Ohio State's 2017 offensive line recruiting class is almost inarguably its best one since Urban Meyer's arrival in Columbus.
The Buckeyes signed three offensive linemen in 2017, and two of them were rated higher than any other offensive lineman Meyer has ever signed at Ohio State. The third – an offensive tackle with tremendous upside – is no slouch either.
Wyatt Davis and and Josh Myers – five-star and four-star guards respectively – were the nation's top-two interior offensive linemen coming out of high school. Both have the size of a tackle, but the mobility of a guard.
"As of right now, absolutely they do. They sure do."– Greg Studrawa on if the Freshmen have a legitimate shot to start
Davis was the nation's top offensive guard prospect in the 2017 class and the No. 25 player overall, and for good reason. Playing at St. John Bosco High School in California, Davis regularly played the nation's top high school talent and dominated, earning the L.A. Times' Southern California Player of the Year award.
Myers was nearly as highly-touted as Davis. The four-star guard was the nation's No. 2 guard coming out of high school and the top player in the state of Ohio. Playing in Miamisburg, Ohio, Myers spent his high school days destroying inferior competition.
Four-star offensive tackle Thayer Munford rounds out the class. Though he's the lowest-rated player of the group at No. 281 in the nation, he has tremendous upside. At 6-6, 325 lbs., Munford is the biggest player on the entire roster, making him a perfect candidate to compete for a tackle spot in the coming years.
Those ratings and expectations are fun for Buckeye fans, but what's even more fun is when they players actually live up to them. A little over a week into fall camp, that seems to be the case. All three players have already earned praise from their position coach, Greg Studrawa.
Myers has been with the program for the longest, enrolling in December, and has been turning heads with his strength since his arrival. Jamarco Jones, Isaiah Prince and Studrawa each brought up his physical strength immediately when asked about him on Monday.
"I tell you what, he is so strong, physically strong, and he's an excellent, excellent run blocker," Studrawa said.
Since Myers played in a run-heavy, wing-t offense, there were concerns about his pass blocking ability. Studrawa said they have had to work on that aspect of his game, but he would prefer a player come in as a great run blocker than a great pass blocker; he can teach good pass blocking.
"If they bite, they come off the ball, they know how to run block and they're physical, I can teach them the other things," Studrawa said.
"I told them, just go hard. We're gonna go hard first. We'll figure the rest out later."– Greg Studrawa on the freshman linemen
Davis and Munford have not been with the team long, but Studrawa is already impressed with what the young players have shown, and how well they've been able to handle whatever the defense has thrown at them – especially given the short length of time they've been practicing with the team.
"They're coming in here, we're throwing things in and every day something new is in," Studrawa said of Davis and Munford. "The defense adds a new thing in, every day things pile and those two kids and Josh Myers – he was here in the spring – but those other two kids especially, they're handling it wonderfully right now."
Studrawa said Munford is working out at the right tackle position while both Davis and Myers are part of the rotation at right guard. When asked if the freshmen actually had a real chance of winning the starting spot, Studrawa was adamant that they do.
"Oh yeah," Studrawa said. "As of right now, absolutely they do. They sure do."
If Myers or Davis were to earn that spot, it would be just the third time in Meyer's coaching career a true freshman started on the offensive line, but also the second time in the last two years after Michael Jordan started at left guard last year.
Meyer conceded that you usually don't want to start a true freshman on the offensive line, but it seems he and Studrawa are more than willing to do it – especially given the talent of those freshmen.
