely sees a player starting within their first two years, the continued thought here is wondering why this current Ohio State staff and Frye specifically hasn’t offered one of the top guys just two hours away from campus.
Obviously this staff deserves to be trusted, but seeing his ability on film and the nasty streak he has tells me he would be worth another evaluation, especially once this weekend comes and he has a senior game under his belt. Yes, his move from tight end to offensive tackle in the last year could be what is holding up the Buckeyes, but that might just provide a little bit of extra athleticism on top of his size having played another position prior.
Maybe the Buckeyes are looking heavily at his upcoming season and seeing if his stock rises, but even then he is still committed elsewhere to a program that made him much more of a priority. As it goes, when an in-state kid gets an Ohio State offer you have to imagine it least carries some sort of weight and is cause for consideration.
Continue reading...