Urban Meyer did not like the fact that he signed just seven players from the state of Ohio in his most recent recruiting class. The Buckeyes brought in 21 new players in what finished as the No. 2 class in the country.
“Fifty percent is kind of the mark that I've been trying to — I keep it right in front of me and I stare at it and make sure that we're doing right,” Meyer said on Feb. 1, National Signing Day.
While he and the Buckeyes will have to adjust their recruiting strategies, particularly with in-state kids, due to the recently adopted early signing period, Meyer's current team is an early Big Ten favorite. As long as he is at the controls, anything less than a College Football Playoff berth is deemed a disappointment.
Which is why Meyer, Mark Pantoni and the rest of Ohio State's staff zero in on the best prospects regardless where they live. Nineteen states are represented on the map you see below, which shows where those players set to be on scholarship for the 2017 Buckeyes grew up. Thus, those who ended their college careers at IMG Academy — safety Isaiah Pryor, cornerback Marcus Williamson and defensive tackle Malik Barrow — are instead lumped in with the states they are originally from.
More than 40 percent of the scholarship players hail from Ohio. Below is a state-by-state rundown, including the 21 members of the 2017 recruiting class.
Note: Dylan Thompson is listed but it is unclear if he remains on scholarship. He lost his scholarship after being ruled academically ineligible last year.
Ohio — 35
- Jerome Baker, Junior Linebacker — Cleveland
- Rashod Berry, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive End — Lorain
- Dante Booker, Senior Linebacker — Akron
- Joe Burrow, Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback — Athens
- Jerron Cage, Freshman Defensive Tackle — Cincinnati
- Parris Campbell, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — Akron
- Drue Chrisman, Redshirt Freshman Punter — Cincinnati
- Nick Conner, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker — Dublin
- Jonathon Cooper, Sophomore Defensive End — Gahanna
- Gavin Cupp, Redshirt Freshman Offensive Lineman — Leipsic
- Luke Farrell, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Perry
- Eric Glover-Williams, Junior Wide Receiver — Canton
- DaVon Hamilton, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Pickerington
- Jaylen Harris, Freshman Wide Receiver — Cleveland
- Malik Harrison, Sophomore Linebacker — Columbus
- Jake Hausmann, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Cincinnati
- Kierre Hawkins, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Maple Heights
- Justin Hilliard, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker — Cincinnati
- Sam Hubbard, Redshirt Junior Defensive End — Cincinnati
- Dre'Mont Jones, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Cleveland
- Robert Landers, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Dayton
- Demario McCall, Sophomore Running Back — North Ridgeville
- Liam McCullough, Redshirt Sophomore Longsnapper — Columbus
- Thayer Munford, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Cincinnati
- Josh Myers, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Miamisburg
- Billy Price, Graduate Senior Center — Austintown
- Amir Riep, Freshman Cornerback — Cincinnati
- Erick Smith, Senior Safety — Cleveland
- Tracy Sprinkle, Redshirt Senior Defensive Tackle — Elyria
- Brady Taylor, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Columbus
- Denzel Ward, Junior Cornerback — Macedonia
- Brendon White, Freshman Wide Receiver — Powell
- Marcus Williamson, Freshman Cornerback — Westerville
- Jack Wohlabaugh, Redshirt Freshman Offensive Lineman — Bath
- Chris Worley, Redshirt Senior Linebacker — Cleveland
Texas — 7
- J.T. Barrett, Graduate Senior Quarterback — Wichita Falls
-
Baron Browning, Freshman Linebacker — Fort Worth
- J.K. Dobbins, Freshman Running Back — La Grange
- Ellijah Gardiner, Freshman Wide Receiver — Kemp
- Demetrius Knox, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Fort Worth
- Jeffrey Okudah, Freshman Cornerback — Grand Prairie
- Kendall Sheffield, Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback — Missouri City
Florida — 7
- Damon Arnette, Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback — Fort Lauderdale
- Malik Barrow, Redshirt Freshman Defensive Tackle — Tampa
- Nick Bosa, Sophomore Defensive End — Fort Lauderdale
- Johnnie Dixon, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — West Palm Beach
- Trevon Grimes, Freshman Wide Receiver — Fort Lauderdale
- Binjimen Victor, Sophomore Wide Receiver — Pompano Beach
- Shaun Wade, Freshman Cornerback — Jacksonville
Michigan — 4
- Joshua Alabi, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Detroit
- Michael Jordan, Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Canton
- Damon Webb, Senior Safety — Detroit
- Mike Weber, Redshirt Sophomore Running Back — Detroit
Maryland — 4
- Dwayne Haskins, Redshirt Freshman Quarterback — Potomac
- Keandre Jones, Sophomore Linebacker — Olney
- Isaiah Prince, Junior Offensive Lineman — Greenbelt
- Chase Young, Freshman Defensive End — Hyattsville
Virginia — 4
- A.J. Alexander, Redshirt Sophomore Tight End — Burke
- Matthew Burrell, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Woodbridge
-
Wayne Davis, Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back — Norfolk
- Jalyn Holmes, Senior Defensive End — Norfolk
New Jersey — 3
- Kevin Feder, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Ramsey
- Jordan Fuller, Sophomore Safety — Old Tappan
- Darius Slade, Redshirt Junior Defensive End — Montclair
Indiana — 3
- Austin Mack, Sophomore Wide Receiver — Fort Wayne
- Terry McLaurin, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — Indianapolis
- Pete Werner, Freshman Linebacker — Indianapolis
Illinois — 3
- Tuf Borland, Redshirt Freshman Linebacker — Bolingbrook
- Jamarco Jones, Senior Offensive Lineman — Chicago
- Dylan Thompson — Redshirt Junior Defensive Tackle — Lombard*
New York — 3
- Blake Haubeil, Freshman Kicker — Buffalo
- Malcolm Pridgeon, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Central Islip
- Jahsen Wint, Redshirt Freshman Safety — Brooklyn
California — 2
- Marcus Baugh, Redshirt Senior Tight End — Riverside
- Wyatt Davis, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Bellflower
North Carolina — 2
- Tyquan Lewis, Graduate Senior Defensive End — Tarboro
- Antonio Williams, Sophomore Running Back — New London
Nevada — 2
- Haskell Garrett, Freshman Defensive Tackle — Las Vegas
-
Tate Martell, Freshman Quarterback — Las Vegas
Arkansas — 1
- K.J. Hill, Redshirt Sophomore Wide Receiver — North Little Rock
Georgia — 1
- Isaiah Pryor, Freshman Safety — Lawrenceville
Minnesota — 1
- Jashon Cornell, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — St. Paul
Utah — 1
- Branden Bowen, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Draper
South Carolina — 1
- Mike Hill, Redshirt Senior Defensive Tackle — Pendleton
Kentucky — 1
- Sean Nuernberger, Redshirt Junior Kicker — Buckner
