Due to scholarship limits Ohio State has to be selective with the number of players that will sign in the 2017 class. Currently there are 13 young men committed to the Scarlet and Gray to play in '17. That leaves room for five to eight players to fill out the class. By my estimation there are currently 107 players that have an offer to fill those last spots for 2017.
With such a tight window it made me wonder if there are any players out there who haven't been offered yet, but could get the nod? Last month Marvin Wilson was on the radar list. This month he has an offer and immediately put the Buckeyes in his top three. Below are some major names that are talented enough to get an offer from Ohio State, but who may end up on the outside looking in come next February.
MATT SICHTERMAN • KINGS MILL, OHIO • OT • ★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: Like with fellow Ohioan Joel Honigford, this simply comes down to numbers. In 2015 and 2016, Ohio State took a total of 11 offensive linemen and as it stands, only Pat Elflein is slated to depart after next season.
Why Ohio State will offer: The adage that games are won at the line of scrimmage is true. Imagine the future offensive line the Buckeyes would have by adding a player of Sichterman's stature–he's one of the Midwest's hottest prospects–and talent to go along with Josh Myers (.997) and Jake Moretti (.968). Ed Warinner and Greg Studrawa would have three solid big men for the future, each of whom would be flexible enough to make an impact all over the offensive line.
If the Buckeyes have a few unexpected offensive line departures this spring or summer, and attrition is almost a certainty like it is at every school across the country, maybe there's a spot the opens for Sichterman or Honigford.
JAVONTE RICHARDSON • MAPLE HEIGHTS, OHIO • ATH • ★★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: There is a simple problem with Maple Heights' Javonte Richardson –– it's hard to tell exactly what position he's going to play in college and, without that clarity, it's harder to tell who exactly you take him over. Richardson could play safety or linebacker or wide receiver and at each of those positions are stacked decidedly against him.
Why Ohio State will offer: Richardson is one of the most dynamic athletes in Ohio, period. At a legit 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he's got a college-ready frame and he's an exceptionally versatile player who you'd hate to see end up playing against you in East Lansing or Ann Arbor.
TYRELL AJIAN • MANSFIELD, OHIO • DEFENSIVE BACK • ★★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: The Buckeyes already have two safeties committed and are in strong standing with Jeffrey Okudah. Aijan is good–he's the country's 17th-ranked –but Okudah is a sure-take and a no-brainer from the state of Texas that is ranked as the country's best safety. Add in targets like Lamont Wade and Amir Riep and it's hard to see how Ajian fits. Add to that an inability to camp at 100-percent last summer because of nagging leg soreness and Ohio State didn't ever get a good look at what he's capable of.
Why Ohio State will offer: There are a few things that have to happen for Ajian to work his way into this class but first and foremost among them would be that the Buckeyes would lose Isaiah Pryor or Shaun Wade and then inexplicably miss on Okudah, Riep and Lamont Wade, which seems unlikely. A strong spring that illustrates an ability to stay healthy and a commitment to his craft on and off the field would also play into his favor.
TARIK BLACK • CHESIRE, CONNECTICUT • WIDE RECEIVER • ★★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: There are currently 15 offers on the table for wide receivers. With the limited spots open there is probably room for two or three receivers in this class and the players Ohio State has focused on are Donovan Peoples-Jones, Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris, Tyjon Lindsey and others. The last three listed in that group are all considered Buckeye "leans" at this point and it'd be unwise to offer more players at the position because you don't want to rock the boat with three prospects you want.
Why Ohio State will offer: Because well, despite being closely tied to the players listed above, Ohio State does not have a wide receiver commitment for the 2017 class. Florida is making a big move on Grimes, USC and Texas A&M are close to Lindsey and anything and everything can happen. Black (6-foot-4, 208-pounds) is a player very familiar with Ohio State and has been coveting that offer since last summer. He would give Buckeye quarterbacks another big, outside target to throw to. Going after Black will put Ohio State up against Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and 15 other schools for his services and it could be another opportunity to flex their national muscle against Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh and others.
CESAR RUIZ • CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY (IMG) • CENTER • ★★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: With limited numbers the staff wants to fill other positions of need, the Buckeyes–who signed Jack Wohlabaugh to play center and have redshirt sophomore Brady Taylor also in the queue–just don't have the need for another center in the mix in this class.
Why Ohio State will offer: Not one high school center has been offered for the 2017 class, but if one was, it'd likely be Ruiz. At 6-3 and 315 pounds Ruiz has a solid frame to anchor an offensive line around and he's got an offer list that is as good as any in the country. He also plays for the talent-heavy IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the Buckeyes' staff no doubt has spent and will spend a lot of time. Familiarity with his game, insight into him as a teammate and player from people they trust can be a deciding factor when choosing to offer or not.
DERRIUS MULLINS • COLUMBUS, OHIO • DEFENSIVE TACKLE • ★★★
Why Ohio State will not offer: They already have two defensive tackles in the fold and have offers out to big-time national names like Marvin Wilson, Jay Tufele, Aubrey Solomon, Fred Hansard and others, it's not easy to see a clear path to an offer for Mullins, the monstrous 6-foot-5, 320-pounder from Columbus St. Francis De Sales. The numbers game is a tight one and the Buckeyes are in on some big fish from all over the country and the local product has indicated he may want to commit sooner rather than waiting it out to see what happens with Ohio State. If he does that, he could decide his way out of a potential late offer.
Why Ohio State will offer: It is not easy to find people the size of Derrius Mullins, let alone people his size who can move and are coordinated enough to be a Division One athlete. Mullins has all the skills to be a major competitor nationally and he's been working hard on his game and his recruiting profile has skyrocketed recently because of it. If he decides to wait until after camping with Ohio State this summer to commit, he could give Larry Johnson and Urban Meyer the chance they need to see him as a prospect they can't turn down.
