Ohio State officially signed 20 players on National Signing Day.
No. 1 overall prospect Jeremiah Smith submitted his National Letter of Intent at 10 p.m. to wrap up a chaotic day for Ohio State, which ultimately signed everyone it was expected to sign entering the day except for four-star wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan, who flipped to Oregon.
Although there’s still another signing day to come in February, the Early Signing Period is when most of the top recruits across the country sign with their respective school. Of the top 100 recruits in 247Sports' composite rankings, 93 signed on Wednesday and five of the seven that didn't sign are at least already committed.
With all that in mind, we take a closer look at Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class following Early Signing Day. More specifically, how it compares to the other Buckeyes' classes since Ryan Day took over in 2019.
Similar number of commits as usual
Ohio State has never been a team that recruits in massive numbers. While the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams and with college free agency the transfer portal being what it is, over-recruiting isn't necessarily a bad thing. Depth will be more important beginning in 2024 than it's ever been given that a team could play as many as 17 games in a single season (12 regular-season games, conference championship game and up to four CFP games).
Following the Early Signing Period, Ohio State has 20 signees as things currently stand. While lower than some Buckeye fans would like, it closely resembles how Day and his staff have recruited in the past.
| Year | Commits |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 17 |
Second-best average rating in the country
Given how programs such as Alabama and Georgia, among others, have more commitments than Ohio State in the class, it would have been very tough for the Buckeyes to have the top-ranked class, at least in terms of total points.
That's why, at least in terms of each player in the class, Ohio State fans need to look at the average rating per recruit, which is usually higher-ranked than OSU's actual class ranking. While the Buckeyes have the fourth-best class overall, behind only Georgia (28 commits), Alabama (25) and Miami (27), they have the second-best average per recruit, checking in at 92.92, behind only Georgia (93.58).
| Year | Average (Rank) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 92.92 (2nd) |
| 2023 | 93.44 (3rd) |
| 2022 | 94.17 (3rd) |
| 2021 | 95.05 (2nd) |
| 2020 | 91.79 (5th) |
| 2019 | 92.02 (3rd) |
The national leader in five-stars
Don't look now, but with five five-star signees, Ohio State has the most composite five-star recruits – wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham, defensive end Eddrick Houston, cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. and quarterback Air Noland – in the country, as the Buckeyes have five of the 36 composite five-star recruits in the 2024 recruiting class.
| # | Schools |
|---|---|
| 5 | Ohio State |
| 4 | Georgia, Texas |
| 3 | Alabama |
| 2 | Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M |
| 1 | Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas Tech |
How does that compare to Day's other classes, you ask? It’s the second-most five-star recruits Day has ever signed in one cycle behind only the 2021 class.
| Year | # |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
The problem here is that, much like 2023, Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class is top-loaded with a quarterback, wide receivers and cornerbacks, positions that have carried the Buckeyes to have one of the top classes in the country for yet another year. The obvious holes are along the offensive line and defensive line. Dominating the trenches is vital to success, especially in November and December.
Low numbers on defensive line
Larry Johnson is 72 years old. Until the day he retires, programs across the country will continue to negatively recruit against Ohio State due to that. More specifically, opposing teams will use Johnson's age against him, much like Alabama tried to do to get Houston to flip his commitment to the Crimson Tide, which didn't happen in the end.
“Guys have brought (his age) up over the years in recruiting, but he’s young in terms of his approach every day. He’s got a lot of energy, and he wants to continue to coach,” Day said. “The guys in the room love him. He’s still got a lot of energy when it comes to coaching and he still has a passion for coaching. His wisdom, his experience is the best in the country.
“He’s got a lot of wisdom to him,” Day said. “So when you’re going into a room every day with somebody, you’re counting on them to mentor your young man. I think that’s where families feel comfortable with that. When they hand their son over to Larry Johnson, they know what they’re getting. They’re going to get someone who’s going to pour into him in all areas.”
Johnson is one of the most elite defensive line coaches in college football history, but OSU's defensive line struggles on the recruiting trail have been noticeable in recent years. It was expected that the Buckeyes would likely have four defensive line commitments this cycle. But while they were able to keep Houston in the fold, he and three-star Eric Mensah are the only two defensive linemen who have signed with the Buckeyes so far this cycle, which would be the fewest in Day’s head coaching tenure.
| Year | # |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
"The way that we do it, we have to have eight defensive tackles and eight defensive ends," Day said on Wednesday. "When it's all said and done, we have to make sure that we have the right guys. We have a lot to consider – guys coming back, we have the portal, guys that are growing in that position and then we have the high school recruiting."
One player who could still potentially join the class from the high school ranks is 2024 four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks from Painesville, Ohio (Riverside High School). The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has been committed to Washington since June 30 but didn't sign his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, potentially leaving the door open for the Buckeyes to add the in-state defensive lineman to their 2024 class.
Homegrown
Recruiting nationally is important for a program such as Ohio State, but getting the top in-state talent is also vital to its success.
"When you're from the state of Ohio, the best players play at Ohio State," Day said. "They know what it means to be a Buckeye in the state of Ohio State and the opportunities and what it can mean for them the rest of their life."
In 2024, three of the top six players in the state - cornerbacks Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West and linebacker Garrett Stover – signed with the Buckeyes. They are joined in the class by four other in-state prospects: offensive linemen Deontae and Devontae Armstrong, tight end Damarion Witten and running back Sam Williams-Dixon.
Day and company have made adding in-state talent a priority, especially as the talent across the state continues to improve. Ohio State’s seven in-state signees are the third-most the Buckeyes have signed in a class under Day’s leadership.
| Year | # |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
