With the final National Signing Day for the 2020 class approaching this week, it is time to turn the page to the 2021 class that has loads of potential.
With about 11 months till the 2021 class can sign on the dotted line, this prediction is still an early projection because we are just now getting into the prime recruiting season. But that's not going to stop us from prognosticating anyway.
Ohio State currently has ten commitments led by five-star defensive end Jack Sawyer as the first commitment and with the most recent commitment coming from four-star defensive tackle Michael Hall.
With those 10 commitments, Ohio State is approaching the halfway point on what it looks like will be a class of 22-24 players in 2021. Having those ideal numbers in mind, let's start this very early class prediction for the offensive side of the ball in the 2021 class.
Quarterback
Four-star Kyle McCord (Committed)
This is the easiest section to predict because they have had their guy, Kyle McCord, locked up for almost a year.
McCord is a stout quarterback prospect coming out of high school with very good arm strength and plus accuracy. He has all the intangibles that head coach Ryan Day looks for in his quarterbacks and he will have time to develop at Ohio State with Ohio State signing both Jack Miller and CJ Stroud in 2020.
Since committing to Ohio State, McCord has been one of the Buckeyes' best recruiters on the trail. In short, Ohio State locked up its stud quarterback and one of the leaders in its class early on.
Runningback
Four-star Donovan Edwards and four-star Evan Pryor
Unlike the quarterback position, this might be the most difficult position to predict and will no doubt be the one that Ohio State fans watch closest.
Donovan Edwards' recruitment is looking like a classic Ohio State-Michigan recruiting battle. Edwards is the total package in the backfield seeing as he has game-breaking speed, runs with power and can catch the ball with ease.
Obviously this won't be an easy slam dunk win for the Buckeyes, especially with Edwards living in Wolverine country. However, Edwards is close to Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford and he has been to Columbus numerous times.
As for Ohio State's second running back spot, we went with Evan Pryor, who the Buckeyes have monitored for quite some time now. There is growing confidence that Ohio State might lead for the talented North Carolina running back. As things stand right now, Pryor seems more likely to be a Buckeye.
Wide Receiver
Five-star Emeka Egbuka, four-star Marvin Harrison Jr. (Committed), four-star Jayden Ballard (Committed) and four-star Troy Stellato
There is not a position that Ohio State is recruiting better right now than wide receiver.
Third-year wide receivers coach Brian Hartline has taken that room to another level on and off the field. After landing the nation's top wide receiver group in 2020 with two five-stars and two four-stars, its hard to see how Hartline will rival those results in 2021, but he has a chance.
Ohio State already has two top-100 wide receivers committed in McCord's high school teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. and Ohio speedster Jayden Ballard. However, the Buckeyes are still looking for two more in the class.
Troy Stellato, a Florida speedster, is someone that Ohio State has been monitoring since this past summer when he worked out at one of its summer camps. While he has seen his recruiting take off since the Buckeyes offered early last fall, Ohio State has seemingly led since that time.
As for its fourth and final wide receiver spot in the 2021 class, we think that spot will go to five-star Emeka Egbuka out of Steilacoom, Washington. Egbuka has seemingly trimmed his list down to three schools: Ohio State, Clemson, and Washington. Hartline has been working on Egbuka since the beginning of his time at Ohio State.
If Ohio State lands Stellato soon, that would allow them to put all its energy into Egbuka. This group of four would give Ohio State three five-star and five four-star wide receivers in the last two recruiting classes.
Tight end
Three-star Sam Hart (Committed) and Three-star Jack Pugh
Ohio State wants two tight ends in the 2021 class and they already have one locked up with three-star Sam Hart. Hart is a player that will fit perfectly into Ohio State's offense at the tight end position.
As for that second spot, there are many different directions Ohio State could go. They have enough time to continue pursuing some of the top-ranked tight ends in the class such as Hudson Wolfe or Moliki Matavao. However, we're predicting three-star tight end Jack Pugh out of Hilliard Bradley High School.
Pugh is coming off his first season of playing high school football and has seen his recruitment take off ever since. The Buckeyes have yet to offer Pugh, but that could change any time as more schools begin chasing after the Hilliard product. While neither of these tight ends has the big-time star appeal, they are both all-around tight end prospects that will end up as four-stars by the final rankings of 2021.
Offensive Line
Four-star Ben Christman (Committed), Four-star Donovan Jackson (Committed), Four-star JC Latham, and Four-star Jager Burton
Ohio State is off to a great start along the offensive line in the 2021 class with both Donovan Jackson and Ben Christman committed. The Buckeyes have their left tackle and guard of the future with those two players.
As for the other two offensive line spots in the 2021 class, we're predicting JC Latham and Jager Burton.
Latham is a sure-fire tackle prospect that will likely slide in on the right side opposite of Christman. The main competition for the Buckeyes here is reigning national champion LSU. However, Latham has visited Ohio State numerous times and is very close with a number of other Ohio State commits.
Burton is a very similar case to Latham, as the Buckeyes are battling Clemson and Kentucky, but he has a good relationship with the Ohio State coaches and commits.
These four players would give Ohio State two guards and two tackle prospects.
