2026 tOSU Recruiting Discussion

[calibuck]

Great topic. Which comes first, the NIL or the recruit? Easy to understand, coming off a Natty, how tOSU is increasing their war chest. but am struggling to understand, how the under-performing USC does it. Certainly understand fanatics, but more of the fanbase are in a wait-and-see mode. Sooo, does USC promise a 4* LB, $2.2 mil over two years (?), and then ask folk to pony up NIL bucks? Or? Is the money there, saying 'we trust you to spend this to become competitive (and soon)'. Dunno, help me clear away the fog please. Happily, do not need to understand this side of the problem.

 

[pnuts34]

Great topic. Which comes first, the NIL or the recruit? Easy to understand, coming off a Natty, how tOSU is increasing their war chest. but am struggling to understand, how the under-performing USC does it. Certainly understand fanatics, but more of the fanbase are in a wait-and-see mode. Sooo, does USC promise a 4* LB, $2.2 mil over two years (?), and then ask folk to pony up NIL bucks? Or? Is the money there, saying 'we trust you to spend this to become competitive (and soon)'. Dunno, help me clear away the fog please. Happily, do not need to understand this side of the problem.

So schools like USC and Miami are interesting in the NIL space, because fans per se aren’t the ones mainly funding their collectives. They are schools located in 2 of the biggest metropolitan cities in America and are also in cities where the entertainment industry is a major driver. And there are also just people who are insanely wealthy and want a toy to play with. These very wealthy people in these can just throw money at a collective and it doesn’t matter to them, and the collectives can try and stock pile guys based on stars and that’s what’s happening. The difference in that approach and OSU’s is that OSU is actually vetting kids and their families and seeing who will fit the culture of the program and the school in general.

It was brought up on the BH podcast that many fans were up in arms in 2023 and were yet again all over LJsr and were calling for his job after losing out on Keeley, Wilson, MU when all were favored to OSU at one point. Now all are going into their 3rd years, and we watched MU get dominated in the 2nd round of the CFP by Josh Simmons, Wilson is on his 2nd school in Mizzou after a lackluster freshman(looking for yet another payday), and Keeley has literally been a non factor at Bama.

And the fact that OSU refuses to go into bidding wars also sets them apart. Day and staff lay out what the team can offer and Pantoni lays out everything else. You either want to be here or you don’t. And I’ll ask this, does ANY OSU fan want to change places with a Miami, USC, Oregon or aTm fan? I can assure you no Buckeye coaches want to switch teams…
Sorry for being a little long winded with my answer

 

[brodybuck21]

 

[pnuts34]

 

[Bestbuck36]

Maybe it's recency bias or just the new nature of recruiting but it seems there are several seriously mean, nasty dog types in this class so far. I can't say how nervous it makes me to be able to keep them!

 

[pnuts34]

It could be raining booms the next few days

 

[calibuck]

At this point, am trying to look beyond # of stars of the player, and trying to figure out which holes on the team they're filling. (that's me, not the Buckeye intelligencia). Appears that the OL is gathering potential, with the expectation that in two years the investment will pay off. Not to besmirch the guy, but the camp where our 4* DL guy outshone the 5* OL guy might indicate that the research Pantoni has/is doing/done is going to pay off. Does look to me like several positions are over-recruited, but am probably naive that all will stay/play. Nothing new here, just trying to make some sense of it all. PS, have been accused of over-thinking a/the problem, once or twice. Anyway, it's a good day to be a Buckeye. How many days until kick-off? Gotta think fall camp will start out intense, and build up, knowing that tOSU facing a play-off team on the first go. Hope the boys are prepared! Go Bucks!

 

[MGMT]

At this point, am trying to look beyond # of stars of the player, and trying to figure out which holes on the team they're filling. (that's me, not the Buckeye intelligencia). Appears that the OL is gathering potential, with the expectation that in two years the investment will pay off. Not to besmirch the guy, but the camp where our 4* DL guy outshone the 5* OL guy might indicate that the research Pantoni has/is doing/done is going to pay off. Does look to me like several positions are over-recruited, but am probably naive that all will stay/play. Nothing new here, just trying to make some sense of it all. PS, have been accused of over-thinking a/the problem, once or twice. Anyway, it's a good day to be a Buckeye. How many days until kick-off? Gotta think fall camp will start out intense, and build up, knowing that tOSU facing a play-off team on the first go. Hope the boys are prepared! Go Bucks!

This almost sounds like a coping mechanism (not criticizing you) because we aren’t hitting on higher level prospects on which we aren’t hitting

 

[calibuck]

You could be spot on. Have always said rationalization is more important than sex, mostly because I've gone longer without sex than a rationalization. Just trying to think like a manager. As in what do we need, where do we need it, and do we have the horses in the right places. Harder than the stock market certainly, not knowing whether the skill sets the players bring will be matched by their heart/intensity/desire, which cannot be measured, only guessed. I, along with several others on this site, have opined that just because a young man is a 5*, does that mean they're NFL bound? Certainly not. Does it give them a chance? Certainly yes. Maybe they've achieved their status by playing against inferior talent, or developed early, to the extent of their potential. Some have, and faltered on the big stage. Or do they have the will, skill, and heart to stick out the bad days, and learn from their mistakes. etc etc. A crap shoot certainly, but certainly more reasoned than going all in on a pair of ducks. Go Bucks!

 

[buckeyemania11]

This almost sounds like a coping mechanism (not criticizing you) because we aren’t hitting on higher level prospects on which we aren’t hitting

10 years ago, sure, but It's a different game now. We aren't giving a bunch of unproven HS kids millions of dollars just to come here and maybe perform in the future, the USC, Texas A&M and Miami's of the world will gladly keep doing this but so far that strategy has proven to fail more than it hits.

Bringing in still talented kids with good offer sheets (even though they might not be 5*s) and then supplementing with proven talent in the transfer portal where it's needed seems to be working for us, considering we just won a national title.

Even then with the "misses" currently we still have the #3 class in terms of player quality (average player ranking) in the composite. We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting, of course some people will pitch a fit because we aren't right up there for #1 every year but we will make up for it in the portal.

 

[calibuck]

Add to that that the GM Pantoni has elevated player analysis to a whole new level. Got to believe some of the bigger schools have tried to emulate this, but Pantoni is simply a talented human. So, while each position coach evaluate his own area, and Pantoni (et al) does a deep dive into the kid, many of the other schools look toward the kids that tOSU has offered, and done the same. This year, appears that some position groups have offered the world, so mayhaps this has thrown the 'tag-alongs' for a loop while tOSU sifts through to make certain the recruit checks most/all of the boxes. Maybe we don't see it, but don't recollect that our players are arrogant that they're the best, and only here to get to the pro level. Or maybe it's happening? Dunno.

 

[Jaxbuck]

10 years ago, sure, but It's a different game now. We aren't giving a bunch of unproven HS kids millions of dollars just to come here and maybe perform in the future, the USC, Texas A&M and Miami's of the world will gladly keep doing this but so far that strategy has proven to fail more than it hits.

Bringing in still talented kids with good offer sheets (even though they might not be 5*s) and then supplementing with proven talent in the transfer portal where it's needed seems to be working for us, considering we just won a national title.

Even then with the "misses" currently we still have the #3 class in terms of player quality (average player ranking) in the composite. We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting, of course some people will pitch a fit because we aren't right up there for #1 every year but we will make up for it in the portal.

A big reason for that NC is the top tier talent in the WR room. We have a built in advantage with Hartline that could easily mask the risks of going too far down the path of a taking kids-who-will-come-here-for-less strategy.

This is now a full on out in the open professional endeavor and like in all professions, talent follows money.

Day's culture couldn't win The Game when the coaches didn't take advantage of the talent difference. They went on a tear in the playoffs by ruthlessly and consistently exploiting the fact they had Smith and no one else did.

You have to have great culture and great talent if you want to stay at the top of any profession. The OSU online echo chamber has turned the culture aspect of it into something beyond what it really is, imo.

 

[buckeyemania11]

A big reason for that NC is the top tier talent in the WR room. We have a built in advantage with Hartline that could easily mask the risks of going too far down the path of a taking kids-who-will-come-here-for-less strategy.

This is now a full on out in the open professional endeavor and like in all professions, talent follows money.

Day's culture couldn't win The Game when the coaches didn't take advantage of the talent difference. They went on a tear in the playoffs by ruthlessly and consistently exploiting the fact they had Smith and no one else did.

You have to have great culture and great talent if you want to stay at the top of any profession. The OSU online echo chamber has turned the culture aspect of it into something beyond what it really is, imo.

We aren't going to get as many top top end guys out of HS on the regular but as long as we keep around the top 5ish in HS recruiting (we will), strategically use the portal well and keep up with the good player retention we are going to be more than fine. I'm not buying into the "special culture" stuff but I think we have figured out a pretty good system of doing things in the current climate.

We still have a top end roster in the end, you got some people out here acting like we are having to settle for guys with MAC level offer sheets though.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Add to that that the GM Pantoni has elevated player analysis to a whole new level. Got to believe some of the bigger schools have tried to emulate this, but Pantoni is simply a talented human. So, while each position coach evaluate his own area, and Pantoni (et al) does a deep dive into the kid, many of the other schools look toward the kids that tOSU has offered, and done the same. This year, appears that some position groups have offered the world, so mayhaps this has thrown the 'tag-alongs' for a loop while tOSU sifts through to make certain the recruit checks most/all of the boxes. Maybe we don't see it, but don't recollect that our players are arrogant that they're the best, and only here to get to the pro level. Or maybe it's happening? Dunno.

We are still getting quality players. We aren't chasing a bunch of relatively unheralded 3* guys

The big thing is player retention, I think getting a good 4* guy who sticks 3/4 years is better than throwing a bunch of money at a 5* guy who's more liable to transfer after a year or two.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I think we have figured out a pretty good system of doing things in the current climate.

I agree but the climate is incredibly fluid.

If they are not throwing NIL money because they don't have it, then that is one thing. Spend what you do have as wisely as possible, get the max ROA all that.

If they are not throwing NIL money because they are trying to play by the new rules then that is another and where I think they would be making a colossal mistake.