The 2018 recruiting cycle is locked up, and Ohio State’s roster is now officially loaded with the highest-ranked class in school history. Last year, freshmen, including J.K. Dobbins, performed at the most elite level of college football. Which new Buckeyes could make an instant impact in 2018?
Offense
Tight End
Jeremy Ruckert is the leading candidate for a breakout freshman campaign. Urban Meyer gushed that Ruckert “might be the best tight end prospect that I’ve ever seen.” With the departure of Marcus Baugh, the 6-foot-6 New York native has an immediate opportunity to be a key component of Kevin Wilson’s offense. It would not be a complete surprise if he started ahead of Rashod Berry. If he lives up to his potential, Buckeye fans will get used to the sounds of the name "Jeremy Ruckert" in 2018.
“I THINK JEREMY RUCKERT MIGHT BE THE BEST TIGHT END PROSPECT THAT I’VE EVER SEEN AND RECRUITED. HIS SKILL SET IS RIDICULOUS. NOW IT’S A QUESTION OF GETTING HIM READY TO PLAY.”– Urban Meyer
Offensive Line
Ohio State has literally massive shoes to fill with linemen Billy Price and Jamarco Jones graduating after legendary careers. Assembling the 2018 offensive line will be less “next man up” than an attempt to fashion a symphony of “slobs” with returners Michael Jordan, Branden Bowen, Demetrius Knox and others harmoniously arranged to hammer opposing lines.
Jones’ tackle spot will likely be Bowen’s to lose. Ohio State pulled off a massive recruiting coup, however, with the late addition of Nicholas Petit-Frere, the top ranked tackle in the nation.
Urban Meyer has made it clear he prefers not to play freshman linemen. The Buckeyes, however, find themselves with both a vacancy and the most highly regarded pre-collegiate player in the world at the open position. It will be an uphill battle for 272 pound Petit-Frere to overtake veterans, but the blue-chip lineman will add intrigue to the position battle.
The opportunity for early playing time could only have factored as a positive in his decision to join the scarlet and gray. The coaching staff won over Petit-Frere. Now it's his turn to woo the coaches.
Four-star tackle Max Wray, likewise, has a bright future ahead. The early enrollee will have a leg up after a winter with Mickey Marotti, but it will be a surprise if he leaps into a starting role next fall.
Matthew Jones is the top-ranked incoming center in the nation, so, like Petit-Frere, he has a case to make. Given that OSU converted seasoned stars Pat Elflein and Billy Price from guard to center for the past two seasons, it seems highly unlikely Meyer will opt to begin every play with the ball in a true freshman’s hands.
Running Back
Ohio State already has a pair of elite running backs in J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, but the addition of Jaelen Gill, Brian Snead, and Master Teague means Tony Alford’s unit is overflowing with talent.
Last year, freshman D’Andre Swift joined Georgia’s “thunder and lightning” combination of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to form a superstorm backfield. Ohio State’s new additions, however, will likely have to wait their turn while the coaching staff figures out how to optimize the proven tandem.
Receiver
One of the biggest surprises of the offseason was the return of Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin despite their draft eligibility. Kamryn Babb, L’Christian Smith, Cameron Brown and Chris Olave will thus be hard-pressed to earn immediate roles in Ohio State’s deep and experienced receiving corps.
With that said, the receiver rotation creates opportunities for a long list of players to see meaningful reps in each game. Long story short, it is all upside if one of these young players is too good to keep off the field.
Quarterback
The departure of J.T. Barrett opens the door for a much-anticipated position battle featuring presumed starter Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell. Barring either miraculous development or apocalyptic meltdown, four-star recruit Matthew Baldwin will not top the QB pecking order in 2018.
Consensus #2 Class
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) February 7, 2018
National Signing Day 2018
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Defense
Defensive Line
Top overall JUCO transfer Antwuan Jackson should be game-ready at defensive tackle on day one. The early enrollee will be joined on the interior of the D-line by top-rated defensive tackle Taron Vincent and third-ranked Tommy Togiai. Dre’Mont Jones, Robert Landers and Jashon Cornell are experienced returners, but Larry Johnson is a rotation guru. After a year of defensive end dominance, these incoming tackles will give the Buckeyes a new level of strength from inside.
Former five-star prospects Nick Bosa, Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper are poised to take over the elite defensive end group from Sam Hubbard, Jalyn Holmes and Tyquan Lewis.
Unless a linebacker moves up to rush end or an interior lineman moves outside, Tyreke Smith will be the person to beat for the last spot on the two-deep. While Smith likely will not feature in the infamous “Rushmen” package in year one, because Dre’Mont Jones will stay on the field for third-and-long, he will be part of one of the most talented rotations in football. His role will likely be similar to Young's last year.
Smith's most likely challenger is four-star defensive tackle Tyler Friday, who is expected to convert to defensive end. Meanwhile, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Alex Williams will bulk up their massive 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7 frames to ensure the Silver Bullets are menacing for years to come.
Linebacker
Teradja Mitchell, Dallas Gant and K’Vaughan Pope are a formidable group of linebackers, but they will likely have to prove their stripes on special teams before they see meaningful reps on defense.
Mitchell, the most sought-after prospect in the group, has been compared to Raekwon McMillan, but he is unlikely to supplant returning starter Tuf Borland. While the LB group struggled last year, incoming freshmen will have to compete for depth chart spots with a gifted group of young returners including Baron Browning, Keandre Jones, and Pete Werner.
Teradja Mitchell comes to Ohio State from Bishop Sullivan High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Secondary
Cornerback Tyreke Johnson, who recently earned his fifth star, will be the standard-bearer for Ohio State's DBU tradition in coming years. Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield, Jeffrey Okudah and Shuan Wade will all start ahead of him on the depth chart, but he could earn playing time as the season goes on in the same way former five-star Okudah did last season. Sevyn Banks and Marcus Hooker will compete for roles on special teams in a loaded young cornerback group.
Safety Josh Proctor could earn meaningful playing time in year one. With Damon Webb and Erick Smith graduating, he will be in the mix with Isaiah Pryor and Brendon White to play across from Jordan Fuller. Proctor is extremely talented, and he could benefit from the relative lack of depth on the back end of the Buckeye defense.
