Over the course of the last five years, as Ohio State's national recruiting profile has risen to previously unheard of levels, the amount of talent they've landed from within their own borders has continued to sink.
In fact, in the last 20 years of Buckeye football recruiting, only five Februaries have seen signing day classes that were comprised of less than 50-percent Ohio natives: Jim Tressel's 2008 class (his highest-ranked class) and Urban Meyer's last four classes, including an at least 46-year low (36-percent) in 2016.
As good as the Buckeyes have been on the field and in the living room over the last few years, there is, right now, a bit of an opportunity for their regional rivals to make an impact inside Ohio where they'd not been able to before. The recruiting calendar has sped up so considerably that teams who come in and offer Ohio prospects very early almost force Ohio State to make a decision way sooner than they'd like to or risk losing the relationship race that almost always seals the deal in recruiting.
The upcoming 2018 recruiting class in Ohio is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and because of that, a number of Buckeye State prospects have already seen their offer lists exploding and Urban Meyer and his staff aren't lagging behind. They've already offered four of the state's Top 10 for 2018 and are close to extending an offer to a number of others. As it stands, two of the state's Top 10 have already made their commitment – both to Michigan – an interesting developing story that speaks volumes about Ohio's importance to teams all around the country.
Using the 247Sports.com composite rankings, let's take a closer look at the best in Ohio for 2018, starting with the state's top-ranked player who hails from just outside of Columbus.
JAELEN GILL • RUNNING BACK • SOUTH (WESTERVILLE) • NATIONAL RANK: 19
There are a lot of superlatives out there regarding Jaelen Gill, the electric playmaker at Westerville South High School and none of them seem too outlandish. He's as hard-working as player in his class, never taking a weekend off from competition on the football field, the baseball field or otherwise. He's would be a homerun hitter at wide receiver or tailback and could be a lockdown cornerback if he ever decided to play defense.
With 18 early offers, including Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, USC and others, Gill is the definition of a national recruit. Long-expected to be a Buckeye, Gill has continued to take his time and give the process proper due diligence. If there's a team outside of Ohio that has the best chance to steal Gill away from Ohio State right now, it could be the darkhorse UCLA Bruins.
Prediction: Buckeye
JACKSON CARMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE • FAIRFIELD • NATIONAL RANK: 20
The first of two Fairfield High School standouts in the Top 10, offensive lineman Jackson Carman has quickly become one of the country's hottest recruits. He's got prototypical size at 6-foot-6 and 305-pounds, but its his feet and athleticism that makes him a true blue-chip prospect.
With 25 offers already, Carman is the state's most-offered 2018 prospect. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama and others are near the top of his list. He's been to Columbus multiple times this spring, including a trip for the Buckeyes' spring game.
Prediction: Buckeye
LEONARD TAYLOR • DEFENSIVE LINE • SPRINGFIELD • NATIONAL RANK: 22
Size and speed, Leonard Taylor has all the tools to become one of the best prospects from Ohio in years. The junior-to-be already stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 260-pounds. He's athletic enough to play tight end and strong enough to play anywhere along the defensive line. He's a natural fit along the defensive line anywhere in the country.
The nephew of a former Buckeye captain, Taylor grew up dreaming of playing in Ohio Stadium. Despite those dreams, it's Michigan who has earned an early commitment from the country's 22nd ranked player – he committed to the Wolverines on April 1st at their spring game. His recruitment is far from over, though. Taylor visited Ohio State for the Buckeyes' spring game and has stayed in contact with Ohio State and that will continue. It won't be easy, but I think eventually this one turns back to the Scarlet and Gray.
Prediction: Buckeye
DALLAS GANT • LINEBACKER • ST. JOHN'S JESUIT (TOLEDO) • NATIONAL RANK: 42
Another Top 50 overall player from the Buckeye state, Toledo's Dallas Gant is the nation's top-ranked outside linebacker in 2018. He's a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder right now and he's sure to fill out to a solid 225-230 pound linebacker by the time he's hitting a college field. Gant runs like a defensive back and has the ability to play anywhere on the field, as he's done for the Titans over the last two seasons.
As a recruit, Gant is still a bit unheralded, though his recent offer from Michigan State is likely to up his profile a bit. He's the cousin of former Michigan Wolverine Allen Gant and he's been a regular in Columbus since January. Gant will camp with Ohio State this summer and it's a good opportunity for him to show the Buckeyes what he can do when he narrows his focus to one position.
Prediction: Buckeye
L'CHRISTIAN SMITH • WIDE RECEIVER • WAYNE (HUBER HEIGHTS) • NATIONAL RANK: 94
One of the state's best athletes, Wayne's L'Christian "Blue" Smith is one of those guys who can easily carry the famed "freak" label. Smith is talented enough to earn Division One scholarships in basketball and football and it's a rare combination of speed and length that make him so coveted. At almost 6-foot-6 and 205-pounds, Smith lines up at wide receiver for the Warriors but I wouldn't be surprised to see college coaching staffs try to eventually turn him into a field-stretching tight end.
It may be that Smith is a bit raw, it may be that he's as focused on basketball as he is football, but whatever it is, his offer list right now isn't on par with his talent. Smith does have an Ohio State offer, as well as Michigan, Iowa and a few others, but you'd expect a physical beast like him to have more at this point.
Prediction: Buckeye
TRENTON GILLISON • TIGHT END • CENTRAL (PICKERINGTON) • NATIONAL RANK: 128
Ohio's best pure tight end in the 2018 class is Pickerington's Trenton Gillison. Gillison is 6-foot-5 and 220-pounds and plays along the defensive line as well, but he's almost certainly going to end up on offense in college.
Michigan has already offered, so the Buckeyes are certainly paying close attention and Gillison got a visit from Luke Fickell a week ago. He has nine current offers and, like Dallas Gant, a big summer could be made bigger for him by a strong outing at an Ohio State camp.
Prediction: Buckeye
XAVIER HENDERSON • ATHLETE • CENTRAL (PICKERINGTON) • NATIONAL RANK: 154
A special athlete in the mold of Jalin Marshall, Henderson is the second Central player in the Top 10. Unlike Gillison, it's a little more difficult to project where Henderson ends up playing in college as he's talented enough to play on either side of the ball but I prefer him on defense as I really like the aggressive way he plays the corner.
Henderson has seven offers, including one from Michigan State, and like Gillison, will be a major focus for the Buckeyes this summer as it comes to evaluation. He's got the skills to play at Ohio State and could be one of three, along with Gillison and Jeremiah Wood) potential Buckeyes lining up for the Tigers.
Prediction: Buckeye
ANTWUAN JOHNSON • LINEBACKER • SPRINGFIELD • NATIONAL RANK: 159
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound inside linebacker, Antwuan Johnson is the country's third-ranked player at his position. He's got very natural linebacker instincts and excels in the stopping the run. He gets downhill well but may not have the sideline-to-sideline footspeed that would really escalate him to a national-level recruit.
Johnson committed to Michigan in March and has been a key part of the Wolverines' efforts to recruit his teammate at Springfield, Leonard Taylor. Ohio State has not offered, but Iowa, Louisville, Kentucky and others have. I don't expect you'll see him offered by Ohio State anytime soon.
Prediction: Not a Buckeye
CHRISTOPHER OATS • LINEBACKER • WINTON WOODS (CINCINNATI) • NATIONAL RANK: 161
One of the quieter big-time prospects in the 2018 class, Christopher Oats looks like a Big Ten linebacker. He's a solid 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and though he's still a bit raw, he's got the natural athletic ability that coaches all over the country are looking for. He's long and if he keeps growing, it wouldn't be a surprise if he evolved into a defensive end.
On the recruiting front, things are just starting to heat up for Oats. He was in attendance for Ohio State's spring game and also took in the game at Michigan State. The country's seventh-ranked outside linebacker has four offers, including the Spartans and the Oklahoma Sooners. If Oats wants a Buckeye offer, he'll need to show Ohio State what he can do this summer.
Prediction: Not a Buckeye
MALIK VANN • LINEBACKER • FAIRFIELD • NATIONAL RANK: 229
For the third time in the Top 10, we've got teammates. Fairfield linebacker Malik Vann is the big inside linebacker type that teams are looking for, but unfortunately he's also likely to outgrow that. He's already 6-foot-3 and 245-pound and Vann will have to either adjust to life as a defensive lineman or try and control his still-growing frame to stay linebacker, which he prefers.
Notre Dame has offered Vann, as has Michigan State, each of whom are telling him they intend to make him a linebacker and the Buckeyes have made it clear they think he's a defensive lineman. Right now, if he wants to be a linebacker, you can all but count Ohio State out for Malik Vann.
Prediction: Not a Buckeye
