Ohio State Football: Best three-star players since 2012
For years the Ohio State football team has been loaded with four star recruits. Some who didn’t reach that status were outstanding players though.
Recruiting is a coveted discipline in the Ohio State football program. Urban Meyer’s classes were generally top five or better every year and what Ryan Day is doing is nothing short of spectacular.
There has been an abundance of four and five-star players since 2012 who for the most part delivered on their potential and had productive college careers. What about the three-star athletes?
Ohio State has had plenty of these guys too. They often come in unheralded with a chip on their shoulders.
Not all of them make it, but the ones that do tend to shine. Let’s give some of them their spotlight they deserve.
Using 247sports.com as the rating service, here are the three best three-star recruits since 2012:
Darron Lee
Lee played multiple spots and sports in high school which is a consistent trait for the players on this list.
What Lee lacked in size, he made up for in athleticism and speed. His ability to make plays in space gave him considerable advantages against the run and pass.
He started 28 games in 2014 and 2015 finishing with 146 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions. Oddly, Lee didn’t earn many awards, but everyone knows what he meant to the team over those two seasons.
The linebacker was selected No. 20 in the 2016 NFL Draft by the N.Y. Jets.
Malik Hooker
Hooker only played two years of high school football. He was a raw athlete that excelled first on special teams and then flourished once he took over at free safety.
He reminded me of Chris Gamble. I have to think Hooker could have played offense too if needed.
Buckeye Nation got its first glimpse of his abilities in the 2016 spring game when he picked off J.T. Barrett and returned it 82 yards for the touchdown.
During the 2016 season, Hooker had 74 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks and seven interceptions earning him First-Team All-America honors. He was feared by opposing quarterbacks.
Hooker was drafted No. 15 in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Pat Elflein
Elflein defines what it means to be an Ohio State football player. Smart, tough and a ferocious competitor.
He was already a two-time, All-Big Ten guard before he was asked to slide over to center after Jacoby Boren graduated. All he did was go on to win the Rimington Trophy as the college football’s best center, and like Hooker was a First Team All-American.
Next. Buckeyes in NFL Mock Draft No. 4. dark
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Elflein in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has started 42 games so far in his career.