Ohio State Football: Winning with Ohio recruits

A look at some of the home-grown players who contributed to the success of the Ohio State football program in the recent past.

Much has been made of coach Urban Meyer recruiting players from across the country but bringing in very few Ohio recruits. There is no doubt it has moved Ohio State up in the recruiting rankings, but is that always the best situation for the football program? Looking at recent history, I’m not so sure that it is.

You don’t have to go back to the Jim Tressel days to find out how important in-state recruits have been to the Buckeyes success either. Just take a look at some of the key players on the 2014 National Championship team who played their high school ball in Ohio.

Here is a list of home-grown players who were starters during the stretch drive that season, along with their recruiting status in high school according to 247Sports Composite:

Offensive Line:

• Taylor Decker  4 star OT  Vandalia
• Pat Elflein  3 star OG  Pickerington
• Jacoby Boren  3 star OG  Pickerington
• Billy Price  4 star DT  Youngstown
• Daryl Baldwin  3 star SDE  Solon

Skill Position Players:

• Cardale Jones  3 star PRO QB  Cleveland, via Fort Union Military Academy (VA)
• Devin Smith  3 star WR  Massillon
• Jalin Marshall  4 star WR  Middletown

Defensive Line:

• Michael Bennett  4 star DT  Dayton
• Adolphus Washington  5 star WDE  Cincinnati
• Steve Miller  4 star WDE  Canton

Linebackers:

• Joshua Perry  4 star OLB  Lewis Center
• Darron Lee  3 star ATH  New Albany  

Defensive Backs:

• Doran Grant  4 star CB  Akron
• Tyvis Powell  3 star ATH  Bedford

Other key in state players:

Not listed as a starter, 4 star TE Nick Vannett from Westerville shared playing time with Jeff Heuerman and had 22 receptions in 2014.

Cam Burrows was a 4 star CB recruit from Dayton who was a key contributor at safety and nickel during the championship season.

Did you notice the number of 3 star players listed? Ohio recruits are often undervalued.

I’m not trying to say nationwide recruiting isn’t important to Ohio State’s success, and players like Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa will always be fan favorites. I’m simply pointing out that building a strong nucleus with in-state recruits, and then adding terrific players from around the country, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In fact, that was the pattern used for building every Ohio State national championship team in the past, and can continue to work well in the future I’m sure. Woody Hayes always loaded his teams with Ohio high school players, then went out-of-state for players like DB Jack Tatum, RB John Brockington and OT Rufus Mayes to put the Buckeyes over the top. The 1968 National Champions were built that way.

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The 2002 Buckeyes had 12 starters, as well as key backups like A.J. Hawk and Will Allen, who played their high school football in Ohio. But they wouldn’t have won the title if it weren’t for out-of-state recruits like Chris Gamble, Will Smith and Craig Krenzel.

Buckeye fans can’t wait to watch the 15 talented out-of-state players in the 2017 recruiting class perform in the Horseshoe. They will pull for them as if they grew up next door instead of in another region of the country. But should having just six players from Ohio in the class be a concern?

The 2018 recruiting class should be the one where Urban Meyer gets to his stated goal of filling half of his recruiting class with players from Ohio. It is one of the most talented and deepest in-state classes in recent memory.

Because of that, the recruiting pressure in the state is even more intense than usual. So far, only one of the nine players committed to the 2018 class are Ohio recruits. And it is disconcerting that some of the top players are seriously considering playing their college football elsewhere.

Next: Combination of J.J. Watt and Ryan Kerrigan?

Hopefully that situation will change, and quickly. With the talented group of out-of-state commits in the 2018 class already, and with the others who are sure to follow, landing quite of few Ohio recruits will make it an outstanding one. Stay tuned, there will be plenty more info concerning the situation coming your way soon.