Ohio State Recruiting: These numbers show Buckeyes still No. 1?

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts on the sideline during overtime of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts on the sideline during overtime of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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A closer look at the numbers show the Ohio State recruiting class is still the best in the country.

Urban Meyer’s Ohio State recruiting class was passed by Georgia the first day of the early signing period and fell to No. 2 in the rankings, but how? The numbers just don’t seem to add up.

The Buckeyes have the highest overall player average and only Penn State has as many signed players of any of the top five ranked teams.

Check out the numbers at 247Sports Composite and see if you can explain to me why the Ohio State recruiting class isn’t ranked No 1:

  1. Georgia  17 Signed, plus 1 Early Enrollee, 5 Hard Commits  93.02 Player Average
  2. Ohio State  21 Signed  93.97 Player Average
  3. Texas  19 Signed, 2 Hard Commits  93.24 Player Average
  4. Penn State  21 Signed, 1 Hard Commit  91.10 Player Average
  5. Miami  18 Signed, 2 Hard Commits  91.39 Player Average

The rankings don’t make sense to me with the number of players who have actually signed with each team. The thing that jumps out at me is that “Hard Commits” evidently are still included in the recruiting class.

If they are that committed, wouldn’t they have signed yesterday when they had the opportunity to do so?

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Just think if a player didn’t put pen to paper on National Signing Day last February when there wasn’t an early signing period. Would he still be included as part of a school’s recruiting rankings.

When you look at the number of players who have already signed with the school of their choice, and factor in player averages, I think the rankings change.

Ohio State would be at the top. Penn State, Texas and Georgia would probably be ranked 2-4 in some order and Miami would still be No. 5. Each one of these schools has a terrific class at the moment, and will have when the dust has settled in February.

My point is, you really have to look into the numbers before evaluating how each school’s recruiting class should be ranked right now.

Next: Predictions for Big Ten bowl games

It’s been all over the news today that Georgia passed Ohio State for the No. 1 spot in the recruiting rankings. However, when you look at the players who have actually signed so far, an argument can be made Urban Meyer still has the top recruiting class in the country. That’s all I’m saying.