A breakdown of Ohio States 2020 recruiting board, with needs, numbers, commitments and top target

June 18, 2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State has 24 commitments and the No. 3 overall recruiting class in the 2019 rankings. For a class that is going to be full when it gets to 26 commitments — not including a kicker – that’s not a bad spot for first-year coach Ryan Day to be in during the month of October.

Being in this spot is a luxury. It allows Ohio State to close on a high note while also getting a head start on 2021. Classes usually aren’t this complete two months before the early signing period.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of where things stand with Ohio State’s class and where things may end up.

Quarterback

Need in 2020: 2

Commitments: 4-star Jack Miller of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral

Targets: 4-star C.J. Stroud of Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High

Breakdown: One of the biggest storylines of this class is Ohio State’s need for two quarterbacks and how it’s trying to fulfill that need by signing two four-star studs. Miller has been committed since July 2018 and has maintained he will go to Ohio State even if Stroud commits because the Buckeyes’ staff has been up front about the situation. Ohio State only has three scholarship quarterbacks on the current roster and Day would prefer to avoid that issue in the future. Stroud recently earned an offer and took an unofficial visit to Ohio State earlier this month for the Michigan State game, and many assume he’ll eventually commit to the Buckeyes. Stroud told The Athletic he plans to take his four remaining official visits — including a return visit to Ohio State — before making his decision on the first day of the early signing period in December. Right now, it seems as if the Buckeyes have a legitimate shot at signing both, but crazy stuff happens at quarterback in recruiting and in the transfer portal.

Jack Miller committed to the Buckeyes in July 2018 and has remained firm in his commitment. (Shari Miller / SLM Images)

Running back

Need in 2020: 1

Commitments: None

Targets: 4-star Kevontre Bradford of Lancaster (Texas) High, 3-star Miyan Williams of Cincinnati Winton Woods, 4-star E.J. Smith of Dallas Jesuit, 4-star Jahmyr Gibbs of Dalton (Ga.) High, 4-star Michael Drennen II of Dublin (Ohio) Coffman

Breakdown: Ohio State had a commitment from 4-star Darvon Hubbard of Surprise (Ariz.) Willow Canyon, but the Buckeyes moved on from him in February because they favored five-star running back Bijan Robinson of Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic and four-star Jaylan Knighton of Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High. There was a time the Buckeyes thought they were going to get both, but each decided to commit elsewhere; Robinson is committed to Texas and Knighton is pledged to Florida State. Now the Buckeyes are left with a gaping hole in their 2020 class. For a while, it seemed as if Ohio State would be in the market for two running backs in this class, but if OSU ends up with Bradford, that would be a success. Ohio State is flirting with Williams, an Iowa State commit; Gibbs, a Georgia Tech commit; and Smith, the son of legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith. If current running back J.K. Dobbins decides to return for his senior year, you could make the case Ohio State doesn’t need a running back. But the Buckeyes should sign at least one. Bradford, who officially visited Ohio State two weeks ago, is most closely considering Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Julian Fleming is the nation’s top wide receiver prospect, as well as a top-five recruit overall. (Audrey Snyder / The Athletic)

Wide receiver

Need in 2020: 4

Commitments: 4-star Gee Scott of Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic, 4-star Jaxon Smith-Njigba of Rockwall (Texas) High, 5-star Julian Fleming of Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia, 4-star Mookie Cooper of St. Louis Pattonville.

Targets: None

Breakdown: Ohio State has the best group of wide receiver commitments in the country. Brian Hartline has locked up Fleming, the consensus No. 1 receiver and the No. 3 overall player in the nation, and the other three guys should be in the conversation to be five-star recruits. Scott tore up The Opening, Smith-Njigba just broke the career receiving yards record for Texas Class 6A football and Cooper, though ineligible because of a transfer for his senior season, is a speedster who could be the next great Ohio State H-Back. Ohio State loses K.J. Hill, Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor and C.J. Saunders, but this group of commitments is the epitome of what it means to reload.

Tight end

Need in 2020: 1

Commitments: 3-star Joe Royer of Cincinnati Elder

Targets: None

Breakdown: This wasn’t a huge need for Ohio State in 2020 because it is losing only senior Rashod Berry after this season, and though there’s always the possibility that junior Luke Farrell could leave early, the room is relatively full right now. The Buckeyes should have Farrell, Jake Hausmann, former five-star prospect Jeremy Ruckert and Cormontae Hamilton back next year, so this was more of a luxury pickup. Royer is a 6-foot-5, 225-pounder who could develop into a big weapon. Even without Berry next season, Ohio State should have five players in the 2020 tight end room.

Offensive line

Need in 2020: 6

Commitments: 5-star T Paris Johnson of Cincinnati Princeton, 4-star C Luke Wypler of Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional, 3-star T Jakob James of Cincinnati Elder, 3-star G Josh Fryar of Beech Grove (Ind.) High, 3-star T Grant Toutant of Warren (Mich.) De La Salle Collegiate, 3-star T Trey Leroux of Norwalk (Ohio) High

Targets: None

Breakdown: Ohio State is losing three senior scholarship offensive linemen after this season, and there is a legitimate chance Thayer Munford and Wyatt Davis could decide to leave early for the NFL. Let’s assume the Buckeyes lose four o-linemen, which is why they would need six. This group of commitments is the perfect blend of linemen for any single recruiting class, as you have star power at the top with Johnson and Wypler and developmental Midwest offensive linemen in Leroux, James, Fryar and Toutant. That’s the balance you need at the college level — future stars who could figure into the two-deep as freshmen and developmental players who will form the foundation of the offensive line room while working toward competing to be a starter as upperclassmen. The jewel of this class is Johnson, the consensus No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 7 overall player in the country.

Defensive line

Need in 2020: 5

Commitments: 4-star DT Jacolbe Cowan of Charlotte Providence, 4-star DT Darrion Henry of Cincinnati Princeton, 3-star DE Ty Hamilton of Pickerington (Ohio) Central

Targets: 4-star Tyler Baron of Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic, 4-star DE Xavier Carlton of Draper (Utah) Juan Diago

Breakdown: Ohio State has two senior tackles in Robert “B.B.” Landers and Davon Hamilton, and two senior ends in Jonathon Cooper and Jashon Cornell. Junior end Chase Young can be added to the “gone” list, too. So that’s five defensive linemen the Buckeyes are going to have to replace. Losing Young, who may be the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, is going to be a big blow. And unfortunately for Ohio State, Larry Johnson doesn’t have that can’t-miss five-star player in this class to help relieve that burden. Ohio State does have five-star freshman Zach Harrison and five-star end Jack Sawyer committed in 2021, but this class seems more like a depth-replacer than a star-replacer. Even if Ohio State winds up with Baron, the 2021 class will be huge for the defensive line.

Linebacker

Need in 2020: 3

Commitments: 4-star Kourt Williams of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, 4-star Cody Simon of Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep, 3-star Mitchell Melton of Olney (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel

Targets: None

Breakdown: Ohio State has two senior linebackers on the roster in Justin Hilliard and Malik Harrison, and it added three linebackers in the 2019 class in Cade Stover, Tommy Eichenberg and Craig Young. This wasn’t a huge need, but the Buckeyes have three good commitments to join what should be a talented room next season. Williams has been recruited to play the “Bullet” position, but he’s a fast and athletic outside linebacker versatile enough to contribute in multiple ways. Same goes for Simon. Melton (6-3, 235) has good size. First-year linebackers coach Al Washington didn’t have a bunch to replace, but he found two high-end, four-star prospects to join the program. Mission accomplished.

Lejond Cavazos (right) has been to Ohio State numerous times and is expected to be part of what should be a big haul of defensive backs. (Ari Wasserman / The Athletic)

Secondary

Need in 2020: 6

Commitments: 4-star CB Clark Phillips of La Habra (Calif.) High, 4-star S Lathan Ransom of Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic, 4-star CB Lejond Cavazos of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, 4-star CB Ryan Watts of Little Elm (Texas) High, 4-star Cameron Martinez of Muskegon (Mich.) High

Targets: 5-star Elias Ricks of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, 4-star CB Jaiden Francois of Homestead (Fla.) South Dade

Breakdown: Ohio State could legitimately lose its entire starting secondary. Damon Arnette and Jordan Fuller are seniors, Jeffrey Okudah could be a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft and Shaun Wade also is starting to pop up in draft discussions. The Buckeyes signed one of the best groups of defensive backs in the history of recruiting in 2017, and now they are trying to refill the cupboard in 2020. They have four studs already committed and could push for as many as six. Ricks, a California native who is the No. 2 cornerback in the 2020 class, currently is committed to LSU, but is scheduled for an Ohio State official visit in November. Ohio State also is firmly in the mix with Francois, a Miami commitment. This position is one to follow between now and the early signing period because it has star power committed, and the hope is that more is coming. Ohio State needs as many ready-made freshmen defensive backs on its roster as possible in 2020.

(Top photo of Paris Johnson Jr. at The Opening: Tim Heitman / USA Today)

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