Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class is expected to be heavy in the trenches, and while the majority of the focus is on offensive tackle, the interior portion of the line is also a priority. One big piece is already in place in four-star tackle Max Wray, but the expectation is for the unit to end up with around around five new signees.
Along the inside, it's a safe bet that we'll see two or three newcomers ink with the Buckeyes for 2018. The interior situation is a bit unique as it's much easier for a player to move from the outside in than it is to make the switch from guard to tackle. High school tackles – such as Wyatt Davis – may very well project as guards in college.
Since Urban Meyer's arrival, the Buckeyes have yet to sign a lineman who was designated as a center in the 247Sports composite rankings. During this time, Billy Price was actually listed as a defensive tackle while Jacoby Boren, Pat Elflein, and Jack Wohlabaugh were all classified as guards. Needless to say, it's more about the skill set than the labels on the various recruiting outlets.
Regardless of the strategy the staff decides to go with, one thing is pretty clear: Ohio State's 2018 class is going to include someone who projects to play center.
The Buckeyes extended an offer to Jake Kradel back on April 5. The offer was a bit surprising since he wasn't really a name that had been mentioned a whole lot around the Ohio State recruiting circles. Up until the Buckeyes entered the picture, schools like Pittsburgh, Maryland, and West Virginia were his biggest offers.
The three-star visited Columbus in March and left town without an offer, but things have clearly picked up since then. Following the April offer, the crystal balls switched from being in favor of Pittsburgh to favoring Meyer and the Buckeyes, who now hold 100 percent of the submissions.
At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, the Butler, Pennsylvania lineman has mostly played tackle in high school, but he knows his future lies on the interior of the line – and possibly at center. While on his first visit, he had the chance to talk to Greg Studrawa about his plans and where could potentially make his mark on the Ohio State offensive line.
Six weeks after the initial visit, and the two parties are still in contact.
"[Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and I] have been talking," Kradel said. "He doesn't talk to me every day, but that's how I like it. I am laid back and chill. I don't like when coaches are always bothering me."
Kradel had been planning to decide in May, but ever since the Buckeye offer, that timeline has seemed to fluctuate. Now, the three-star has plans to announce his decision in June – tentatively scheduled for the 10th – but he may have one final hurdle before this one is all said and done.
Ohio State is set to host a number of camps in the month of June, including one on the 9th. Kradel was in Cleveland last month where he worked out The Opening regional, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the staff is wanting to see him again up close and personal before making a final decision.
| Prospect | Hometown | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Jones | Brooklyn, NY | No. 49 |
| Verdis Brown | Chicago, IL | No. 165 |
| Juice Scruggs | Erie, PA | No. 186 |
The Buckeyes will likely try to bring in the best two or three interior linemen they can find and then let the finer details sort themselves out later on – at least in terms of who could man the center position. There are several other candidates vying for spots along the line, so it could be paramount for the Pennsylvanian to impress the coaching staff next month.
Matthew Jones is probably the name we've talked about most, but the bulk of the discussion has swirled around whether or not the four-star would play offensive or defensive tackle. 247Sports recruiting analyst Alex Gleitman has likely seen the Brooklyn product more than anyone else, and he recently brought to light the fact that Jones may also be a candidate to play center.
Verdis Brown and Juice Scruggs are two Midwesterners who project as interior linemen, with the latter being one of the rare players whose recruiting profile actually lists him as a center. Scruggs appears to be down to the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions while the IMG Academy transfer is considering Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, and others.
For Kradel, his recruitment looks to be winding down, and next month should go a long way in determining whether Columbus will be the ultimate destination. If it's not meant to be, then the Pitt Panthers will likely be keeping the state's No. 23 prospect from fleeing its borders.
