National Signing Day is now in the rear-view mirror, which means Ohio State has shifted its focus to the Class of 2018. The Buckeyes have two players already committed in quarterback Emory Jones and running back Brian Snead, but expect to sign roughly 23-25 next year.
With that in mind, here's an early look at Ohio State's top targets for the current recruiting cycle.
QUARTERBACK
Franklin, Georgia, Heard County five-star Emory Jones
With Jones in the fold, the Buckeyes are set to nab one of the country's top dual-threat quarterbacks for the second year in a row — Tate Martell, of course, being the other.
Naturally, concerns were raised when Tim Beck — Jones' primary recruiter — left for Texas, but he's repeatedly said it won't have an affect on his recruitment.
So long as that remains true, Ohio State won't bother looking for another signal caller this cycle.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: None
RUNNING BACK
Westerville South four-star Jaelen Gill
Snead is a different story, however, as Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer recently acknowledged the difficulty of holding onto a prospect from Florida for nearly two years.
That's where Gill, the second-best player in Ohio, comes into play.
He and Snead are different kind of players and would complement each other well, so the idea is to land the pair. But, put simply, the Buckeyes can't let the state's top-rated back go somewhere else.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland County five-star Zamir White; Orange City, Florida, University five-star Lorenzo Lingard
WIDE RECEIVER
St. Louis, Missouri, Christian Brothers College four-star Kamryn Babb
Ohio State landed three receivers taller than 6-foot-4 this year, all of which could develop into the deep threat the Buckeyes have been lacking in recent seasons.
That said, there's still a glaring need in the slot. Babb is an electric playmaker who would fill that need and fit perfectly into Ohio State's offensive scheme.
Most believe his recruitment will come down to Ohio State and Missouri, and we recently saw how well that works out for the Tigers.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Yoakum, Texas, four-star Joshua Moore; Hightsown, New Jersey, The Peddie School four-star Jahan Dotson
TIGHT END
Lindenhurst, New York, four-star Jeremy Ruckert
After not taking a tight end this year, Ohio State will absolutely take one — if not two — in 2018. The Buckeyes have the best relationship, thus far, with Ruckert.
He's been to campus twice in the last three months and recently narrowed his list to Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Though Ruckert could pull the trigger at any time, his official visits will certainly factor heavily in his decision.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point four-star Mustapha Muhammad; Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman four-star Brevin Jordan
OFFENSIVE LINE
Fairfield five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman
It's widely assumed Carman, the top-rated prospect in the state, will end up with Ohio State. But nothing is certain when it comes to recruitment and there's no doubt in my mind he's intrigued by programs like Alabama and Clemson.
Carman has said time and time again that he wants to enjoy the process, so for as much as the Buckeyes would hope for an early commitment, it's more likely this drags out until signing day.
Carman is Ohio State's top priority, though, and the Buckeyes will do everything they need to land him.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Atlanta, Georgia, Pace Academy five-star Jamaree Salyer; Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy four-star Verdis Brown
DEFENSIVE LINE
IMG Academy five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent
After striking out with Marvin Wilson and Jay Tufele this cycle, Ohio State is relying on Vincent to fix its woes at defensive tackle.
Now that's not to say Haskell Garrett and Jerron Cage won't have a significant impact in the middle of the line in the years ahead, but neither are considered the game-changer that Vincent is.
The Buckeyes have long been considered the favorite in his recruitment, so it should simply be a matter of getting him on campus this fall and holding off overtures from Alabama and Florida State.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, five-star Micah Parsons; Cleveland Heights four-star Tyreke Smith; Brooklyn, New York, Erasmus Hall four-star Matthew Jones
LINEBACKER
Toledo St. John's Jesuit four-star Dallas Gant
Though he's not the highest-rated linebacker in the class, Gant is another one of those in-state prospects that Ohio State has to land.
The Buckeyes and former defensive coordinator Luke Fickell established a great relationship with Gant, and despite his lack of college coaching experience, linebackers coach Bill Davis has picked up right where Fickell left off.
Notre Dame will continue to be in the conversation because of academics, however.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan five-star Teradja Mitchell; Bishop Gorman five-star Palaie Gaoteote; Denver, Colorado, Mullen four-star Adrian Jackson; Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star Christopher Oats
DEFENSIVE BACK
Bellflower, California, four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey
Many believed Woodbey should be on commitment watch following his first visit to campus, but we've since learned he doesn't plan to make a decision until he takes his official visits this fall.
If he were to make a surprise decision before then, Woodbey's recruitment won't be over until he faxes in his letter of intent.
Woodbey is down to Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC. And though he's a Trojan legacy, the Buckeyes have as good of shot as anyone with his teammate and good friend Wyatt Davis in the fold.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Marietta, Georgia, Lassiter five-star cornerback Derrik Allen; Houston, Texas, Lamar five-star cornerback Anthony Cook; Angleton, Texas, five-star safety B.J. Foster; IMG Academy four-star cornerback Houston Griffith
ATHLETE
Huber Heights Wayne four-star athlete L'Christian "Blue" Smith
The biggest decision in Smith's recruitment won't be what school he'll attend, it'll be whether he'll play football or basketball at the next level.
Seeing as he holds offers from some of the country's most prestigious programs in both sports, it won't be an easy decision to make, either.
Ohio State will likely be the choice if he decides he likes playing wide receiver more than small forward, though.
OTHER NAMES TO WATCH: Mount Holly, New Jersey, Rancocas Valley Regional four-star Iverson Clement
