Ohio State's 2021 recruiting class is staggeringly good. And if you've been paying attention, you're very much aware of this.
The Buckeyes' upcoming class has a stranglehold on the No. 1 spot nationally, and that grasp strengthened this weekend with the commitment of 4-star cornerback Jordan Hancock.
With 19 commitments for 2021, Ohio State's upcoming recruiting class has already accumulated 305.37 points in the 247Sports rankings, despite having room for more than a handful of commitments to join the fold. That means Ohio State's current class would rank inside the top three of every ranking in all but one national recruiting championship over the last 15 years.
Think about that. This class, while having room for more than five players, would currently rank inside the top three of every recruiting ranking spanning one and a half decades.
The excitement over this year's class is growing for Ohio State fans. Ryan Day and his coaching staff have done a masterful job to date, and with several high-caliber targets still on the board — highlighted by 5-stars J.T. Tuimoloau (defensive end) and Emeka Egbuka (wide receiver) — it could only get better.
Frankly, the wave of talent that's set to hit Columbus, Ohio next year is rarely seen in college football, and we (Eleven Warriors), like you, are trying to wrap our heads around it.
With that in mind, let's take a look at Ohio State's current commits and compare them to past college football stars who were rated similarly to the Buckeyes' 2021 pledges. This isn't a projection of impact these future Ohio State players will make at the next level. It's just an interesting perspective that gives a unique context to the potential talent on the way.
Jack Sawyer, 5-Star Defensive End
No. 3 Player Nationally
At this ranking, the list of players who turned into superstars is unsurprisingly long.
LSU cornerback Derek Stingley was the No. 3 player in the 2019 class, and all he did was start for the Tigers' national title-winning team while leading the SEC in interceptions during a consensus first-team All American season.
Other recent standouts who finished with that ranking in their classes included Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas (2018), Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (2013), Alabama receiver Julio Jones (2008) and Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry (2007).
Incoming Ohio State freshman Julian Fleming also checked in at No. 3 in the final 2020 recruiting rankings.
TreVeyon Henderson, 5-Star Running Back
No. 16 Player Nationally
TreVeyon Henderson was one of the most pivotal commits in the class because he filled one of the biggest needs on the team at running back, and also because he's been one of the most active recruiters for Day.
The No. 16 recruit in past classes produced a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback in Florida State's Jameis Winston (2012), as well as a teammate of Winston's in Jalen Ramsey (2013), who's one of the most complete defensive backs in all of football.
Donovan Jackson, 5-Star Offensive Guard
No. 21 Player Nationally
Donovan Jackson is the fifth player Ohio State reeled in from the No. 21 spot since 2002, joining safety Tyreke Johnson (2018), defensive end Adolphus Washington (2012) and offensive tackles Mike Adams (2008) and Derek Morris (2002).
Other programs got superstars from recruits ranked at No. 21. In 2017, wideout Jerry Jeudy signed with Alabama and went on to have a tremendous career with the Tide. He eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his sophomore and junior seasons while catching a combined 24 touchdowns. He won the Biletnikoff Award (given to college football's best receiver) in 2018 and was selected in the first round by the Denver Broncos last April.
USC signed wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster at the same ranking in 2014, and Florida got some use out of a quarterback named Tim Tebow in 2006 as well.
Kyle McCord, 5-Star Quarterback
No. 22 Player Nationally
Ohio State is hauling in 5-star quarterbacks at an amazingly consistent clip. Since Terrelle Pryor joined the fold in 2008, the Buckeyes have brought in Braxton Miller, Justin Fields and now McCord.
The No. 22 players between 2005 and 2006 were absolutely electric. Cal wideout DeSean Jackson was a big-play machine, hauling in 146 passes for 2,131 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons. He was followed by Oklahoma running back Demarco Murray, who ran for an incredible 3,592 yards and 49 touchdowns for the Sooners.
The No. 22 ranked player has been good to Ohio State as linebacker Raekwon McMillan (2014) was slotted there, as well as safety Donte Whitner (2003). And what could've been for the Buckeyes, who were passed up by Darnay Holmes in 2017, much to the disappointment of his young nephew.
CB Darnay Holmes' nephew is not pleased (h/t @bangulo) #ArmyBowl pic.twitter.com/AGXhSBAL8V
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) January 7, 2017
Tunmise Adeleye, 4-Star Defensive End
No. 31 Player Nationally
The No. 31 player has been oh-so-good over the years.
Alabama running back Damien Harris, who had Ohio State as a finalist during his recruitment, flourished in Tuscaloosa, running for 2,818 career yards and 21 touchdowns.
Standouts like Michigan State defensive end Malik McDowell (2014), Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd (2009), USC linebacker Brian Cushing (2005) and Texas running back Cedrick Benson (2001) were also slated here.
Once 247Sports' recruiting database filters out 5-star cornerback Tony Grimes, who recently reclassified to the 2020 class, Tunmise Adeleye will get bumped up to the No. 30 spot and likely earn his fifth star.
The Rest of the Best
| Ranking | Ohio State Commit | Similarly Rated Standout |
|---|---|---|
| No. 41 | Jakailin Johnson (CB) | Travis Beckum (Wisc TE, '05) |
| No. 50 | Jayden Ballard (WR) | Brian Brohm (LOU QB, '04) |
| No. 55 | Mike Hall (DT) |
Marshon Lattimore (OSU CB, '14) Janoris Jenkins (UF CB, '08) Rashard Mendenhall (Ill RB, '06) |
| No. 70 | Reid Carrico (LB) | Artavis Scott (CLEM WR, '14) |
| No. 77 | Jordan Hancock (CB) | Johnnie Dixon (OSU WR, '14) |
| No. 86 | Evan Pryor (APB) | Marcus Baugh (OSU TE, '13) |
| No. 89 | Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) | Carter Coughlin (Minn LB, '16) |
| No. 114 | Ben Christman (OG) |
Marcus Hall (OSU OT, '09) D'Andre Walker (GA DE, '15) Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC OT, '17) |
| No. 138 | Andre Turrentine (SAF) | Michael Mauti (PSU LB, '08) |
| No. 178 | Denzel Burke (ATH) |
William Vlachos (BAMA OC, '08) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oreg CB, '11) |
| No. 203 | Jantzen Dunn (SAF) | Cameron Heyward* (OSU DE, '07) |
| No. 350 | Jaylen Johnson (SAF) |
Eddie Jackson (Bama SAF, '13) Tamorrion Terry (FSU WR, '17) |
| N0. 381 | Sam Hart (TE) | Vince Brown (NW DE, '07) |
| No. 1,868 | Jesse Micro (P) | Dominick Giudice* (UM DE, '21) |
The list continues with Ohio State's other, non-5-star commits.
The No. 55 recruit in 2014 was Marshon Lattimore, who started just one season for the Buckeyes but went on to become the No. 11 overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft. During Lattimore's last collegiate game, he was lined up against Clemson's Artavis Scott, who piled up over 2,200 receiving yards in his collegiate career.
The No. 138 spot was home to Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti in 2008, who went on to be named the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a first-team All American in 2012. Safety Jantzen Dunn checks in at No. 203, which is one spot higher than Ohio State great Cameron Heyward registered in the 2007 recruiting rankings.
There's value at the 3-star rankings as well. Eddie Jackson was the 350th best recruit in 2013, and he emerged as the leader of Alabama's secondary as an upperclassman. Even Jesse Micro, Ohio State's Australian Punter commit, ranks favorably to a current 2021 Michigan commit in defensive end Dominick Giudice, who ranks 1,719th nationally.
