I don't know about all of you but I'm still hungover and my head is still spinning from the take of the 2013 class. What I'm wondering is with how outstanding the 2013 class was, and with Jalen Hurd, and several other key pieces of the 2014 class having not visited yet but wanting to commit soon (as in now, before they visit), if the 2014 class isn't a blast out of the park, will you be disappointed?
I feel like they can miss on a few more guys this time because of the massive hits they made last year. Thoughts?
Although we don't NEED a great recruiting class this year, I would count on having one. With Urban Meyer at the helm we will perennially be in the top 5 of the recruiting rankings. We've missed out on a couple of guys early, which of course sucked, but we'll bounce back. In Urban we trust.
It's still really early. I'm not worried. Don't forget how many top tier recruits flipped on their commitments (some more than once) this year. It's getting to be more of a trend with the enhanced influence of social media.
Remember we are over 10 months away from signing day 2014. Still so much talent out there! I love to see guys commit early but with guys Urban is targeting McMillian, Garrett, Booker, Carter, Hand, Peppers, Watson, Kitt, not to mention the plethora of OL that we NEED in 2014. This class is going to be special when it's all said and done!
I don't '14 has to such a 'wow factor' as the '13. We definitely need at least 4 or 5 stud offensive linemen and 2 more really good LB's.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
We've had some big guys go elsewhere (Blanding, Hurd, Kelly Jr.) that I would have loved to get in the fold, but there's a loooong time till Feb 2014 and there'll be lots of commits/decommits in the meantime.
If we don't end up with a top 10 class for 2014, I'll be a little disappointed. Not with the OSU staff, just that we weren't able to cash in on the potential -- which happens. If we're being realistic: Alabama is the team the staff and recruits (ala Vonn Bell's announcement) have said very clearly that OSU is looking to compete with, and Bama has had #1 classes something like 3 of the last 4 years. I don't think we HAVE to get top 5 classes every year to compete with them on a given day (see Texas A&M), but I do think it'd make our chances of contending for a National Title (and WINNING IT) year in and year out a lot more realistic than if we're going from top 5 one year to top 15 the next, back to top 5, etc. But no matter how much work the staff puts in, some chips are going to fall your way, some aren't (see: Hurd). What makes this staff different to me though, and makes me feel like there likely will never be a year we have a recruiting class that doesn't have top 10 talent, is that they're relentless. Many coaches likely would have given up on Dontre Wilson last year when he was committed to Oregon and confirmed several times he wouldn't decommit even if Chip Kelly left. Many coaches might have conceded Vonn Bell after Bama seemed like a foregone conclusion, not this staff (in fact, they went down to visit him and made sure he at least gave them an official visit). This staff is relentless, not only in discovering talent (James Clark, Corey Smith, etc) but in bringing it to Columbus.
So while I'd be disappointed with a class that didn't crack the top 10, I don't think it'll happen. I think this OSU staff has what it takes to get the 2014 class into yet another top 5 before it's all said and done, especially once the season kicks in and the recruits see that OSU are going to be annual contenders.
I wouldn't include Blanding in that group. He never visited and I don't think OSU was in serious consideration.
I heard Blanding said on the day of his announcement that OSU was his #2? Can't verify that, but I saw it posted several places. Also heard from Rivals leading up to it that OSU was in his top 3 (one writer even famously said OSU had the lead at one point). But I do think UVA was his favorite by a mile obviously, to your point, otherwise he wouldn't be a UVA commit.
I'm not worried about our class. Remember last year after the 2 decommitments, the Robert Foster saga, losing out to Jaylon Smith, etc? I think we ended last year pretty damn well. As long as we have Urban (as well as Hermann and Withers) I think we will be OK. It's way too early...but all it takes is a commitment from a guy like Marshon Lattimore and Jabril Peppers to turn it all around. Go Bucks!
The South will NOT rise again!
We get 3-4 good OLs and 2-3 good LBs in the 2014 class anything more than that will be icing on the cake.
"Sherman ran an option play right through the south" - Greatest.Civil.War.Analogy.Ever
Was just going to post exactly that. Talent-wise we are LOADED everywhere else (and perhaps even at LB if David Perkins, Josh Perry, Jamaal Marcus live up to their potential). Give me a couple of 4-5 star OL and three or so 3-4 star OL and I'm good.
But I'd be willing to bet money that we'll end up with another Top Five class.
It's just what Urban does.
Yup. What Ibleed said.
"Because the rules won't let you go for three." - Woody Hayes
THE Ohio State University
When guys commit elsewhere early, it gives the staff more room to recruit guys on their board harder. For example, Hurd is gone, so they narrow focus on Mixon, Hilliman, and Hood etc.
Scarlet & Gray
Or they just turn it up even harder on Hurd.
There will be more 5* kids in this class...as happy as we were with 2012 and 2013 just wait till the 2014 class is finalized (not that 5* are the end all be all but as far as rankings they are). I firmly believe that OSU will have a better class in 2014 than those if you can imagine that. It could be something to behold IMHO...it's early now...just wait till Feb of 2014...it should be pretty cool.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
Yeah I'm not worried about us having a disappointing class. In fact, I'm more worried about Michigan having a spectacular class than I am worried about us having a disappointing one. The rivalry looks to have a bright future.