I think we all have a pretty good idea of how the 2013 class will finish, (hint: the answer is "awesome") but I know that a lot of us have been stressing out as well. Well, I say that we take a break to look at the 2014 class, and make our predictions. It's pretty insane just how many elite prospects we're in on as of right now.
Am I going to feel like an idiot in a few months when I look back on this? Probably. In a year, when the class is all but wrapped up? Definitely. But here it goes:
QB (1): Drew Barker
RB (2): Jalen Hurd, Jonathan Haden
WR (4): Drake Harris, Marshon Lattimore, Lonnie Johnson, Myles Autry
TE (1): Bryce Dixon
OL (5): Kyle Trout, Marcelys Jones, Damian Prince, Jamarco Jones, Quenton Nelson
DL (1): Dante Sawyer
LB (4): Raekwon McMillan, Clifton Garrett, Dante Booker, Kyle Berger
DB (3): Damon Webb (commit), Jabrill Peppers, Erick Smith
Kicker(1): Someone who we've never heard of, but runs a 4.4 40 or something ridiculous like that.
TOTAL: 22
I have no clue how many receivers we will take, but there are SO many good ones we're in on (Trevion Thompson, Dallis Todd, et al.), and seeing as we're possibly taking five in this class (if Jacobs stays and we get Clark), I'm not sure we'd take that many in this one. Also, apparently the staff has told Drake Harris that he's the #1 target at receiver for us this year, and I think we end up flipping him. As for Haden being in the class, I just watched a long highlight tape on him, and he seems like the real deal. I think it's going to be hard for Urban to turn him down if/when he wants to commit.
One thing is for sure: This class is going to be an incredibly tight squeeze, and we'll probably miss out on quite a few big-time players simply because of space. I'm also not sold on Watson and Kitt coming here, but they seem like a package deal. Clemson could end up being VERY good, if they keep Watson and land Kitt and Trevion Thompson.
So, who do you guys have in your imaginary, way-too-early 2014 classes?
I believe Lattimore is being looked at as a DB.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I've heard he's being looked at for both, and says he has no preference. He has said that he enjoys defense, though. I think he'll be awesome either way, but with the class we have coming in, and the possibility of adding Peppers (#1 CB) and Webb (potential top-5 CB) maybe forces him to stay on offense. But I could be wrong. I've been wrong about things before.
I could see him on defense if we miss out on Bell, since Peppers seems like more of a safety to me anyways.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
Well, there was this one Glenville player recruited at DB who turned out to be a pretty good WR...
You're right when you say he could work out on either side of the ball.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Paul Kiels had a great line during the Mich St game one year.
Teddy Ginn just went through the Mich St Defense like Mexican water through a first time tourist.
classic. Wish Teddy would have gotten that Super Bowl ring.
Great line...that is going into my repertoire.
I'm sticking with "like a tornado thru a trailer park"
D. Anthony
@THEBADBOWL His preference (he said in an interview) was to play defense.
Don't care if the kicker is slower than Vlad Janievieszkyy
The bozos at Scout will only give us 1 star for him anyway
Haha I was kind of joking, since Townsend apparently runs a low 4.5 40.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
If EzE does what everyone thinks he will tomorrow I don't know if the staff will take more than one RB, especially if they are able to land Hurd. That said given Urban's relationship with the family Haden isnt bad guess.
I disagree. Following the 2013 season we are losing Hyde and Hall, so the RB stable will look like this
Rod Smith: RS Senior
Bri'onte Dunn: Junior
Warren Ball: RS Sophomore
Ezekiel Elliot: Sophomore or RS Frosh (probably Soph)
IF Elliott gets any serious reps in normal game situations, that would leave us with 3 running backs with game experience (don't anticipate Ball seeing the field this year). If the situation we had this year occurs where our top 2 backs go down with injury (Hyde, Hall) then we'd be left with just 2 running backs and only 1 with any experience.
For that reason I think we definitely take 2 backs in 2014
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
EZE, nor anyone Urban considers a "playmaker" will redshirt without some sort of injury.
D. Anthony
Not sure there will be room for 22. We'll see though. There's like 366 days to figure it out.
Doubt we take that many WR, and we might settle on 4 OL if they are the right guys. Don't see anyway we take only 1 guy on the DL. Also, I know everyone's excited about the LB, but I just don't see us taking 4 in a small class.
What does your mock class look like, then? I don't see how we turn down any of the linebackers, and I don't know who else we really have a shot with on the d-line as of right now.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
Booker will be a DE
berger and mcmillan i feel are locks, after next year we shouldnt have to worry about lb depth
Booker is a lock as well, IMO.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
I like us getting Jeb more then Dixon
BOOOOOOM
I could see it either way, although apparently they're also looking heavily at Austin Roberts as a tight end.
Also, complete speculation on my part, but Dallis Todd is HUGE, and I think he could put on a few more pounds and move over to tight end.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
i know osu got a lot of skill players this year but i want lattimore and jabrill peppers more than almost any other player
Darius West Db from Lima Central Catholic...fastest time of the Buckeyes camp invitees and a life-long Buckeye fan. He'll have his offer soon.
D. Anthony
Ah, my bad, I knew I was forgetting someone. I think he'll be in the class, but it depends on if he gets his offer/pulls the trigger faster than Smith. Also not sure if he's more of a corner or safety.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
he'd be a great WR but has hands better suited for D :)
D. Anthony
I believe with Smith getting the offer, if he doesn't commit West will. I don't think West will get an offer for that reason, not a top talent nationally.
stopped reading when the QB didn't have Deshaun Watson's name beside it, no offense.
So because you disagree with one position, you refuse to read it? Even worse, you don't put your own version in your comment?! ;)
Trust me, I'd love for Watson to be in this class, but I don't see it happening. I bet Barker lights up the camp circuit and gets an offer this summer. I just don't think Watson flips, apparently he re-affirmed his commitment to them last week.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
If he stoppped show interest in Ohio State other offers would've gone out.
I'll take a stab at it, and like you I expect to be way off come this time next year. Here goes:
QB: William Crest (miss on Watson, slow play Barker and he commits elsewhere)
RB: Jalen Hurd, Jonathan Haden
WR: Lonnie Johnson, Drake Harris
TE: Jeb Blazevich
OL: Marcelys Jones, Jamarco Jones, Kyle Trout, Orlando Brown Jr.
DL: Dante Sawyer, Lawrence Marshall
LB: Raekwon McMillan, Dante Booker (see him moving to DE eventually), Clifton Garrett, Kyle Berger
DB: Damon Webb, Jalen Tabor, Nick Glass
Ath: Marshon Lattimore, Myles Autry
K: Maybe one, but I see Urban pushing for a solid K to take a preferred walk on for a year until we get back to 85
Total: 21/22 depending on Kicker
Players I left out that I think could end up in class if room/targets go elsewhere: Shai Mckenzie, Paris Campbell Jr, Quincy Wilson, and about 50 others who will be offered between now and NSD 2014
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
I like this one better than mine, actually, but I think we end up getting Peppers instead of Tabor, and I'm not sold on Glass flipping to us. Maybe we get someone like Nicholson instead there. Otherwise, I like it!
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
I was torn on Glass, but he has a strong relationship with Raekwon and Brown Jr. If we pull those 2 (think we do) as well as Autry who is also from Georgia, I think Glass comes. And with Peppers I think it could go all the way to NSD, I just have a feeling he heads to Stanford (he's huge on academics).
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
This may sound boring but one prospect im really excited about is one thats commited already, damon webb. I think he is going to be a great corner, has great stature, well built, good cover skills (just ask the greatest WR ever laquon treadwell)
I'm very, very excited for Webb. I think he could end up as a 5-star.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
apparently barker and timmons are best friends, and timmons will work hard to get barker to uk, imo. this could be interesting as for barker getting recruited to TOSU. hopefully urban gets watson.
I hope we sign at least one QB. If Braxton where to leave after next year, that leaves us with Jones and Barrett. Not sure I would be comefortable there. Two unknowns and no experience between them. If Braxton stays, the same situation will play out. I also am sure that Meyer and staff realize this, meaning if they didn't feel confient in flipping Watson they would go after their #2 by now.
I guess I'll give my shot at it:
QB (1) DeShaun Watson: I really have no idea here. I can see us flipping Watson, I can see him not visiting this weekend and us moving on and grabbing Barker, or I can see us losing out on both of them and getting a Crest or Ulmer (both of which are still very good players).
WR (3) Marshon Lattimore, Lonnie Johnson, Drake Harris: Very very confident on the first two and think we snag Harris.
TE (1) Jeb Blazevich: only take one TE in this class and this is the number one guy on my board. Great athlete.
OL (5) Marcelys Jones, Kyle Trout, Jamarco Jones, Sam Mustipher, Orlando Brown: huge haul here on the o-line. I think Trout will commit within the next month. We don't trail anyone for Jones or Mustipher and Brown is just a hunch.
DL (3) Lawrence Marshall, Elisha Shaw, Dante Booker: I see us taking two pure DLs and then think Booker fills out and sliders down to a Viper.
LB (3) Raekwon McMillain, Kyle Berger, Clifton Garrett: absolutely elite LB class. Nuff said.
DB (4) Damon Webb, Jabrill Peppers, Darius West, Laurence Jones/Montae Nicholson: We're top two for Peppers with Stanford and I think we win out, West is in once he gets his offer and Jones is a lifelong Buckeye fan even though he's from Louisiana (LSU fans said they fear us getting him more than other southern schools).
RB/ATH (3) Jalen Hurd, Myles Autry, Parris Cambell: I put these guys together because Hurd is the only potential pure RB but could also fill out and play H-Back. Autry and Cambell are both speedsters in the mold of Wilson or Marshall playing a slot-back/reciever.
So thats 23 guys. Might be a little high but we'll see. This class is going to be epic for sure though.
I like your list, but I can't imagine us landing all those Georgia guys and not having Kitt come along. This could be poor logic, but if I was him I and all these elite players from my area went to a school, I would have to strongly consider.
I haven't really seen much on Kitt, but he's getting recruited by a lot of great teams. I just wonder where he fits on the staff's board at receiver. I heard that Drake Harris is #1, I'd assume that Trevion Thompson is up there, Lattimore too if they're recruiting him on offense.
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.
QB: Barker
RB: Hurd, Autry
WR: Drake Harris, Lonnie Johnson
ATH: Lattimore. Haden
OL: Jones, Trout, Jamarco Jones
LB: Berger, McMillan, Garrett, Booker
DB: Webb, Peppers, West
TE: Idk but we get one
DL: Malik McDowell (wishful thinking)
Kicker!
Strangely enough, I really, really want Haden. Seriously reminds me of Jacquizz Rodgers or Ray Rice. Check out this tape, and tell me I'm not crazy. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1689143/jonathan-haden
I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.