Ohio State Recruiting Round-Up: Wyatt Davis

A look at 5 star offensive lineman Wyatt Davis.

Signing day is much like Christmas for Ohio State fans but it has come and gone and much of the excitement has disappeared for some. Not for us hardcore Buckeye fans though, and the thirst for knowledge about each of these prospects is still there.

We have focused primarily on the defensive side of the ball for Ohio State with this series of articles, but today I want to focus on the only offensive player I believe has the talent to start as a freshman.

Player: Wyatt Davis

Hometown: Bellflower, California

Position: Guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 319 lbs.

Ranking: 5 Stars

Chose Ohio State Over: Alabama & UCLA

The Buckeye offensive line was seen as the weakest link by most, and although I disagree with that sentiment, it is comforting to have a player of Davis’ caliber in this year’s class. With Pat Elflein departing, there will be an open spot on the interior of the line. I expect Davis to see time in the rotation of the offensive line sooner rather than later.

Strengths: Obviously the first thing that even the most pedestrian fan recognizes is how massive Wyatt is compared to his high school counterparts. He has the size to compete at the college level now, and once he loses some of his baby fat and packs on more muscle in a college weight program,  he will be a machine.

Strength is another one of his finer traits and this is one of the more important ones for offensive linemen. Play after play his ability to dominate the opposing defensive  linemen is on display.

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Weaknesses: Davis played offensive tackle in high school, but he projects much better to the interior in college and more specifically guard. Moving inside should not be a major adjustment, but playing inside a box will take some time getting used to.

We talked about his strength, which is a key component to the run game, but his pass blocking needs work. His footwork and agility may not hold  against some of the gap busters in the Big Ten, but this is something that can be improved.

Comparison-Adrien Clarke, 2003: Clarke ended his Buckeye career as a slight disappointment, because he never hit the potential that he came into school with. With that said, Clarke was a consistent performer who actually played tackle and transitioned into the interior towards the end of his collegiate career.

I do not envision Davis sharing that same path and I feel that if developed properly he can surpass Clarke’s career as a Buckeye. However, both were extremely large players who  relied on their strength more than anything else to dominate defenders.

Must Read: Urban Meyer Lands 4 Star From California

Overall: Davis is my favorite incoming recruit on the offensive side of the ball and I expect him to at least enter the rotation next season, and possibly even see meaningful time. Unlike many of the other previous recruits I wrote about, Davis didn’t enroll early. But it shouldn’t take long for him to find his groove and mesh with the Ohio State line. As long as Davis makes a smooth transition to the inside, look for his name to mentioned often his freshman season.