The 2016 recruiting class for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes is one people have been waiting for. A bumper crop in the state of Ohio has led to five of the Buckeye state's top 11 players already being committed to the Buckeyes. Six if you include Tyler Gerald, now lining up for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The only player in Ohio's top 20 prospects committed elsewhere is Tommy Kraemer, the state's top prospect heading to Notre Dame, but that was a bit of a long shot for the Buckeyes from the start.
The Buckeyes have locked down the state of Ohio. The state's second, third and fourth-ranked players have already committed to Urban Meyer, the most recent being No. 2 Demario McCall, the first being No. 3 George Hill and No. 4 Jake Hausmann sandwiched somewhere in the middle.
Ohio State has eight current commitments in a class that is likely to end up no fewer than 22-23, but it'd be less than surprising if it made its way to a full 25. The instability of college rosters being what it is, the room finds a way to open up. Love it or hate it, this is recruiting and the business of college football in 2015.
Avoiding all the potential hot takes on "roster management" is a must, so let's swerve head on into the current commitments. The Buckeyes' class is, at present, ranked fourth in the country for 2016.
| position | name | hometown | ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUNNING BACK | GEORGE HILL | HUBBARD, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| RUNNING BACK | KAREEM WALKER | WAYNE, NEW JERSEY | ★★★★★ |
| RUNNING BACK | DEMARIO MCCALL | NORTH RIDGEVILLE, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END | KIERRE HAWKINS | MAPLE HEIGHTS, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| TIGHT END | JAKE HAUSMANN | CINCINNATI, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| OFFENSIVE LINE | TYLER GERALD | PORTSMOUTH, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| DEFENSIVE END | JONATHON COOPER | COLUMBUS, OHIO | ★★★★ |
| DEFENSIVE END | TERRELL HALL | WASHINGTON, D.C | ★★★★ |
The only thing more important than a good start in recruiting is a good finish, because nothing that happens until February (okay, January for those of you who will throw early-enrollee semantics at me) matters that much. Again, recruiting is around the clock and different than it used to be, so the Buckeyes have to stay engaged with the previous eight as much as the next 14-15 whom they hope will join the fray.
How could the class finish? That's the question that matters. Let's take a look and see who could be in Ohio State's future, starting this week with a closer look at the most realistic offensive options.
QUARTERBACK
We've discussed Ohio State's conundrum at quarterback for months, so I don't suspect going over the details with a fine-toothed comb again will shed any new light on the matter. The facts are that right now there's two primary targets for the Buckeyes, New Jersey's Jarrett Guarantano and DeSoto, Texas star Tristen Wallace. There are other options beyond these two, but the Buckeyes want to land one of these two and should have an answer soon as to whether or not that's the case. If Guarantano or Wallace aren't in the commitment list by the end of April, expect a month or so of new evaluations before any other players become a realistic option.
- Prediction: Tristen Wallace.
RUNNING BACK
The Buckeyes have commitments from three of the country's top four high school tailbacks.
LOL.
But seriously, there's going to be a push, especially from Michigan State, for George Hill. Schools around the country would not be doing their jobs if they didn't try and force this trio to reconsider heading to Ohio State when there's all that talent and only one ball. Ezekiel Elliott, Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall all signed with Ohio State on the same day; the precedent for success in Columbus is there, as is a blueprint for how each player will be utilized.
Kareem Walker is quietly leading the charge as a recruiter for the Buckeyes in 2016, and although he'll have a handful of schools continuing to press for a visit, his early decision speaks very well for the Buckeyes' chances of holding onto him. He's from New Jersey after all, not Florida.
- Prediction: Pain.
WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END
Ohio State's lack of recruiting success at this position remains somewhat of a mystery. The Buckeyes have displayed a willingness to throw the football during Urban Meyer's tenure, despite their successful running game. Zach Smith is one of the game's most successful young coaches, proving himself as a recruiter and a tactician.
As it stands, Kierre Hawkins, George Hill and Demario McCall could all find some playing time at wide receiver, although it's also as likely that none of the three ever ends up being considered a pure wide receiver. After those three, the Buckeyes primary target is Fort Wayne, Indiana's Austin Mack. Coveted by Ohio State since an eye-opening appearance at camp last summer, Mack will make a college choice June 7th.
Detroit's Donnie Corley and Coconut Creek, Florida's Binjimen Victor are another pair of pass-catchers high on Ohio State's list. Behind Mack, Corley and Victor sits a handful of options, including Viera, Florida's Tre Nixon, Cleveland Benedictine's Justin Layne, Hallandale, Florida's Joshua Hammond, and Egg Harbor City, New Jersey's Ahmir Mitchell.
There's no shortage of talented prospects at wide receiver interested in the Buckeyes. North Gwinnett, Georgia's Josh Imatorbhebhe, Wichita Falls, Texas' TJ Vasher and Fort Lauderdale's Dredrick Snelson are all names worth watching if any of the primary targets end up looking elsewhere.
At tight end, the Buckeyes have Cincinnati Moeller's Jake Hausmann and Hawkins is likely to take some snaps there as well, so there's no pressing need for another player at the position. Of course, pressing need doesn't mean no need, and Perry, Ohio's Luke Farrell is the the likely choice to join the fight for the Buckeyes. Pennsylvania's Cary Angeline and Naseir "Pop" Upshur are another pair of players the Buckeyes would love to have, but they've not yet written any love letters to teenagers' girlfriends, so they may be missing the boat on each.
- Prediction: Austin Mack, Joshua Hammond, Luke Farrell
OFFENSIVE LINE
After signing six offensive lineman and a long-snapper in 2015, the position is not a priority from a numbers perspective in 2016. Still, three to four quality options are desired. Guard Tyler Gerald is in, and Cleveland St. Ignatius' offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg will decide between Ohio State and Notre Dame towards the end of April. The Buckeyes do not want to lose both of Ohio's top lineman to the Irish; they will put their best foot forward to try and seal the deal with Eichenberg and his family during their spring game visit the weekend of April 17 and 18.
Pennsylvania's Michal Menet, the Michigan pair of Michael Jordan and Thiyo Lukusa, and Washington, D.C. native Jauan Williams are four desired tackles if Eichenberg were to spurn the Buckeyes. Georgia's EJ Price and Mundelein, Illinois' Sean Foster are another pair of names worth watching closely as the summer months come around.
On the interior line, the Ohio trio of Jack Wohlabaugh, Gavin Cupp and Nik Urban could find work themselves into Ed Warinner's plans; Wohlabaugh has been told he's a potential center for the Buckeyes. Out of state prospects like Richard Merritt , a teammate of Jauan Williams at Archbishop Carroll in D.C, Parker Boudreaux from Orlando, Florida, and Kissimmee's Parker Braun – whose father played for Warinner at Army – could be legitimate options as the camp season encroaches.
- Prediction: Tyler Gerald, Liam Eichenberg, Jack Wohlabaugh and Jauan Williams(?)
