Class In Review: Adolphus Washington, Michael Thomas and Cardale Jones are the faces of the 2012 Recruiting Class

THE CLASS AT A GLANCE

Ohio State's 2012 recruiting class featured 25 players, including 15 from the Buckeye state. Nine states were represented in 2012, including a pair of Buckeyes who attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. Cardale Jones and Michael Thomas played major roles in Ohio State's national championship season of 2014. 

The class, Urban Meyer's first in Columbus, finished fifth in the country according to the 247Sports.com rankings and first in the Big Ten.

Let's take a look at the careers and contributions of the 25 players of the 2012 class.   

THOSE WHO STAYED

Adolphus Washington enrolled at Ohio State in 2012 with the second highest rating in the signing class. He lived up to the lofty expectations. Washington played in 10 games as a freshman and saw significant playing time in 2013. His junior and senior seasons Washington started 25 games, tallied 97 tackles, 17.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks. 

Washington entered his senior season with preseason All-American honors. At the end of the season he earned All-American honors from The Sporting News and was named Second Team All-Big Ten Team. Washington's Ohio State career did not end how it should have due to a poor decision off the field that kept him out of the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.

Honors and Awards

• 2015: All-American (The Sporting News)
• 2015: 2nd Team All-Big Ten

NFL DRAFT: Possible second or third round selection.

Remember when Ohio State could recruit defensive tackles? Tommy Schutt was the highest rated DT in the 2012 class (Washington was a WDE) and was the first HS senior to commit to Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois native played in 10 games as a freshman and made a key play in the OT win at Wisconsin. Schutt continued to get significant playing time his sophomore and junior seasons.

As a senior starter Tommy Schutt set career highs in solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Unfortunately a foot injury kept him from playing in the Fiesta Bowl victory against Notre Dame.  

NFL DRAFT: Tommy Schutt could be a late round selection. 

Bri'onte Dunn has seen playing time on special teams and as a running back in 26 games. There was speculation in the summer of 2015 that Dunn would transfer to Youngstown State. That did not happen and he had career highs in attempts (15) and rushing yards (95) in 2015. Entering the 2016 season Dunn will be a red-shirt senior. 

In June of 2010 Joshua Perry became the first commitment of the 2012 class. The Olentangy High School alum collected 229 tackles his junior and senior seasons at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes with 124 tackles during the 2014 national championship season. Perry did more than just tackle, he was also a field general and leader for the defense. He was named to the 2015 All-Big Ten Team.

Off the field Perry was just as impressive. In the spring of 2015 he participated in the "Soles 4 Souls". Perry traveled to Costa Rica for week and gave shoes to individuals who needed them. In 2012-13 he was an OSU Scholar-Athlete. Joshua Perry also did this for a little kid.  Did you know that Perry was the state runner-up in the long jump as a sophomore in high school?

Awards and Honors

• 2015: Team Captain
• 2015: All-Big Ten
• 2014: All-Big Ten (2nd Team)

NFL DRAFT: Joshua Perry is projected to get selected in the second round.

Tyvis Powell red-shirted during the 2012 season. In 2014, he played in 14 games, started five and was on the field for 953 snaps, becoming a key part of the Buckeyes' defense. His most memorable snap came when he intercepted Devin Garnder's pass attempt on a 2-point conversion to seal Ohio State's 42-41 victory in Ann Arbor against a woefully overmatched Michigan team.

As a sophomore Powell was named the defensive MVP of the national championship game. He also intercepted Blake Sims' last second pass attempt to close out Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Powell finished his Ohio State career with 195 tackles and eight interceptions.

Tyvis Powell is fun to watch on the field, but his personality off of the field is off the charts. Tyvis Powell knows how to have fun and stay positive. Cardale Jones' father also knows how to take care of business. In high school he never missed a day. Powell also graduated from Ohio State in May of 2015 (3.5 years).

NFL DRAFT: Powell could be a late round draft pick.

Honors and Awards

• 2015: Team Captain
• 2015: CFP Championship Defensive MVP

Cardale Jones came to Ohio State via Glenville High School in Cleveland. The son of Tyvis Powell entered the 2014 season third on the depth chart. Many players buried on the chart would expect to ride the pine for the season. That fate was not in Cardale Jones' future as he started the last three games of the 2014 season and helped guide Ohio State to the national championship. 

Jones surprised many when he returned for the 2015 season. He was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, but split time with J.T. Barrett. Jones finished 2015 with career highs in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns. He also finished his career undefeated as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

NFL DRAFT: Cardale Jones has been projected all over the draft board as his blend of size, elusiveness and arm strength make him an intriguing prospect.

Jacoby Boren is the youngest of the Boren brothers and puts a nice bow on the family's legacy at Ohio State. The Pickerington native spent his first two seasons behind future NFL Draft pick Corey Linsley. In 2014 he was named the starting center for all 15 games. Boren also started in every game of his senior season. 

Awards and Honors

• 2015: Team Captain
• 2015: Academic All-American
• 2015: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2015: Finalist for the Walter V. Campbell Trophy
• 2014: Academic All-American
• 2014: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2013: Academic All-Big Ten

NFL DRAFT: Boren could be a mid to late round draft pick.

Michael Thomas was Ohio State's most dynamic and consistent receiver in 2015. Thomas was the security blanket for both J.T Barrett and Cardale Jones. Over the past two seasons the Los Angeles native caught 110 receptions for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns. Thomas finished his Ohio State with a reception in 29 consecutive games. He was a 2015 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and an OSU Scholar-Athlete in 2012.

Thomas had many highlight catches during his Ohio State career, but one catch stands out. His tightrope, toe-tapping catch from Evan Spencer against Alabama in the 2015 Sugar Bowl is one of the best catches in Ohio State history. His route against Virginia Tech wasn't bad either.

NFL DRAFT: The first or second round is when Michael Thomas should be selected.  

Cam Williams played as a freshman and earned varsity letters all four seasons with the Buckeyes. His best game came against Illinois in 2013. Williams made his first career start against the Illini and recorded a career high 10 tackles.

Honors and Awards 

• 2015: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2014: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2013: Academic All-Big Ten

NEXT STEP: Camren Williams will scout for the New England Patriots.

Taylor Decker played in every game as a freshman and earned a varsity letter. Decker started every game his sophomore, junior and senior season. That is a stretch of 42 consecutive starts. He was named a pre-season All-American before the start of the 2015 season.

When Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl Decker's college career came full circle. Decker originally committed to Notre Dame before flipping to the Buckeyes.

Honors and Awards

• 2015: Team Captain
• 2015: All-American
• 2015: Offensive Lineman of the Year
• 2015: All-Big Ten
• 2014: All-Big Ten (2nd Team)
• 2014: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2013: Academic All-Big Ten

NFL DRAFT: Taylor Decker is projected to be a first round draft pick.

In 2010 Warren Ball was the second player to verbally commit to Ohio State's 2012 class. Ball red-shirted in 2012 and all indications are that his Buckeye career is over. He was honored on Senior Day 2015. Warren Ball is a graduate of DeSales located in Columbus. Luke Fickell is also a DeSales alum. 

Honors and Awards

• 2013: Academic All-Big Ten

Elflein red-shirted in 2012 due to a foot injury. He earned a varsity letter in 2013 as a back-up offensive lineman. Elflein was named a starter at guard at the beginning of the 2014 season and never gave up his spot. 

Honors and Awards

• 2015: All-Big Ten
• 2014: All-Big Ten
• 2015: Academic All-Big Ten
• 2014: Academic All-Big Ten

NFL DRAFT: Returning for red-shirt senior season.

TRANSFERS AND MORE

Noah Spence's sophomore season at Ohio State was supposed to be the start of a sensational two season run. He was the bookend to Joey Bosa and the two were going to wreak havoc on Big Ten quarterbacks. Unfortunately Spence go into some trouble...twice. 

Eastern Kentucky is where Noah Spence found a refuge to put his life back together. In 2016 he recorded 63 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the Colonels. Those numbers and the impact he had on his team earned Spence FCS Player of the Year and All-American honors. 

Honors and Awards

• 2015: FCS National Player of the Year
• 2015: FCS All-American
• 2013: All-Big Ten
• 2013: Academic All-Big Ten

NFL DRAFT: Spence is expected to get drafted in the first or second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Pittman was originally committed to Michigan State before Urban Meyer was able to flip him to Ohio State. Things didn't work out for Pittman and the Buckeyes and in the spring of 2013 he left the program. With help from a gentlemen known to wear sweater vests Pittman eventually landed at Akron.

In two seasons at Akron Pittman recorded 66 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.  

Armani Reeves played in 12 games during the 2014 national championship season. He earned three varsity letters during his playing time. Reeves received a medical hardship waiver due to concussions and did not play in 2015.

David Perkins was with Ohio State for the 2012 season. In the spring of 2013 there was mutual agreement for him to leave the program. A few weeks after leaving the Buckeyes Perkins was arrested for underage drinking, criminal mischief and criminal damaging.

Perkins transferred to Illinois State and started at defensive end for the Cardinals.

Devan Bogard was an assassin on special teams. His aggressive style and tenaciousness made him one to watch on the coverage units. During his time at Ohio State he was able to come back from two knee surgeries. When he blew out his knee for a third time his Buckeye career came to an end. 

Kyle Dodson was with Ohio State for two seasons before his career was ended due to a neck condition. He also red-shirted in 2012 because of shoulder surgery. Dodson was from Cleveland Heights High School.

Joey O'Connor was going to Penn State until a certain scandal was revealed. Urban Meyer was able to flip him to Ohio State, but a knee injury in September of 2012 made O'Connor red-shirt. After the season O'Connor decided to transfer to Colorado State and play closer to home.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
JAMAL MARCUS	WDE	6-2	225	.896	★★★★	DURHAM, NC	HILLSIDE

Jamal Marcus played in 11 games as a freshman and earned a varsity letter. Entering his sophomore season Marcus switched to the defensive line. He played in 9 games in 2013 and made 19 tackles, 1 TFL and a sack.

In May of 2014 Jamal Marcus was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules. He landed in Akron and played in 12 games last season. He recorded 29 tackles, 11.0 TFL and 5.0 sacks for the Zips in 2015.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
NAJEE MURRAY	S	5-11	175	.892	★★★★	STEUBENVILLE, OHIO	STEUBENVILLE

The graduate of Steubenville High School played in six games his freshman season until a knee injury sidelined him for the season. That was the last time Murray played for Ohio State. In August of 2013 he was released from the Buckeyes.

Murray transferred to Kent State and played corner back for the Golden Flashes in 2014 and 2015. He has recorded 53 tackles and had 12 passes defended.  

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
FRANK EPITROPOULOS	WR	6-3	195	.878	★★★	UPPER ARLINGTON, OHIO	UPPER ARLINGTON

Frank Epitropoulos red-shirted as a freshman. As sophomore he had one catch for six yards. In August of 2014 Epitropoulos released a statement that he was quitting the football team to focus his efforts to qualify for medical school.

In July 2015 it was reported that Epitropoulos was transferring to Michigan State to play football. He did not record a catch for the Spartans in 2015.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
RICQUAN SOUTHWARD	WR	6-2	185	.876	★★★	LAKELAND, FL	LAKELAND

Ricquan Southward was the only member of the 2012 class from Florida. He originally intended to play for the University of Miami, but flipped to Ohio State the day before Urban Meyer was officially hired as Ohio State's head coach. 

Southward left the team in October of 2012 for voluntary reasons. In 2015 he played for the Matadors of Arizona Western College.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
BLAKE THOMAS	TE	6-4	240	.874	★★★	CLEVELAND, OHIO	ST. IGNATIUS

Blake Thomas red-shirted as a freshman in 2012. In August of 2013 his Ohio State career was over before it started. Thomas ended his playing days after suffering one too many stingers. An MRI showed that Thomas was risking paralysis if he continued playing football.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	247 COMP.	STARS	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
LUKE ROBERTS	ILB	6-2	220	.844	★★★	LANCASTER, OHIO	LANCASTER

Luke Roberts committed to Ohio State in July of 2011. Roberts left the Buckeyes in July of 2013 to play for Harvard. In 2014 he recorded 3 tackles for the Crimson.

EDIT: The Warren Ball piece was updated to include his Senior Day honor. Tip of the hat to AZ Buckeye13.