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Ohio State Spring Football: Last Call for the Outstanding 2013 Class

By Charlie Lockhart

Sep 12, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer walks in for halftime in the game against the Hawaii Warriors at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Hawaii Warriors by the score of 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer walks in for halftime in the game against the Hawaii Warriors at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Hawaii Warriors by the score of 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Where did the time go. The last of the 2013 Ohio State recruiting class, who brought so much excitement to Buckeye fans in the National Championship run, are entering their final seasons.

It seems like only yesterday when Urban Meyer had his first full recruiting class at Ohio State signed sealed and delivered. In 2013, Buckeye fans couldn’t wait to see those players in the No. 2 ranked recruiting class playing on Saturdays.

Now, this will be the final season for what’s left of that heralded class. Let’s take a look at what transpired from the time players arrived at Ohio State until the final spring practices for the last remaining players in the 2013 class.

Five players, Eli Apple, Cam Burrows, J.T. Barrett, Tyquan Lewis and Tracy Sprinkle enrolled early to give Buckeye fans a peak of coming attractions in the spring game. None of them lit things up, but Apple did flash his makeup speed a couple of times when he got beat by a wide receiver.

2013 Season: Surprisingly, all but five players redshirted their first season. However, you could see the raw talent and athletic ability of those who did play.

Joey Bosa showed everybody what all of the fuss was about in his recruitment when he was named to the Freshman All-American Team. Vonn Bell performed well at the nickel back position, and Ezekiel Elliott and Dontre showed flashes of brilliance as backups. Cam Burrows played well on special teams and some nickel.

Then it happened.

2014 Season: Everybody including Urban Meyer thought the young Ohio State squad was a year away from competing for a national title. After the beat down by Virginia Tech, nearly everybody was sure of it. But somebody forgot to tell the players.

They went on an incredible run led by redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett and demolished most of the opponents the rest of the way. Except for Penn State.

After that thrilling win, with J.T. Barrett and Bosa coming up huge in overtime, the players knew they could win a tight game in a hostile environment, and that seemed to be the impetus to take things all the way, and they did.

At the end of the season, Elliott put the offense on his back and was unstoppable. And when the Buckeyes dominated Alabama, they changed everyone’s perception of Ohio State and Big Ten football. Then Ohio State showed Oregon who the fastest team on the field was to cap the unbelievable run to a National Championship.

2015: I’m only reminiscing about good stuff so I’ll keep this short. The only team I ever saw that was as talented as the 2015 team that didn’t win a national title was the 1969 Buckeyes.

But the draft in the spring was great for the 2013 class.

  • DE Joey Bosa          1st Rd. (3)
  • RB Ezekiel Elliott   1st Rd. (4)
  • CB Eli Apple             1st Rd. (10)
  • OL LB Darron Lee   1st Rd, (20)
  •  S Vonn Bell             2nd Rd. (61)
  • WR Jalin Marshall    Undrafted Free Agent

2016: More disappointment for the team, but individual players made names for themselves. Tyquan Lewis was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Chris Worley stepped up and took over where Darron Lee left off and Marcus Baugh finally had a chance to show off his talent.

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Gareon Conley worked his way into becoming a high NFL draft pick. Cameron Johnston, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith may have a chance to play in the pros also.

This the final spring for J.T.Barrett, Tyquan Lewis Tracy Sprinkle, Marcus Baugh, Michael Hill, Billy Price and Chris Worley. They are the last seven players from the outstanding 2013 recruiting class. 

In their playing days for Ohio State, these players have been a part of teams with a combined 37-4 record, one Big Ten Title and a National Championship. Just think how these players will add to the legacy of the 2013 class if they are to lead the Buckeyes to another national title.

Five of those seven players could have left school and had a shot at the NFL but chose to return for one more season. They felt there was unfinished business to take care of, and that business is winning one more National Title.

Next: 2018 Ohio State Commit Compares Draft Picks of Buckeyes-Wolverines

If there are any doubters who think another title isn’t in the cards for this class, just think back to the 2014 season. I for one won’t count them out.

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