Ohio State came into the 2020 recruiting cycle with the offensive line as the team's most pressing need. This past February saw the signing day haul end with four new Buckeyes in center Harry Miller, tackle Ryan Jacoby, guard Enokk Vimahi, and tackle Dawand Jones. It was a talented crop of signees, but Greg Studrawa could have used a bit more firepower, especially at tackle.
In the midst of a huge month of June, the 2020 class is already coming together quite nicely. The Buckeyes have locked up two of the country's top lineman with tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and center Luke Wypler. Both check in as the nation's No. 1 player at their respective positions. Cincinnati three-star Jakob James is also in the fold as is massive 355-pound Norwalk native Trey Leroux.
The Buckeyes got a surprising bit of good news on Sunday when four-star tackle Grant Toutant flipped his commitment from Penn State to Ohio State. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, he's a player who seems to project as a right tackle. Like most high school lineman, the Warren, Michigan prospect needs to add strength, but this was a big addition for Ryan Day and Greg Studrawa.
So the Buckeyes are already sitting with five offensive linemen for the 2020 class. The way I see it, Johnson is a pure left tackle prospect who has just about everything you want at the position. Wypler should be able to man any of the interior spots. James is listed as a tackle but is probably best suited at guard. Despite being 6-foot-8 and 355 pounds, Leroux may also end up on the inside. He's more of a developmental guy, so we'll see how he progresses. And then I think Toutant has what you're looking for at right tackle.
Still, the Buckeyes remain on the lookout for once more piece to the 2020 puzzle. The offensive line is a tough position to project, but one has to think adding another tackle – or at least someone who may project as a tackle – will remain a priority for the Ohio State staff.
A total of 24 tackle prospects have been offered, but 18 of them have already made commitments. Out of the six remaining recruits, the Buckeyes are really only a factor for two of them. There's always a chance the staff could take someone with tackle size and footwork even if they aren't necessarily lining up there at the high school level.
Options are becoming more and more limited, but there are still some good ones out there; both at tackle and along the interior portion of the line.
| PROSPECT | POS. | HOMETOWN | MEASURABLES | RATING | NAT. RANK/POS. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carmody | OT | Mars, PA | 6-foot-6, 285 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 133 (No. 16 OT) |
| Anton Harrison | OT | Washington, D.C. | 6-foot-5, 329 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 179 (No. 19 OT) |
| Josh Fryar | OC | Beech Grove, IN | 6-foot-5, 294 pounds | ★★★ | No. 371 (No. 6 OC) |
| Reece Atteberry | OC | Aurora, CO | 6-foot-5, 280 pounds | ★★★ | No. 398 (No. 7 OC) |
Michael Carmody's recruitment took off over the spring when it genuinely looked like the Buckeyes were in line to be the choice for Pennsylvania's No. 2 prospect. We said all along that a Notre Dame offer would complicate things, and that offer was extended back in May.
The four-star is scheduled to visit Ohio State on June 21, and this one will almost surely come down to the Buckeyes and Irish. He projects as a tackle and remains the top priority to take the final spot along the line. The Ohio State staff still has a shot, but this one is going to be quite the challenge.
We haven't talked too much about Anton Harrison, but the D.C. tackle has the Buckeyes among his final six schools and doesn't seem to be close to a decision. Michigan, Maryland, Penn State, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss are also in the running, but this is one that could end up going Mike Locksley's way. He's planning on announcing before his senior season, but the official visits should tell the tale here. The Buckeyes are in line to get one of those visits.
With Harry Miller now on campus and Luke Wypler in the fold for 2020, the Buckeyes certainly aren't hurting at center. That's precisely why some are a bit perplexed by the staff's interest in Indiana's Josh Fryar. Listed as a center on both 247 Sports and Rivals, Fryar is likely a player who could play multiple spots along the line.
A versatile lineman is never a bad thing, and we'll see what happens in a few weeks when he makes it to town for the June 21 official. Right now Florida State is the crystal ball favorite, but Fryar isn't planning to announce anytime soon.
Reece Atteberry is a guy we've talked plenty about, but that's one recruitment that's been fading over the past few months. Ohio State had a chance to nab the Colorado three-star last summer and really into the winter months as well, but things went quiet for a while and now it's looking less and less likely.
Atteberry seems destined to end up in Columbus or South Bend and will make official visits to each program over the next two weekends. I've had a crystal ball pick in for the Buckeyes since last summer, but I'm guessing that may switch over to Notre Dame in the coming weeks. He too is listed as a center but should be able to play any of the interior spots. We'll see if this weekend's official visit changes anything on the Atteberry front.
Ryan Day and Greg Studrawa have plenty of options right now. Is there a chance they could just end the class with the five current commits? It's certainly possible and really wouldn't be a bad haul. Any class that includes the likes of Paris Johnson and Luke Wypler would be nothing to scoff at; even if there are a few developmental guys as well.
They may also elect to hold out and see how the 2019 season unfolds and what prospects see their recruitments blow up during that time. It happened last year with Dawand Jones when he elected to stick with football despite some serious talent on the hardwood.
Studrawa has received plenty of criticism over the last few years, and some of that has been for good reason. But the Buckeyes have a nice group in place for 2020 already and they've got plenty of time to perhaps add one final piece before next February.
