This is just getting ridiculous.
Brian Hartline may have just gotten a raise and promotion to passing game coordinator in the offseason, but with his recent run of wide receiver recruiting, he may be in line for another raise before long.
On Monday, Carnell Tate joined Ohio State's recruiting class. Tuesday, it was Brandon Inniss' turn. On Wednesday, Noah Rogers pulled the trigger, giving the Buckeyes three top-50 wide receivers in the same recruiting cycle all in a span of just three days.
Hartline's recruiting stats have now gotten even more ridiculous, with Ohio State landing 14 top-100 wide receivers over the past five recruiting cycles, double the next closest team. The Buckeyes also lead the nation in top-50 wide receivers over that same time period with seven, with Alabama second on that list with four.
On the Field
At 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, Rogers has never been afraid of a jump ball in his life. The lengthy wide receiver shows tremendous ability and athleticism to go up and catch passes against any defensive back that stands in his way, making him dangerous as both a deep ball and red zone target.
Rogers lines up primarily as an outside receiver for Rolesville High School (Rolesville, North Carolina) and figures to profile at that spot at the collegiate level. While he has great size and frame, he also has decent speed for someone of his stature, running a 40-yard dash in approximately 4.5 seconds.
Rogers holds up well against press coverage and excels at creating separation from defensive backs regardless of play man or zone against him. His route running is exceptional, and Rogers has a good sense of when his quarterback needs him to come back to the ball. His target window is wide, as he can often secure off-target throws if they’re in the general vicinity of his direction. He doesn’t shy away from contact and will commit to the catch even if he senses he’s going to get whacked by an opposing defender.
At his frame, Rogers can be an effective blocker on outside runs, and he’s shown on film to be all too willing to assist in run blocking. His junior year stats speak for themselves, as he caught an eye-popping 70 passes for 1,432 yards and 22 receiving touchdowns, averaging 20.5 yards per catch. He also had five carries for 15 yards and a rushing touchdown.
In The Class
With Rogers now in the fold, Ohio State now has four wide receivers committed for the 2023 class, also including four-star Florida wideout Bryson Rodgers, who committed to Ohio State in April.
Ohio State's recruiting class remains second in 247Sports’ composite team recruiting rankings after Rogers' commitment, but is less than four points away from catching Notre Dame for the top spot. Ohio State now has two five-stars, 10 four-stars and one three-star recruit in the fold for the 2023 cycle.
Rogers becomes the fourth player from North Carolina to commit to Ohio State in the past five recruiting cycles, as the Buckeyes also landed running back Evan Pryor (2021) defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan (2020) and defensive tackle Jaden McKenzie (2019).
Rogers would likely be the crown jewel wide receiver of every college’s recruiting class nationally except a small handful, but crazy enough, the North Carolina wideout may actually be slightly undervalued by Ohio State fans, only in the sense that Ohio State landed two wideouts ranked higher than him in Tate and Inniss.
The Buckeyes' wide receiver recruiting is now finished for the current cycle, and they'll pivot to other needs this summer. While Ohio State thought highly of four-star California wideout Rico Flores Jr., who was scheduled to take an official visit to Columbus this weekend, there simply isn't any room for him in the class anymore, which likely means he's bound for Notre Dame.
