This is getting ridiculous.
About a year ago at this time, we were raving about the future of the wide receiver position and how it was more talented than anything we've seen in Columbus. The Buckeyes were fresh off an early signing period that included Julian Fleming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gee Scott Jr., and Mookie Cooper.
The talented quartet enrolled early to team up with the likes of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave to form what is already one of the nation's top units. Since the 2020 class put pen to paper, Brian Hartline has shown absolutely no signs of slowing down and has more than solidified his status as one of college football's truly elite recruiters.
Yesterday's commitment from Emeka Egbuka was just the latest in Hartline's recent tear on the trail. The relationship with the nation's No. 1 wideout started nearly two years ago and culminated with last night's pledge to the Buckeyes. Hartline was able to build and cultivate that relationship despite the five-star being nearly 2,500 miles away in the midst of a global pandemic.
The talent we're going to see in Ohio State's wide receiver room is practically unfair. And while recruiting rankings don't always tell the whole tale, these are players that everyone in the country wanted to coach. Instead, for the next three to five years, they're set to be a part of Hartline's room in Columbus.
| PLAYER | CLASS | HOMETOWN | POS. RANK | NAT. RANK | RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Wilson | 2019 | Austin, Texas | No. 2 | No. 20 | ★★★★★ |
| Jameson Williams | 2019 | St. Louis, Mo. | No. 13 | No. 82 | ★★★★ |
| Julian FLeming | 2020 | Catawissa, Pa. | No. 1 | No. 3 | ★★★★★ |
| Jaxon Smith-Njgiba | 2020 | Rockwall, Texas | No. 5 | No. 29 | ★★★★★ |
| Gee Scott Jr. | 2020 | Sammamish, Wash. | No. 10 | No. 66 | ★★★★ |
| Mookie Cooper | 2020 | St. Louis, Mo. | No. 16 | No. 93 | ★★★★ |
| Emeka Egbuka | 2021 | Steilacoom, Wash. | No. 1 | No. 9 | ★★★★★ |
| Jayden Ballard | 2021 | Massillon, Ohio | No. 8 | No. 66 | ★★★★ |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | 2021 | Philadelphia, Pa. | No. 15 | No. 91 | ★★★★ |
| Caleb Burton | 2022 | Del Valle, Texas | No. 2 | No. 15 | ★★★★★ |
That's five five-stars and 10 top-100 prospects dating back to the Class of 2019. I can't imagine any other program in the country has had a better stretch at the position; or perhaps any position for that matter.
It's probably fair to assume that Garrett Wilson has just one more year left before heading off to the NFL as a first-round pick. His move to the slot has paid off in a big way in 2020, and we'll see how he's utilized next year with Chris Olave likely no longer in the picture.
As for the 2020 newcomers, it's been an interesting first year. I think most expected an early impact from at least two of the signees, but COVID-19 didn't do them any favors in taking away much of the spring and summer. Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a splash in his debut with a highlight-reel score, but the four new additions have combined for just nine catches so far. Smith-Njigba has six grabs while Julian Fleming has added three of his own.
A full schedule of offseason workouts and practices – assuming it's allowed to happen – will certainly do wonders for the Class of 2020. And there's absolutely no reason for concern at this point as they've simply been playing behind what is perhaps the nation's best pair of wideouts. It's also worth noting that Mookie Cooper missed his senior year of high school and an early impact wasn't really expected from the St. Louis native.
Jayden Ballard is the state of Ohio's best receiver and he leaves Massillon Washington as the program's all-time leader in receiving yards (2,737) and touchdowns (39). Philly's Marvin Harrison Jr. will team up with his quarterback Kyle McCord when he gets to campus. And then you have Egbuka who is the country's top wideout according to all of the recruiting services that matter and a top-10 prospect in the composite rankings.
As if that weren't enough, Hartline has already landed his top target for the 2022 recruiting class with five-star Texan Caleb Burton. Considering the talent that's been assembled at the position, the Buckeyes really could stop with Burton and just take one wideout in 2022. Things would be totally fine if that were the case, but we're expecting that number to be at three signees when all is said and done.
HE DOESNT MISS#BeDifferent #Zone6 @brianhartline pic.twitter.com/4HAq3farDt
— Keenan Bailey (@CoachKee) December 12, 2020
The passing game is going to look a lot different next season. Unless Justin Fields does the unthinkable, we'll see either C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, or Kyle McCord running the Ohio State offense. It's unfair to expect the same precision of the last two seasons, but there's still plenty of reason for optimism moving forward; even with Olave and Fields likely gone.
It's also worth noting that teams like Michigan and Penn State haven't exactly been bringing in a bunch of high-caliber defensive back prospects; especially at corner. It's looking like it could be another rough few years for the rest of the Big Ten.
I suppose you can make an argument for the quarterbacks as well, but Ohio State's wide receiver room is set to be the program's greatest strength for the next several years. What Brian Hartline is doing on the field and the recruiting trail hasn't been seen before in Columbus. Here's to hoping he sticks around for a very long time.
