It's so easy to be enamored with the fact that Ohio State holds commitments from six five-star prospects for the Class of 2017.
It doesn't matter if you've seen them play in person or simply watched their tape, you already expect Baron Browning, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Shaun Wade, Chase Young and Trevon Grimes to make an impact the moment they step foot in Columbus.
But it doesn't typically work like that.
Most players, like starting offensive guard Billy Price, take their bumps and bruises early on.
“Talent only gets you so far,” Price said at Thursday's Fiesta Bowl media availability. “It gets your foot in the door. But once you get in the door, it's how you take that on.”
A four-star prospect out of Austintown Fitch, Price was a first-year starter as a redshirt freshman in 2014. It's easily forgotten because of how the season ended with a national championship, but Price and Rimington Award winner Pat Elflein were a part of the offensive line that gave up seven sacks in a 35-21 home loss to Virginia Tech.
“You're not going to come in and ball out. It just does not happen,” Price said. “The last guy to come in and annihilate people was who, Orlando Pace? It's part of the maturation process, especially as a young guy. I went from playing high school dudes to I've got to go stop [former Hokie defensive end] Dadi Nicolas and some of those guys from Wisconsin. It's a learning curve.”
“You're Not Going to come in and ball out. it just does not happen.”
– ohio state All-American offensive guard Billy Price
The pair has started every game since, and were recently named first-team All-Americans. They'll soon have a tree in Buckeye Grove and their picture on the wall at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. But like Price said, it speaks to their development.
The same goes for several first-year starters on offense this season, who were much maligned for their efforts in a 24-21 loss at Penn State in late October.
“You've got young guys like [running back] Mike Weber who had to grow up. [Offensive guard] Mike Jordan had to grow up. [Offensive tackle] Isaiah Prince had to grow up,” Price said. “You have the talent, you're in the process and you're in the program. Now it's just that learning curve. Continue to get better. Don't be complacent with being OK. Don't be OK with giving up two sacks a game. Be OK with giving up no sacks a game.”
Growing pains should be expected when you're fielding the youngest team in the country with more than half the roster either true or redshirt freshmen. But expectations are also so high at Ohio State anything less than a national championship is considered a lost season.
“In this program, the truth comes at you fast. It's hard, especially as a young guy when you're not ready for that. You've never been told you suck because you're in high school and you're around your hometown and people love you. You go to Walmart and people love you. You see the little old lady at church that loves you and you give here a hug and say, 'Hi, Mrs. Smith,'” Price said. “But once you come here, the truth comes out. You got beat, you lost. Just get better. That's what it comes down to.”
If the Buckeyes are able to capture their second national championship in three seasons, it won't be the impact of a five-star freshman that turns the tide. It will be the result of a player who was heavily exposed two seasons ago developing into a leader.
