The world of recruiting can be dirty, at times frustrating, fulfilling and downright confusing. Blue-chip prospects don't always pan out for whatever reason, while a two-star commit could blossom into a starter and captain.
You can do your best to pick out "can't miss" players who grow into instant contributors for your favorite team, but in reality, it comes down to how that recruit develops both mentally and physically, if there's space for him to play right away and if the coaching staff thinks he's ready and needed.
Ohio State's 2015 crop of players was the seventh best according to 247Sports, loaded with four-star talent in many positions of need.
But are there any guys who can legitimately play this fall for a team that is already loaded and looking to defend the first ever College Football Playoff national championship? Let's take a look. (I promise to do my best at being near the same level as Birm with this #analysis, but we all know that isn't going to happen.)
Mike Weber
Finally putting the abrupt exit of former running backs coach Stan Drayton behind him and staying true to his word to remain a Buckeye, it's past time to think about Weber's skills with a football in his hands.
Weber has a solid frame (5-10/205), breakaway speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash) and great vision. He'll bulk up when he reports to Ohio State, but already looks to be of a similar mold to that of Ezekiel Elliott.
With Curtis Samuel's potential move to H-back this fall — the spot he was originally recruited to play — Weber could easily come in and compete to be Elliott's backup with Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball. He's that talented.
Justin Hilliard
I sat down with Hilliard and his coach coach, Steve Specht, last week at St. Xavier High School for a summer series Tim and I are working on (stay tuned) and was very impressed. Not only does Hilliard possess immense size at 6-foot, 225 pounds, but he's extremely well-spoken and intelligent.
You want linebackers to have both traits for multiple reasons, one being because they're the quarterback of the defense and another being a demand for respect in the huddle. Raekwon McMillan is only a sophomore, but this fall he'll have to take more of a leadership role because he's the middle linebacker.
Hilliard is one of the top outside linebackers in the 2015 class, and even though the Buckeyes have Darron Lee and Joshua Perry filling those slots this fall, Hilliard appears more than ready to step in should one of them go down.
Nick Conner
It probably seems odd to see two linebackers on this list, especially with Ohio State having Lee and Perry locked and loaded to lead in 2015, as mentioned above. If you watched the Spring Game, though, you know why Conner's on this list.
Playing against a patchwork and young offensive line, Conner made the games a nightmare for Stephen Collier. He finished with seven total tackles, one tackle for loss, forced a fumble, snagged an interception and broke up a pass. Basically he was everywhere.
Already enrolled, Conner finds himself a step ahead of other freshmen linebackers like Hilliard and Jerome Baker. You can never have enough quality linebackers, and Meyer knows that. Hence why two of them are on this list, with Baker narrowly missing the cut.
Jason Cornell/Dre'Mont Jones
Cornell and Jones are grouped together here because they both are defensive ends, a portion on a unit that's depth is a concern outside All-American Joey Bosa. Both have the size and strength to make noise in the defensive line room, which Cornell is already doing as an early enrollee.
The defensive line lost Michael Bennett and Steve Miller from the 2014 title team, leaving a young crop of talent like Donovan Munger and Jalyn Holmes next to veterans still looking to make an impact in Tommy Schutt and Joel Hale hoping to fill the void.
Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson love rotating seven, eight, nine or even 10 guys on the defensive line, so guys like Jones and Cornell could work their way into the rotation if they earn Johnson's trust. Easier said than done, but the potential is there.
K.J. Hill
Hill was a pleasant signing day surprise in February, bolting from North Little Rock, Ark., to pledge to the Buckeyes. He was ranked as the top player in the state by some recruiting websites, a game-breaking wide receiver with stellar hands and a nose for making big plays.
With the exit of Devin Smith and Evan Spencer from the program, there is a bit of a void at wide receiver. Yes, there are more than enough capable replacements already in the program, but if Hill shows he's better, he could find himself on the field this fall.
“K.J. Hill is a phenomenal student, great kid, hard worker and wants to be great, and that's more important than any other stuff," wide receivers coach Zach Smith said on National Signing Day. "The film's great, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't hold a candle to the intangible value that kid has, and that's why he was targeted early."
Ohio State wanted him for a reason, so don't think they'll shelve him if he's ready.
Honorable Mentions
-Eric Glover-Williams
-Jerome Baker
