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Ohio State Football: Proof in-state recruits are undervalued

By Charlie Lockhart

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Darron Lee #43 celebrates teammate Steve Miller #88 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after scoring a 41 yard interception return from Blake Sims #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the third quarter during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Darron Lee #43 celebrates teammate Steve Miller #88 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after scoring a 41 yard interception return from Blake Sims #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the third quarter during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day realizes in-state recruits are often undervalued and has seven in his 2020 class already.

Don’t be concerned that five of the seven in-state recruits in the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class are rated as three-stars. Players who play their high school in the Buckeye State are often undervalued by “recruiting experts”.

You can see that every Saturday by watching former Ohio high school recruits making plays all over the place during Big Ten games, and many were ranked as three-stars. But being a stats guy I always want to see if the numbers back up my assumptions.

I think these facts will prove I’m correct.

First let’s look at Ohio and Georgia recruits. Both states are widely considered as hotbeds of high school talent and are similar in size as far as population. With it being estimated Ohio has just over a million more residents than Georgia the number of highly ranked recruits should be about the same right?

Not hardly.

7 players in Georgia are listed as five-star recruits, 33 as four-stars and 195 as three-stars. There is only 1 recruit in Ohio rated a five-star recruit, 12 are four-stars and there are 87 three-star recruits.

How is that disparity even possible when both are considered football states?

Need more evidence Ohio recruits are undervalued by recruiting services? Let’s look at a guy who should know about the outstanding high school football played in Ohio.

Mark Dantonio played his high school ball in Zanesville, was the Ohio State defensive coordinator on the 2002 National Championship team and was head coach at Cincinnati before moving on to Michigan State. .

He has built his MSU program in large part by raiding the Buckeye State for recruits. He landed 52 during the Urban era and had plenty of success during that time.

The Spartans were 66-28, won two Big Ten Championships, finished in the top 10 twice, in the top 20 six times and had one CFP appearance.

Now let’s take a look at three-star Ohio recruits who had or are having success during their Ohio State careers since 2012. Remember, some of these guys were recruited by Luke Fickell who is building his Cincinnati football team by finding in-state gems.

More from Ohio State Football

2012 Recruiting class

  • Tyvis Powell:  No. 37 ATH
  • Jacoby Boren:  No. 3 OG
  • Cardale Jones:  No. 1 Pro Style QB but that was after spending a year at Fork Union Academy. He was still rated as a three-star recruit.
  • Pat Elflein:  No. 55 OG

2013 Class

  • Chris Worley:  No. 29 ATH
  • Darron Lee:  No. 42 ATH
  • Tracy Sprinkle:  No. 31 SDE

2015 Class

  • Robert Landers:  No. 28 DT
  • Rashod Berry:  No. 35 WDE
  • Davon Hamilton:  No. 63 DT
  • Liam McCullough:  No. 1 LS but rated a two-star

2016 Class

  • Gavin Cupp:  No. 42 OT
  • Malik Harrison:  No. 49 ATH
  • Drue Chrisman:  No. 1 P

2017 Class

  • Blake Haubell:  No. 4 K

These undervalued Ohio recruits turned out to be pretty good didn’t they. Many became stars.

While recruiting services continue to undervalue Ohio recruits don’t expect coaches to do so, especially those in the midwest. They will continue to raid the Buckeye State for outstanding players.

dark. Next. Buckeyes have 4th toughest schedule in the Big Ten

It appears coach Day fully understands the quality of football played in Ohio on Friday nights in the fall, and wants to keep some of that talent staying home to play on Saturdays in “The Shoe”. Regardless of their star rankings.

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