Heat Check: Piecing Together the Inaugural Board for Ohio State's 2018 Recruiting Class

We are in the early stages of the 2018 cycle, and Ohio State currently holds commitments from four prospects, each of whom is ranked nationally in the top 100. There's still a ton that will need to unfold between now and February's national signing day, but the expectation is that the Buckeyes will bring in a larger class than the 21 signees we saw for the 2017 haul. 

In an effort to better keep up with the movement on the recruiting front, we will once again be releasing a monthly board to help monitor some of the more noteworthy occurrences from the previous 30 days. 

A few points to ponder:

• This isn't based on any one particular factor. We consider it a combination of positional needs, reciprocated interest, player caliber, and how hard the staff may be pushing. It's absolutely not an exact science.
• It's only March, and this is going to change a lot over the coming months. Prospects are going to commit to various schools and we've seen before how a single pledge can impact numerous programs across the country.
• Keep in mind that as the season gets underway, we'll get a much better feel of the personnel – including players who could leave early – and what to expect beyond just 2017. Certainly another variable to consider when looking at recruiting needs. 
• Again, it's only March, and we only include 11 spots. Some familiar names we've frequently discussed may not be making an appearance now, but as signing day gets closer, it gets much easier to narrow things down.

Without further ado, the initial 11W board for the Class of 2018:

Five-star Fairfield tackle Jackson Carman checks in at No. 1, and it's going to be virtually impossible to overtake the top spot until the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder makes his intentions known and comes off the board.

It's been mentioned here before, but in a year when the position is a priority for the Buckeyes, landing America's top player at the position – who happens to hail from Ohio – is an absolute must. Fortunately for the good guys, it would be a shock to see him end up anywhere other than Columbus. Carman is likely the most important recruit since Meyer's arrival. 

The 2017 class saw the Buckeyes miss out on the likes of Marvin Wilson (LSU) and Jay Tufele (USC), but Larry Johnson will look to bounce back in 2018. IMG Academy's Taron Vincent transferred from Baltimore and he and his family have a strong connection with Ohio State's defensive line coach. Vincent has been to Tallahassee a handful of times in the last year, and coming off his most recent trip, he's now got the Buckeyes and Seminoles tied atop his list.

Several crystal balls for Florida State have been coming in lately, but I tend to think some may be overreacting a bit. The nation's top tackle hasn't been to Columbus in nearly a year, and it's taken several trips to FSU to bring them neck and neck with the Buckeyes. He's expected to announce sometime this spring or summer but is planning on trekking to Columbus – with family in tow – before making a decision. 

It may be worth noting that Mark Richt and the Hurricanes currently have the attention of the Bradenton, Florida football factory. Miami is the team to beat for several of the Ascenders top players, and while Vincent hasn't listed them as a serious contender, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Canes try to make a major push.

Pass-catchers making the list include a pair of four-stars in wide receiver Kamryn Babb and tight end Jeremy Ruckert. Babb is the country's No. 9 wideout and looks to be someone who could play in the slot or on the outside. The St. Louis product was an avid follower of Ezekiel Elliott during his time in Columbus. As for Ruckert, he's the unquestioned top tight end target for the Buckeyes, and after not bringing in anyone at the position in 2017, he looks to be the guy right now. Michigan is also in hot pursuit of the New York star while Babb is coming off a trip to South Bend.

Linebacker recruiting should be a bit more of a focus this cycle as we're expecting Ohio State to bring in three at the position and possibly four since a few targets could ultimately line up at defensive end. Toledo's Dallas Gant checks in at No. 5 on our initial list while Cincinnati's Christopher Oats is No 11. 

Gant is being pursued by the usual Midwest powers and could make a commitment before the start of his senior year. The four-star visited both Ohio State and Notre Dame in February, and they're likely the two programs at the top of his list right now. 

Oats recently listed Ohio State and Cincinnati – yes the Bearcats of Cincinnati – as his top two schools. His relationship with Luke Fickell clearly is paying off for UC, but it will take a lot for the state's No. 10 prospect to turn down the Buckeyes. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he's one of the aforementioned targets who could grow into more of a defensive end.

The loss of Palaie Gaoteote to Southern Cal makes Gant and Oats that much more important. Both in-state linebacker prospects are 100% crystal balled to the Buckeyes right now, which is music to the ears of new linebackers coach Bill Davis.

Chase Young was the lone defensive end signee for the Class of 2017. With Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and possibly Sam Hubbard gone after the upcoming season, it's a real position of need for the next class. Fortunately for Larry Johnson, things are already looking great for the state's top defensive end. 

What y'all think ? #Ohio2SouthBend pic.twitter.com/XN462kp37a

— Tyreke Smith (@T_23_baller) March 2, 2017

Cleveland's Tyreke Smith put out a bit of a Notre Dame tease last night on Twitter, and while the Irish did offer back in November, they don't appear to be a serious threat right now. Penn State may have been the early leader before Ohio State offered in late January, but the Buckeyes are the clear favorite for the former teammate of 2017 signee Jaylen Harris. 

The nation's No. 7 weak-side defensive end had a huge month of February as Smith added offers from a number of premier programs including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida. 

Elsewhere on the defensive line is five-star Penn State commit Micah Parsons. The country's top-ranked defensive end and No. 3 overall prospect has been committed to the Nittany Lions for a little over a year now, but he's made multiple trips to Columbus over the past several months and that's always worth paying attention to.

Still, Parsons has had some off-the-field issues and transferred schools amidst some racial tension and accusations of inciting a riot, and it remains to be seen exactly how Ohio State may feel about said transgressions. The talent is impossible to overlook, but we've got Parsons right behind Smith despite his higher national ranking. 

Defensive back was the biggest priority for the 2017 class, and we should see a much smaller haul this time around. Jaiden Woodbey is already in the fold at safety, and it's reasonable to assume Ohio State will try to add two or three more in the secondary. Right now we've got IMG Academy's Houston Griffith as the top defensive back on the board. At 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, he's yet another corner with the size that Greg Schiano seems to covet. 

Griffith is an Illinois legacy, but Notre Dame and Ohio State are the teams in the best shape right now. The four-star attended Chicago's Mount Carmel High before transferring to Bradenton. He was last in Columbus for the Michigan game and previously made multiple trips to South Bend before the move to IMG.

The Ohio State staff is going back to familiar territory for one of the country's most talented two-way linemen. Brooklyn's Matthew Jones could line up at defensive tackle, guard, or right tackle at the next level, and the Buckeyes remain the team to beat for the Erasmus Hall standout.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has already been on campus three times, and it looks as though schools like Clemson and Penn State are continuing to play catch-up. The Buckeyes have already built a relationship with Dutchmen head coach Danny Landberg, and Jones could follow in the footsteps of Curtis Samuel and Jahsen Wint.

With two of the country's top running backs already committed, Ohio State is still looking to add Dayton Dunbar's Tavion Thomas to the backfield. The three-star has a totally different skill set than Brian Snead or an all-purpose player like Jaelen Gill, and adding a more powerful, bruising runner should still be a priority for Tony Alford. 

Given all the recent national attention, the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder is a player whose stock is surely going to rise, especially if he can put together a nice senior campaign. 

We will have a bit more on the Dayton tailback – including how he may fit into the class – later on this weekend.

Overall, the priority areas are going to be much different for the Class of 2018. Last cycle it was defensive backs, but this year is shaping up to be more heavy at running back and in the trenches. Failing to sign a true slot wideout last month also increases the need for a player who can fill that role, but we will all be waiting to see exactly how the offense looks under Kevin Wilson's tutelage. 

Again, this board will be updated every month between now and February. Hopefully it will lend a hand in keeping up with the Ohio State recruiting efforts, the national scene, and many of the top prospects from around the country as they mull over their many options.