2018 tOSU Recruiting Discussion

[buddyguy]

Looking at depth chart:

QB (1)
RB (1-2)
WR (1-2)
TE (1)
OL (2-3)
DE (1-2)
DT (2)
LB (2-3)
CB (1-2)
S (2)
K (0)
P (0)

That leaves us at 20, with some more room for making those late pushes for elite players. I don't think they'll need a K or P, and aside from that, I would like to see someone from each position listed. I would like to think we can afford to go without a TE next season, but if an elite player is available and interested, you take him.

Pretty sure they'll take 2 or 3 RBs given the depth situation there. Likely they'll take 3 DEs since 3 will be leaving (if Hubbard goes), Slade has a tough road back from an achilles tear, and they have a tendency to move DEs to DT (Tyreke Smith could be such a candidate).

Can't see them taking more than 1 safety in most classes since they really play 3 CBs at all times on defense (the Vonn Bell and Damon Webb position is really a corner that's called a safety). They may occasionally take an extra for special teams (like Wint).

 

[TooTall]

Pretty sure they'll take 2 or 3 RBs given the depth situation there. Likely they'll take 3 DEs since 3 will be leaving (if Hubbard goes), Slade has a tough road back from an achilles tear, and they have a tendency to move DEs to DT (Tyreke Smith could be such a candidate).

Can't see them taking more than 1 safety in most classes since they really play 3 CBs at all times on defense (the Vonn Bell and Damon Webb position is really a corner that's called a safety). They may occasionally take an extra for special teams (like Wint).

Those extra two spots mentioned would probably fall under the 5 extra spots for top talent. The list I made was based off who will be departing next year. I would say there's a good possibility there may be even more spots available due to early departures after next season. I don't expect an exodus like post-2015, but there are some solid guys that will have the opportunity to declare early.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

I'll take a stab at this one. I think this class will push to around 25.
QB - 1 Jones, obviously shut it down after you land the best QB
RB - 2 Snead, the true RB and Gill (could fulfill the Samuel role)
WR - 2 Slot guys will be pursued after taking 3 big guys last year, Dotson is at the top as far as i'm concerned.
TE - 1 Due to a lot of young bodies
OL - 4 We took 3 good ones here last year, hope Myers improves his pass protection and turns into an all American tackle. Need some bodies here, never hurts to have too many tackles, maybe a true center.
DE - 2 After just taking Young last year
DT - 2 Hopefully 2 big names here with a true NT space eater, although it's hard to argue LJ's results regardless of who we get.
LB - 3 2 in state and a big fish or maybe 2 outta state if gant slips to ND
CB - 1 Toughest position to recruit this year due to last years pull being used against us and just not much need here. Hard not to recruit the position well though with the results Schiano and Coombs are churning out. CB U!
S - 2 Couple true safeties here but will be interesting to see how the 4 freshmen corners pan out.
TE/DE Ath - 1 Potentially a Rashod Berry type here to a great athlete without a true position
LB/S or RB/WR Ath - 1 Other players in the past fulfilling this position have been Lee, Wilson, Samuel, Harrison, White
Special teams - 0-1 LS/K/P Not likely to be a kicker here

That class would put us at 22-23! Obviously a long way to go but should be pretty close to the position numbers we're looking at. To get to 25 we could take a 5th OL, 3rd DE, or another hybrid Ath but can't really see us going after more QB, RB, WR, or CB.

 

[Buckeyebred97]

I'll take a stab at this one. I think this class will push to around 25.
QB - 1 Jones, obviously shut it down after you land the best QB
RB - 2 Snead, the true RB and Gill (could fulfill the Samuel role)
WR - 2 Slot guys will be pursued after taking 3 big guys last year, Dotson is at the top as far as i'm concerned.
TE - 1 Due to a lot of young bodies
OL - 4 We took 3 good ones here last year, hope Myers improves his pass protection and turns into an all American tackle. Need some bodies here, never hurts to have too many tackles, maybe a true center.
DE - 2 After just taking Young last year
DT - 2 Hopefully 2 big names here with a true NT space eater, although it's hard to argue LJ's results regardless of who we get.
LB - 3 2 in state and a big fish or maybe 2 outta state if gant slips to ND
CB - 1 Toughest position to recruit this year due to last years pull being used against us and just not much need here. Hard not to recruit the position well though with the results Schiano and Coombs are churning out. CB U!
S - 2 Couple true safeties here but will be interesting to see how the 4 freshmen corners pan out.
TE/DE Ath - 1 Potentially a Rashod Berry type here to a great athlete without a true position
LB/S or RB/WR Ath - 1 Other players in the past fulfilling this position have been Lee, Wilson, Samuel, Harrison, White
Special teams - 0-1 LS/K/P Not likely to be a kicker here

That class would put us at 22-23! Obviously a long way to go but should be pretty close to the position numbers we're looking at. To get to 25 we could take a 5th OL, 3rd DE, or another hybrid Ath but can't really see us going after more QB, RB, WR, or CB.

Blue-Smith and a slot guy would be a good haul for WR.

 

[buddyguy]

Urban mentioned on signing day that they want "tall fast guys" at WR in 2018. He said there aren't a lot of them in Ohio so they'll be recruiting nationwide.

Also, the notion of recruiting multiple "true safeties" is old school. In today's defense they effectively play 3 corners and one safety. They have Fuller and Pryor in the pipeline for that safety position and will likely add just one in 2018.

 

[RB07OSU]

My wayyyy too early guess at the '18 class (also guessing that take around 24-25):

QB: Emory Jones (best QB in the country, we are done at this position)
RB: Brian Snead (early commit and nothing to suggest he won't stay solid...has to be comfortable with us taking at least one more RB though)
RB: Zamir White (call me insane but Zamir visited us a ton and the interest is legit...will be a tough get from Clemson though...also see Pledger here)
ATH/Pivot: Jalen Gill (matter of time until he commits, but I see him taking over the Samuel role [love how it is no longer called the Harvin role] down the road)
WR: Blue Smith (I would be shocked if he doesn't play football in talking to my Wayne guys...seeing him as a WR but could move to TE...and yeah, all Buckeye)
WR: Jahan Dotson (absolutely love Dotson's game and think he is our "slot" guy for '18 but can play outside too...I like where we are at early)
WR: Kamryn Babb (has not been talked about much but we are in great shape and Kamryn is an excellent player...would love to have him)
TE: Jeremy Ruckert (one of the best in the country and I would be surprised if he is not a Buckeye...depending on numbers, could see another TE)
OL: Jackson Carman (our future at LT and it is "when", not "if" he commits to the Bucks)
OL: Verdis Brown (definitely an interior guy but all crystal balls are to the Bucks)
OL: Jamaree Salyer (probably a pipe dream but I don't know who else to put here yet...does seem to like us at least)
OL: An OT (no idea who yet but we need another OT to go with Carman...interested to see the rest of the in-state talent at the OL position)
DE: Tyreke Smith (love this offer and fully expect him to be a Buckeye)
DE: Leonard Taylor (DE all the way imo and I think he ends up with the good guys, but expect some battles)
DE: Micah Parsons (really hoping he is in this class, truly elite and would love to steal him from PSU...interest is real and we are trending... if not, Malik Vann maybe, really like him...possibly some big names nationally but neither of Thomas/Henry are happening)
DT: Taron Vincent (best DT in the country and we finally get that "elite" DT...I am very confident with him)
DT: Matthew Jones (I like him at DT and think he is elite... could be a great OT with his athleticism though...very early but I REALLY like our odds here)
DT: Aneas Hawkins (WAY underrated and I love his game...I expect him in this class)
LB: Palaie Gaoteote (best LB in the country hands down in my books and we will push hard, maybe the best player on the BG field for defense and that is saying something...we are in great shape early but will need to fend off the western schools...in terms of "wants" maybe only Vincent is above him)
LB: Dallas Gant (my favorite LB in the state and while I like our chances, we will have competition from ND/scUM)
LB: Adrian Jackson (kind of an "upset" pick over Oats, but I am not sure they take Oats' commitment immediately as talented as he is...also seems we are pushing hard for Terjada Mitchell, although he seems to be all FSU)
DB: Jaiden Woodbey (we are trending quickly here and pulling Wyatt Davis from his school helps...one of the top DB's in the country hands down and would keep the train rolling at this position)
DB: Houston Griffith (like where we are at and going to IMG probably only helps...we'll have plenty of competition but I would have him "in" right now)
DB: Christian Tutt (so many national names you could put in here where we are in good shape, but too early to tell..Derrik Allen would be my preference if that is actually feasible)
ATH: Iverson Clement (absolutely explosive and could easily play WR or DB...might actually be a great slot candidate...I see him in this class either way)

- That would be an incredible class and is 24 total. I am sure more names will pop up and I have not yet really checked into the Ohio guys without offers. In any event, that is how I see the position breakdown playing out generally in 2018...if I were to push it to 25, I would say perhaps another OL, TE or DT if Jones goes to OL.

 

[OH10]

Zamir White to Clemson. Salyer to Georgia. Taron Vincent to FSU. I think Parsons will stick with Penn State. And I think PG ends up at USC.

I know that throws a little cold water on the dream scenario above but that's how I see it going with those 5*s.

 

[RB07OSU]

Zamir White to Clemson. Salyer to Georgia. Taron Vincent to FSU. I think Parsons will stick with Penn State. And I think PG ends up at USC.

I know that throws a little cold water on the dream scenario above but that's how I see it going with those 5*s.

That indeed is a worse case scenario. First two guesses are likely, but the rest I feel good about (least confident on Parsons).

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Zamir White to Clemson. Salyer to Georgia. Taron Vincent to FSU. I think Parsons will stick with Penn State. And I think PG ends up at USC.

I know that throws a little cold water on the dream scenario above but that's how I see it going with those 5*s.

Why don't you think we get Vincent?

 

[buckeye4ever21]

Urban mentioned on signing day that they want "tall fast guys" at WR in 2018. He said there aren't a lot of them in Ohio so they'll be recruiting nationwide.

Also, the notion of recruiting multiple "true safeties" is old school. In today's defense they effectively play 3 corners and one safety. They have Fuller and Pryor in the pipeline for that safety position and will likely add just one in 2018.

We just landed 3 receivers over 6'4" in 2018. Slot guys are needed on underneath routes and shorter receivers have better agility. We struck out with Lindsey so slot receivers are needed. Not saying that White or Gill can't play the slot but people playing the true slot position in HS have a quicker learning curve. Also said true safeties because as a recruit coming in the class right behind 5 true highly rated corners (although Sheffield might be gone quickly) is a big turn off for playing time. I'd recruit all corners and convert the worst coverage corners to safety but with the class we just brought in we'll be fighting other teams pointing out our depth chart. So I see 2 safeties and a corner, not saying it's what i want but it's what i see based on what we just signed.

 

[calibuck]

Has Cleveland Glenville given up football? Or is Mr. Ginn Sr no longer the coach? Kinda sad to see that 'pipeline' dry up. It appeared to me that it was hit or miss with G'ville, either the young man washed out or became a star at tOSU. I do like the pipeline to Bishop Gorman and IMG (who are both 'hot' right now), but would like to see the Glenville pipeline continue. As well as the Detroit one. I absolutely get the 'best player available', but hope that more Ahia kids fall into that category. No Whetstone (C'bus) kids?

 

[buchtelgrad04]

Why don't you think we get Vincent?

Because he's a pessimist. I'm not sure why he tortures himself with OSU football.

 

[pnuts34]

We just landed 3 receivers over 6'4" in 2018. Slot guys are needed on underneath routes and shorter receivers have better agility. We struck out with Lindsey so slot receivers are needed. Not saying that White or Gill can't play the slot but people playing the true slot position in HS have a quicker learning curve. Also said true safeties because as a recruit coming in the class right behind 5 true highly rated corners (although Sheffield might be gone quickly) is a big turn off for playing time. I'd recruit all corners and convert the worst coverage corners to safety but with the class we just brought in we'll be fighting other teams pointing out our depth chart. So I see 2 safeties and a corner, not saying it's what i want but it's what i see based on what we just signed.

Slot guys don't need to be WRs at all in HS, matter of fact some of the best didn't even play WR in HS they were too dynamic and played QB or RB to get the ball more(Curtis Samuel, Deanthony Thomas, Dontre Wilson, Roscoe Parrish, Philly Brown, Julian Edelman, etc). The slot at OSU doesn't need to be a true WR as they're catching balls mostly on screens,slants and deep routes in mismatches.

Has Cleveland Glenville given up football? Or is Mr. Ginn Sr no longer the coach? Kinda sad to see that 'pipeline' dry up. It appeared to me that it was hit or miss with G'ville, either the young man washed out or became a star at tOSU. I do like the pipeline to Bishop Gorman and IMG (who are both 'hot' right now), but would like to see the Glenville pipeline continue. As well as the Detroit one. I absolutely get the 'best player available', but hope that more Ahia kids fall into that category. No Whetstone (C'bus) kids?

Glenville doesn't seem to have the OSU caliber recruits as of late. I know one kid committed to UC, but looking over their roster, there's not too any blue chips there. And there's no reason to go after kids just because of the school name.

 

[starBUCKS]

 

[Jaxbuck]