The last signing day is strong again from top to bottom.
The state of Ohio signed the country’s second-best recruiting class earlier this month and finished just behind the record-setting Crimson Tide series. We spent some time looking at the star-studded group – including the 15 early entries – and speculating who could make an immediate impact in 2021.
Ryan Day has signed 21 new players and he hopes to push the number to 22, while the Buckeyes will continue the pursuit of five-star defensive end JT Tuimoloau. The latest talent features five five-star prospects, 13 four-star and a trio of three stars. At least some of the five stars will count among the top season out of season. TreVeyon Henderson will have to push the running back room and Kyle McCord will be in the game to start under center.
But every year we also look at a number of inferior signatories and what they can bring to the table. Dawand Jones was just so back in the 2019 class, and the same can be said for Chris Olave in 2018. It’s not always the prospects of blue-chip doing great things in Columbus.
| Player | Hometown | Mail. | Measurable |
Grading |
Mail. Rank | Wet. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Hart | Aurora, Colo. | TE | 6 ft-5, 225 lbs |
★★★ |
Number 16 | No. 392 |
| Jaylen johnson | Cincinnati, Ohio | SAF | 6 ft-1, 200 lbs |
★★★ |
29 | No. 412 |
| Jesse Mirco | Fremantle, Australia | P | 6 ft-3, 200 lbs |
★★★ |
Number 6 | AFTER |
As for scary position groups and the Buckeyes possibly looking at the portal, we mostly talked about cornerback as the most needy place. I think the end of the end is not so far behind. Jeremy Ruckert will be one of the best in the country, but there is a lot of uncertainty behind him thanks to the departure of Luke Farrell and Jake Hausmann.
Sam Hart is the lone maker in the 2021 class. He does not have to make an immediate impact if Cade Stover and Joe Royer serve as primary backup. Yet the three-star in Colorado is already on campus and the exhausted room will provide some depth. I’m always a fan of the charms of teams like Notre Dame and Iowa.
Heart will be more competitive than just 2021. The state of Ohio currently has two tight ends for the 2022 class in Bennett Christian in Georgia and Benji Gosnell in North Carolina. The biggest question ahead may be how the position is utilized by the next man on quarterback. No one expects a repeat of the performance against Clemson, but Hart is a capable passer who scored 31 balls for seven as a junior in 2019.
Home is where the Heart is! Welcome to Columbus @ sam_hart82 # GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/eTcQiPfTiE
– Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) 24 January 2021
Cincinnati’s Jaylen Johnson was one of the leaders of the 2021 class. After his commitment in January of 2020, Johnson was one of the more active recruiters who helped the country’s second best move. At a foot of 1 and 200 pounds he starts safe, but some think he can grow in the road.
If he sticks to the secondary, Johnson seems to be more of the strong safety type, as opposed to the ankle-high looks the Buckeyes have been using lately. His best long-term career could actually be as a run-and-cover linebacker. As for the early expectations, it will be difficult for him to portray a role outside of special teams.
As for the early impact of the true freshmen, you probably do not have to look much further than the special teams. Aussie native Cameron Johnston spent four seasons for the Buckeyes – while winning a national championship – before leaving for the NFL. It’s now Jesse Mirco’s turn to do a lot of that in 2021.
Drue Chrisman is gone, meaning the door is wide open for Mirco to step into the starting role. Our early depth map projection said he would do exactly that as a true freshman. The ProKick Australia star was a name we had not even heard of when he committed himself in May 2020. Now he’s on course to be a key part of the Ohio team’s special teams in 2021.
Great things are expected by Jack Sawyer, Emeka Egbuka and the other Buckeye players. Let’s not forget the rest of the group, because a more typical off-season will help a lot to prepare them for the future.
