Ohio State Recruiting: What does signing No. 2 class mean for Buckeyes?
Another outstanding Ohio State recruiting class.
Ohio State just finished another stellar recruiting cycle by signing the No. 2 ranked class for the second year in a row.
The last-minute additions of Nicholas Petit-Frere, the No. 1 offensive tackle and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, the No. 16 linebacker, solidified a class already considered by some as Urban Meyer’s best.
The defensive line recruits certainly stand out, but that is hardly surprising given Larry Johnson’s status as the best defensive line coach in the country.
One can only imagine if the recruiting debacle with Micah Parsons did not happen. Johnson would have the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 1 defensive tackle.
Regardless, snagging Taron Vincent and Tommy Togiai along with Antwuan Jackson,Jr., Tyreke Smith and Alex Williams gives Johnson another crop of elite guys to mold into the next Rushmen.
Equally notable is signing another incredible offensive line class. Coupled with last year’s group, Meyer has his trenches locked up for the next three seasons.
What does all this mean?
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Some say not much as these are high school athletes that have proven nothing yet.
That’s true, but the one shared feature among the recent national champions is having consistent Top Five recruiting classes.
I would say the rich just got richer today.
For Ohio State, I think it means it is time for Meyer to win a couple more national championships.
By comparison, there is not a team on the Buckeyes’ regular season schedule the next two seasons that has the same level of talent.
The chart below shows each team’s recruiting ranking over the last four years according to 247 Sports.
| Year | Ohio State | Penn State | Michigan | Michigan State | TCU | Wisconsin |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 32 | 25 | 44 |
| 2017 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 36 | 28 | 39 |
| 2016 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 35 |
| 2015 | 7 | 14 | 37 | 23 | 39 | 41 |
Talent is not the only factor for winning. Coaching is just as important.
With Greg Schiano staying, at least this season, along with Johnson, Kevin Wilson, Ryan Day, Alex Grinch, Tony Alford, Mickey Marotti and the others, is there a better staff top to bottom than Ohio State right now?
Next: Bates-Diop lifts No. 14 Buckeyes over No. 3 Purdue
I believe it is the best and that is why anything less than a national championship next year will be a failure.