Ohio State Football: Will 2018 class meet 2013 class standards?
In just their second year in the program, players from the 2013 recruiting class were instrumental in the Ohio State football team winning a national title.
January 4, 2014. I remember the morning like it was yesterday. I was still a little shocked the day after watching the Ohio State football team suffer a 40-35 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl in which the defense surrendered 576 yards.
Sammy Watkins had 227 receiving yards and two touchdowns, arguably the single greatest performance against a Buckeyes’ defense ever.
Tajh Boyd, once an Ohio State recruit, threw for 378 yards and five touchdowns.
After winning his first 24 games, Urban Meyer lost the last two of the 2013 season largely due to an ineffective defense that needed an overhaul.
Meyer hired Chris Ash to revamp the defense. The move worked as the Buckeyes won the first College Football Playoff the following season.
After suffering through a season that saw the defense give up 25.5 points-per game, Ryan Day had to make changes on the defensive side of the ball when he took over the program in December.
Will hiring Greg Mattison, Al Washington, Jeff Hafley and Matt Barnes payoff the way Ash did? There are reasons to be optimistic.
The comparison begins with recruiting classes, specifically the sophomore class.
In 2013, Meyer landed the No. 2 ranked class in the nation. The headliners that would impact the 2014 season were Vonn Bell, Joey Bosa, Darron Lee, Eli Apple, Billy Price, Ezekiel Elliott, J.T. Barrett and Jalin Marshall.
Dontre Wilson, Tyquan Lewis, Trace Sprinkle, Gareon Conley, Michael Hill and Chris Worley were also part of that class.
The 2018 class also finished as the No. 2 ranked class. If Justin Fields is included it is probably No. 1.
We don’t know the impact this group will have yet. However, the potential stars outside of Fields includes Chris Olave, Tommy Togai, Teradja Mitchell, Taron Vincent, Tyreke Johnson, Tyler Friday, Josh Proctor, Tyreke Smith, J. Jean Baptiste, Master Teague and Nick Petit-Frere.
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Both classes were loaded with elite defensive talent. The defensive line returns Chase Young, Robert Landers and Jonathan Cooper, but Larry Johnson rotates two full lines so Togai, Smith, Friday and Vincent will have their opportunities to shine.
Most critical will be the emergence of Proctor and Mitchell. The 2018 defense yielded far too many long plays. If both players live up to or exceed their potential, the defense will make huge strides in 2019.
The glue will be chemistry. The 2014 defense was not spectacular in the beginning of the season, but its dominance solidified in November and remained through the playoff.
That’s the challenge the new coaches have. Can they get this group to buy into their philosophy, share a common vision, play as one unit and become a defense that compares favorably to historical standards?
Next. Brown won’t be best WR traded, a Buckeye was. dark
Chris Ash did it. I suspect the new coaches will too.