Here we go again.
Ohio State's offensive line play has been excellent of late, and that will continue into the 2021 season. There's little to complain about in the trenches, especially for those that don't follow or care about recruiting. Greg Studrawa has consistently produced some of the best units in the country and done a fine job of sending players to the NFL.
If there's an area of criticism, it almost certainly relates back to the recruiting trail. The 2021 starting offensive line will likely feature three former five-star prospects and a pair of four-stars. My math (and eyes) tell me that is quite good. Still, the Buckeyes have struggled a bit when it comes to landing the prototypical left tackle. Those prospects don't grow on trees, but a few recent misses – and another that's on deck – have led to some more questions about Studrawa's recruiting prowess.
Some of the criticism is absolutely fair. Ohio State was the early leader for five-star Milwaukee native J.C. Latham before the athletic 2021 tackle ultimately sided with the Crimson Tide. Jackson Carman was Ohio's top prospect in 2018 when he signed with Clemson. We've also seen top targets like Tristan Leigh team up with Dabo Swinney and Kansas's Turner Corcoran end up in Lincoln.
My stance on this has mostly been to sit back and see what happens on the field, and I have very few complaints at the moment; especially with what Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere are doing at tackle, and when we're seeing three-star guys like Josh Fryar making a push for playing time in year No. 2. Even the best programs in the country sign developmental offensive linemen. What it really comes down to is do those players ever make an impact?
When we unveiled our initial 2022 recruiting board back in November, Charlestown, Indiana's Kiyaunta Goodwin was at the top of the list. His standing hasn't changed over the last several months as the 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle has garnered attention from all over the country. Goodwin has made multiple trips to Columbus and grew up idolizing Orlando Pace. He's now set to announce his college decision on Saturday.
Barring a last-minute surprise, the Buckeyes are highly unlikely to be the pick. That would be another unfortunate miss on a player that once seemed to be a heavy Ohio State lean. Catastrophic? Not quite, but it would absolutely sting to miss out on a player of Goodwin's caliber. Fortunately, Studrawa and Co. will still have some options in a class that really needs tackles.
Aamil Wagner • Huber Heights, Ohio • 6-foot-6, 260 pounds • ★★★★
It's looking like an Ohio State vs. Notre Dame battle for one of the top prospects in the Dayton area. Out of all the names remaining on the board, Aamil Wagner may actually have the highest upside. The Wayne High School star probably isn't an instant-impact type of tackle, but the Buckeyes shouldn't really need that in 2022. Wagner is a multi-sport athlete who will need to bulk up a bit when he eventually switches his focus to the gridiron.
Ohio State extended an offer just over a month ago and immediately became the favorite in this recruitment. However, Notre Dame has done a fine job with this one, and Wagner is set to take a number of June visits before making a decision. A player who could take the Nicholas Petit-Frere path, his importance in the 2022 class is only going to increase once Goodwin makes his intentions known.
Addison Nichols • Norcross, Ga. • 6-foot-5, 305 pounds • ★★★★
Ohio State has quietly been in the lead group for the nation's 10th-best tackle and No. 100 overall prospect. The Buckeyes plucked Harry Miller from Georgia a few years back and will look to do the same with Addison Nichols in 2022. It seems like the in-state Bulldogs are running third at best right now as Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC are all heavily involved. Much like Miller, Nichols seems to be a different kind of kid who may very well find himself outside of the SEC footprint.
One important note here is that Nichols may best project as a collegiate guard. The Buckeyes often experiment with moving the offensive line around, and he probably could play right tackle. But make no mistake about it, this isn't really the long and athletic Goodwin type who seems destined to anchor the left side. Landing Nichols would still be an impressive pull regardless of where he may end up in the trenches. He's set to make his first trip to Columbus in June.
Tyler Booker • New Haven, Conn. • 6-foot-4, 315 pounds • ★★★★
Tyler Booker hails from New Haven, Connecticut, but he was living with family members in New Jersey so that he could be closer to the powerhouse Bergen Catholic program. Toward the end of his freshman year, he announced his transfer to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. That move officially meant that every big-time program in America would be coming after him.
Booker announced his top schools just yesterday, and the list includes Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Oregon. All five programs are expected to get visits, and this is a recruitment that could go in a number of different directions. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Booker can likely play tackle at the next level despite not having ideal height, though he also could make the move inside. He's close with J.C. Latham, and that could certainly help Alabama's chances. It'll take a lot to beat out the SEC here.
Thanks to all the schools who have been recruiting me and thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way. These are my top 5 schools that I will take official visits to and ultimately make my final decision from. #respeCT #RollTide #GoDawgs #GoGators #GoBuckeyes #ScoDucks pic.twitter.com/7unS2BIIix
— Tyler Booker (@iamtylerbooker) April 12, 2021
Zach Rice • Lynchburg, Va. • 6-foot-6, 282 pounds • ★★★★★
We're including the nation's top-ranked tackle on the list, but it's probably safe to file Zach Rice under the long-shot category at the moment. While he has a top-five list in place, it seems to be North Carolina at the top and four other contenders looking to make a move. Those other contenders include Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Virginia. Rice is set to make official visits this summer, but he's already been to Chapel Hill a number of times, and it's going to be tough for another program to top the Tar Heels.
Kiyaunta Goodwin • Charlestown, Ind. • 6-foot-7, 300 pounds • ★★★★
Part of the reason Saturday's commitment isn't going to be catastrophic? It could merely be the end of the first battle in the war for Kiyaunta Goodwin. He's long talked about taking his visits once things open back up, and that's part of the reason the timing of this announcement doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Could Kentucky be trying to secure a commitment before he can visit and meet with the coaches at Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson? That's probably the case, and who can really blame the Wildcats for doing so?
The Kentucky staff has done a great job here, and Vince Marrow is one of the best recruiters in the country. Lexington is close to home, Goodwin has trained with some players on the Wildcats' roster, and the depth chart has to be appealing. Ohio State will continue recruiting him regardless of Saturday's decision. Potential visits to Columbus, Clemson, and Tuscaloosa would make this a recruitment to follow closely all the way up until he signs with his program of choice.
Ohio State needs to sign a pair of tackles in the 2022 class. One offensive lineman is already in the fold with West Chester's Tegra Tshabola, but he's probably going to play guard in college. You don't need to be 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds to play left tackle. But it's a tough pill to swallow when a school leads for one of those rare, athletic linemen and fails to seal the deal. It's even tougher when it could potentially happen in back-to-back classes.
The good news? There's not a whole lot to complain about as far as the on-field performance is concerned and Studrawa should again have one of the nation's best units. On the trail, Ohio State still has a number of options to add to its top-ranked 2022 recruiting class. The end of the dead period and more high schools playing in the fall will allow for further evaluations as the Buckeyes continue to search for talented tackles.
