Ohio State Recruiting: Terrific D linemen for Larry Johnson to work with
Outstanding defensive linemen in the Ohio State recruiting class.
Probably no assistant coach in America sends more players to the NFL than Larry Johnson. The defensive line coach will once again have a terrific group of players in this year’s Ohio State recruiting class to mold into professional football players.
Coach Johnson has talent at the defensive end position with more on the way. But the big guys who clog up the middle may be the best group of tackles of any recruiting class in the country.
Let’s begin with the top ranked player at that position.
Taron Vincent is ranked as the No. 1 DT in the country and the 13th best recruit in the country according to the 247Sports Composite.
At 6-2, 285 pounds, and with his skill set, Vincent looks like he is suited to play the three technique position. In the past, coach Johnson has developed defensive ends to play the position because it requires quickness to get penetration between the guard and tackle.
Those players have usually had to spend a year in Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning program to bulk up enough to play inside. That shouldn’t be the case with Vincent and it looks like he may be able to hit the ground running.
Tommy Togiai is 6-3, 290 pounds and ranked as the 9th best tackle and the No. 127 player in the country. After watching him play in the Army All-America Bowl it looks like he is a real run stuffer.
Coach Johnson needs help at nose tackle next season after losing Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill to graduation. Togiai is an early enrollee, so with the extra work he will get in the spring, I could see him being in the rotation in the fall.
Here is all you need to know about Antwuan Jackson. He was a high priority target for Urban Meyer in the 2016 recruiting class but picked Auburn over Ohio State. He is the No. 1 JUCO transfer in the country. And once he saw the error of his ways, he really wanted to be a Buckeye.
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Tyreke Smith is ranked as the 4th best weak side defensive end and the No. 60 player overall. If you watched the video you saw that Smith is extremely athletic and a terrific tight end as well.
At 6-3, 260 pounds, he may become part of coach Jonson’s DE rotation early on.
Alex Williams may become a part of the D line unit as well but that’s up in the air at the moment. He is 6-7, 250 pounds, very athletic and could play multiple positions. His recruiting status has him ranked as a defensive end but he could play tight end or even bulk up to play defensive tackle.
I see him eventually being coached by Larry Johnson myself. Can you imagine a quarterback trying to throw the ball over this guy?
Next: Keita Bates-Diop not a top 25 player?
Urban Meyer will almost certainly bring in at least one more defensive end before the Ohio State recruiting class is finished. But even if he doesn’t, Larry Johnson has plenty of young talent to work with. And there isn’t a better coach in America to develop that talent.