When it rains it pours. Almost 24 hours after posting a preview for the 2025 recruiting class, the Buckeyes FINALLY dropped their fall roster. And it is... something.
The final count was somewhat a mystery, but it looks like the Buckeyes have 24 (!) first year players. That's half the flipping roster. I am just aghast. The scary part is that there are another 10 players who are upperclassmen without any meaningful minutes on this roster. Which means the staff couldn't find more suitable replacements and kept them around for bodies at practice.
The most noticeable trend is the number of new midfielders on offense. I think that one upper class midfielder is returning, and that's Ari Allen, who was hurt all of 2023. Every other middie is a transfer or underclassman. Dillon Magee amd Gavin Caputo represent the best of the returning midfielders from 2023. The rest are complete nonfactors or unknowns. Even Allen is a mystery thanks to getting hurt last fall.
As a nice bonus, it is completely insane what the staff is doing for talent. The reigning ASUN midfielder of the year (Gannon Matthews) is now an attackman. Kurt Bruun, who had 100+ points for Tufts at attack last year, is a middie. Ben Mayer, who had a respectable 40 goal season last year, is still down at attack after coming from DIII mid-tier power York.
The only player who makes a ton of sense is Jack McKenna at attack. He is listed as a 6'6", 240 pound behemoth. My goodness, a damn Tyrannosaurus is going to be sniping for the Buckeyes this upcoming season.
Of course, the biggest man on campus (literally) is Caleb Fyock, listed at 6'2", and a ham sandwich short of 3 bills (297).
I don't know what's going to happen at midnight tonight. But I can tell you that 14 players will exhaust their eligibility next year. And currently Ohio State only has 9 players committed for 2024. Only one is a nationally ranked player. That's really a recipe for disaster. Especially with Penn State and the Wolverines lapping the Buckeyes in recruiting.
This 2024 season is a big one. For everyone. The staff is placing complete faith in young players who are going to have to take on the nation's best. Hopkins is going to be really tough. Maryland is Maryland. Penn State has an incredible senior class. We don't know who the Buckeyes play out of conference, but a safe bet is defending champions Notre Dame and 2015 champions Denver will be on there.
Obviously, the common thread is that OSU has never had a hall of fame coach on the sidelines. This roster, despite my pessimistic outlook, genuinely has physical and technical talent. The problem is that I don't trust this staff to develop anyone or anything. Too many years of miserable play show that.
In my opinion, previous years haven't had a lot of lacrosse guys. There were many guys who played lacrosse. But when the game is just something you fit into your life, not the consuming center of it, you won't succeed in DI. Sure, humans need to do other things to blow off steam.
But, to draw a parallel to the football team, Marvin Harrison isn't shooting and editing food consumption challenges. Tommy Eichenberg isn't goofing around on a scooter. Moving to another sport, Tom Ryan's wrestling guys don't look like they just got back from a 2 a.m. McDonald's run. I just haven't felt, or seen, the team as a whole take being good at lacrosse seriously.
Some guys (Ryan Terefenko) ooze desire and a need to win. But the entire team doesn't feel that way. Just one or two guys. That isn't a recipe for success. Especially when no name schools like Manhattan are leading the nation in DI team defense despite having the talent level of a bad MIAA team from Maryland.
This is roster is talented, but disjointed. A lot of work, practice, and effort are needed to make it gel. We will see if they decide to be good, or if it's a repeat of last year.
Here's the link.
