Ohio State Football: Proof key to recruiting offensive players

It shouldn’t come as a surprise the 2020 recruiting class is filling up with offensive players, Ryan Day and his staff have proof to sell.

Most of the early commits in the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class play on the offensive side of the ball. That shouldn’t come as a shock because it has been proven an Ryan Day led offense will be one of the most prolific in the country and recruits want to join in the fun.

Having position coaches returning certainly helps matters and the new guy has quite a track record. Let’s begin with Mike Yurcich.

During his tenure Oklahoma State. coach Yurcich always had an explosive passing offense and was ranked fifth nationally in passing yards during those six years. QB Mason Rudolph also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award in 2017 when he passed for over 4,000 yards.

And of course Ryan Day will still work with the quarterbacks, it’s in his blood. Having coached J.T. Barrett during his best season throwing the football and Dwayne Haskins last season, it’s no wonder his top QB target in 2020 (Jack Miller) and the one in the 2021 class (Kyle McCord) have already committed to play for the Buckeyes.

And with Brian Hartline now the permanent WR coach they will have talented players to throw to.

That’s because in his one season as interim coach he developed the best receiving corps ever at Ohio State. Parris Campbell being chosen in the second round of the NFL Draft, Terry McLaurin in the third and Johnny Dixon picked up by the Houston Texans didn’t hurt things on the recruiting trail.

In addition to landing the No. 2 WR in the 2019 recruiting class (Garrett Wilson), coach Hartline has three outstanding receivers committed to the 2020 class. Jullan Fleming is the top ranked WR, Gee Scott Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are top 100 players overall.

Now for the offensive line situation.

During Greg Studrawa’s three years as the offensive line coach, Ohio State has had one of the best rushing attacks in the Big Ten. Last year’s unit allowed Dwayne Haskins to remain upright often enough to have a record-shattering season.

And his players tend to become NFL Draft picks. Let’s look at those Slobs Studrawa coached at least one season.

Guard / Center Pat Elflein: 3rd round draft choice, Rimington Award winner
Guard / Center Billy Price: 1st round, Rimington Award winner
Tackle Jamarco Jones: 5th round
Guard / Center Michael Jordan: 4th round
Tackle Isaiah Prince: 6th round

That may explain why these five offensive linemen have already joined the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class.

OT Parris Johnson Jr
C Luke Wypler
OT Grant Toutant
OT Jakob James
OT Trey Leroux

Johnson is the top rated tackle in the country and Wypler is ranked the No. 1 center.

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Tony Alford has made his mark having coached Ezekiel Elliot, Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins and having a back rush for at least 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons.

The RB room is full but expect coach Alford to bring in another one or two outstanding players soon. There are a few top running backs who are considering playing for the Buckeyes, and why shouldn’t they be?

The tight end situation is a different story. Although coach Day has offered highly ranked recruits at the position none have committed.

Since tight ends haven’t been used in the passing game often in recent years, I think this is a wait and see situation. If last year’s star recruit Jeremy Ruckert, Luke Ferrell and Rashod Berry are more involved in the pass offense next season, TE recruits will have their eyes on the Buckeyes.

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Coach Day is off to a terrific start in his first recruiting class and has already loaded up the offensive side of the ball. Expect more recruits to join in the fun soon.

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