Ohio State Recruiting: Latest Commitment Pushes 2018 Class to No. 1
More good news for Ohio State on the recruiting trail.
When Matthew Jones committed to play his college ball for the Buckeyes Saturday, he became the 14th member of the 2018 recruiting class. That pushed Ohio State past Miami University to the top spot in the recruiting rankings.
The Hurricanes have since closed the gap to within one point with the commitment of 4 star cornerback Al Glades. However, they have four more recruits in their class than the Buckeyes do so far.
Ohio State is still on pace to break the overall player average set with the 2017 class. They have a shot at breaking Alabama’s run of No. 1 recruiting classes as well. Let’s take a look at what the newest commit will bring to the table.
Jones is a 6 ft. 4 inch, 315 pound lineman who is ranked as the 3rd best guard and the No. 53 overall recruit in the country in the 247Sports Composite. He is projected to play center or guard for the Buckeyes, but he was also a highly ranked defensive tackle.
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It could be a situation where Jones could be used on either side of the ball early in his career before settling on one position. His versatility makes him an outstanding piece in the 2018 class for Urban Meyer.
Just think about the defensive linemen who switched to the other side of the ball during Urban Meyer’s tenure. Right tackles Darryl Baldwin and Chase Farris, along with guard/center Billy Price, were recruited to play on the defensive line. And Joshua Alibi is making the transition to left tackle this year.
There is just something about a guy who brings a defensive mindset to the offensive line. They are often more aggressive than others, because they just want to pile-drive people. Could Jones become a Billy Price type of player in the interior? That would be a good thing wouldn’t it?
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Matthew Jones won’t be pushing anybody around for Ohio State on either side of the ball for more than a year. But by committing to Ohio State, he pushed the Buckeyes to the top of the recruiting rankings.