Finding the right fit for your college football program isn't just about what happens on the field, but off it as well. Today, Ohio State added a key piece. How will that commitment impact the Buckeyes?
Ohio State landed a commitment Tuesday evening from one of the top-rated prospects in the South as Stockbridge, Georgia, four-star defensive end Brenton Cox pledged his services to the Buckeyes just one week after he took an unofficial visit for the Buckeyes' annual Spring Game.
Let's take a look at what Cox — the No. 43 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — brings to Columbus.
ON THE FIELD
Simply put, the 6-foot-5, 247-pound Cox is a nightmare for opposing offenses. He has an explosive first step and the athleticism to get around the corner to wreak havoc in the backfield on almost every play.
Cox is extremely physical and his length makes him disruptive in the passing game, similar to that of current Ohio State defensive end Jalyn Holmes. He reads plays well, takes great angles toward the ball carrier and uses his closing speed to chase down plays from behind.
Naturally, Cox uses his size and speed to overpower high school linemen. That means he must continue to improve his technique and disengagement skills and refine his go-to moves. Cox aggressiveness sometimes works against him, too.
Cox recorded a team-leading 75 tackles, 18 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery last season to help the Tigers to the state semifinals last season. He was named the Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year as a result.
IN THE CLASS
Cox becomes the eighth member — but first defensive end — in Ohio State's Supreme '18 recruiting class, joining five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent, four-star dual-threat quarterback Emory Jones, four-star offensive tackle Max Wray, four-star safeties Jaiden Woodbey and Josh Proctor and four-star running backs Brian Snead and Jaelen Gill.
The Buckeyes brought in three defensive linemen in this year's recruiting class, but only one end in five-star Chase Young. That position will take a serious hit with Tyquan Lewis and the above-mentioned Holmes set to graduate next spring. And with redshirt junior Sam Hubbard eligible to enter the NFL Draft, the lack of depth at defensive end is certainly something the staff will want to address in 2018.
It may, in fact, be Ohio State's biggest positional need, so Cox's commitment won't affect the Buckeyes' pursuit of prospects like former Penn State five-star commit Micah Parsons or Cleveland Heights four-star Tyreke Smith. The staff will just pitch the idea of playing alongside Cox, Vincent and Young and the terror they could instill in opposing quarterbacks.
THE INTANGIBLES
Just last week, the NCAA revealed the results of a study on which states produce the most athletes per capita.
The state of Georgia ranked second to only Florida with nearly 9 percent of all high school athletes being recruited by a Division I school, so it's pretty easy to see why Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has placed such an emphasis on recruiting the Peach State.
“We keep very close tabs on where we’ve had success,” Meyer said during last week's Big Ten teleconference. "The Northeast is one, and then you’ve got Florida, Georgia and Texas. You always like to take care of your 300- or 400-mile radius around you. But we’ve had great success in the state of Florida and state of Texas, so we’re going to continue that.”
In 2017, Ohio State signed three of the top six players from Texas. This year, the Buckeyes have now landed two of the top eight in Georgia — four-star dual-threat quarterback commit Emory Jones comes in at No. 4.
It seems to me like Meyer has identified another talent-rich state ripe for the picking.
