Urban Meyer and Ryan Day took over at Ohio State in strangely similar situations.
Both hires were announced at the tail end of the football season — Meyer in 2011 and Day in 2018 — and they both had to scramble to finalize a recruiting class that has spent the previous 12 months with a lingering cloud of uncertainty hanging overhead.
Meyer closed hard and fast, then turned his attention to his first full recruiting class for the Buckeyes. His staff worked tirelessly over the course of the following year, and the result was one of the most talented and productive recruiting hauls in Ohio State history.
Meyer's first full class in Columbus was highlighted by stars like Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Vonn Bell and J.T. Barrett, and the 24-member group ranked second nationally only behind Alabama. Those freshmen developed over the years and helped Ohio State win the first-ever College Football Playoff National Chapmionship.
While top heavy, Meyer's first class also featured several players who flew under the radar on signing day, only to go on and thrive on the field.
Darron Lee is the prime example. The former 3-star athlete came to Ohio State as the No. 636 ranked prospect nationally, but by his sophomore season he was starting on a national-title winning team. He went on to become a first round pick in the NFL draft.
There were others like Lee. Tracy Sprinkle was the lowest-rated player in the class, but he clawed his way up the depth chart and became a contributor in the rotation along the defensive line. Chris Worley was a 3-star athlete who emerged behind Lee, then thrived after his departure as a starting linebacker for the Buckeyes. Then there was Tyquan Lewis, overshadowed by Bosa and Noah Spence, who grew into a consistent pass-rusher who was selected by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.
On Wednesday, Day wrapped a bow on his first complete recruiting class at Ohio State. The group is headlined by a trio of 5-stars in wideouts Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., but there are a number of players in the class who have a potential similar to Lee who could come in and make a huge impact.
Here are three players to watch as they start their Buckeye careers this fall.
Cameron Martinez, 4-Star Athlete
You may not consider Martinez an under-the-radar prospect since the spotlight has been shining on him for the last two months.
A verbal pledge to Ohio State who held off on committing during the early signing period, Martinez was the final piece to Day's first full recruiting class. After Kerry Coombs was brought on as defensive coordinator, Martinez reaffirmed his commitment and signed with the Buckeyes.
There was uncertainty about where he'd end up at college in the late stages of his recruitment, and as he enters Ohio State, there's uncertainty about which side of the ball he'll end up. He played quarterback for his Muskegon High School football team in Michigan, piling up 3,382 yards of total offense and 47 touchdowns during his senior season.
But he projects more favorably as a defensive back at the college level, and with Coombs history of churning out defensive backs to the league, Martinez could make a big move in Ohio State's secondary.
Lejond Cavazos, 4-Star Cornerback
Speaking of the secondary, there's no question where Lejond Cavazos will line up for the Buckeyes.
Rated the No. 25 cornerback and the 350th-ranked prospect overall for the 2020 class, Cavazos enters a secondary in transition with the departures of cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette.
What he brings to the table is elite speed and flexibility.
Cavazos turned heads at the Opening Regional in Miami with a blazing 4.4 40-yard dash and a 44-inch vertical. His 4.16-second shuttle showcased fluid movement that Coombs can utilize well in Ohio State's secondary.
Mitchell Melton, 4-Star Linebacker
Ohio State's secondary is in transition this year, but the linebacker unit will follow suit next offseason.
Tuf Borland and Pete Werner return to anchor the group this fall, but they'll be playing their final seasons as seniors. And depending how Melton develops, he could be in line to make a move.
Rated the No. 345 prospect nationally and the 24th-best outside linebacker, Melton boasted an offer list more in line with a bluechip prospect. Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin were all vying for his commitment, but the Olney, Maryland product chose the Buckeyes.
Melton brings versatility to the defense. At 6'3" and 235 pounds right now, he could evolve into a starter at any of Ohio State's three linebacker spots. But Melton is an excellent pass-rusher, and if the staff decides to utilize that skill as an edge-rusher, he certainly has the ability to transition that way as well.
