There are names from Ohio State’s 2013 recruiting class you certainly know, ones that everybody knows: Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Darron Lee and Eli Apple just to name a few.
That group, along with a strong senior class one year ago, was at the core of the Buckeyes’ success the last two seasons. Ohio State won Big Ten and national championships in 2014. The Buckeyes were Fiesta Bowl champions last year.
The 2016 season will be the fourth for Ohio State’s 2013 recruiting class — what's left of it. And while nearly half of that 2013 group is no longer donning the scarlet and gray, there are still several members remaining who are gearing up to lead an inexperienced team. Some have made their imprint on the program already and are further hammering home the idea that the Buckeyes’ 2013 class could be one of the best in recent college football history. Others from the 2013 group are running out of time to make an impact.
The Buckeyes' 2013 class can already be considered a massive success. When six players leave early for the NFL after achieving so much in college and there's still plenty of talent on the roster, that's hardly debatable. But let's take a closer look at what's left: Here are four hits and [potential] misses from Ohio State's class of 2013.
[Author’s note: Only players still on the Buckeyes’ roster are considered.]
STANDOUTS
J.T. Barrett — Quarterback
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Barrett was the No. 2-rated dual-threat quarterback in the 2013 class and he has lived up to that billing throughout his first two years of action at Ohio State. He will be one of the top signal callers in all of college football this season and, because he redshirted as a true freshman, has the potential to return for another year after this one.
Tyquan Lewis — Defensive End
Lewis was a top-300 player in 2013 hailing from Tarboro, North Carolina and the 10th-rated weakside defensive end in the country. Last season was his first as a starter and all Lewis did was lead Ohio State with eight sacks. Lewis has the potential to be an early-round NFL Draft selection next year should he opt to leave after his redshirt junior season.
Gareon Conley — Cornerback
Conley was another highly-rated defensive player in Ohio State’s 2013 class that excelled in his first year as a starter. With 49 tackles and two interceptions, Conley was a key cog in a Buckeyes’ pass defense that ranked 16th in the country a year ago, allowing just 184.5 yards per game through the air. Hailing from Ohio powerhouse Massillon Washington, Conley was the 15th-rated corner in the 2013 class.
Billy Price — Offensive Line
Price came to Ohio State as a four-star prospect and the 18th-ranked defensive tackle in the country, but before his career is over he may have the opportunity to join some rare company in being a four-year starter on the Buckeyes’ offensive line. After redshirting as a true freshman, Price is set to enter his third-straight season as a starting guard and should he opt to return to Ohio State for his fifth season, he’d become a four-year starter up front.
WORK TO DO
Dontre Wilson — Wide Receiver
When Ohio State knocked off Oregon and Texas to land Wilson, Buckeyes fans were understandably excited to see how Urban Meyer planned to use one of the most dynamic recruits in the 2013 class. But through three seasons, Wilson has amassed just 923 total yards in a hybrid running back/wide receiver role with six touchdowns while also contributing a bit in the return game.
Nagging injuries really hampered Wilson’s first three seasons, but with one more go-round, he’s hoping to live up to the hype he had coming out of high school when he was the 70th-rated player in the country.
Cam Burrows — Safety
Another highly-rated defensive back coming out of Trotwood-Madison High School in Ohio, Burrows, like Wilson, was hampered a bit by injuries throughout his three years with the Buckeyes. He was the No. 61 overall recruit in the 2013 class and spent the majority of his time at Ohio State playing the nickel spot as fellow class member Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell manned the safety positions each of the last two seasons.
Burrows is recovering from a foot injury that ended his junior season and figures to battle for one of the starting safety spots come fall camp.
Evan Lisle — Offensive Line
Lisle was the highest-rated offensive linemen in Ohio State’s 2013 class as he was the No. 76 player in the country and sixth-ranked tackle. Yet through three seasons with the Buckeyes, Lisle is yet to log a single start. He’ll be in competition for one of the starting guard positions this fall, but the list for that spot is quite long.
Marcus Baugh — Tight End
Baugh finally emerged last year in this third season as Ohio State’s backup tight end and had a solid year. And, to be fair, since his arrival in Columbus, he was been stuck behind a pair of third-round NFL Draft picks in Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett.
This year, the spot is all his, though. Baugh was the fourth-ranked tight end in the 2013 class and finally, as a redshirt junior, will have a chance to show what made him such a highly-touted prospect out of Riverside, California.
