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Ohio State Football: 2021 recruiting class is getting absurd

By Charlie Lockhart

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Cornerbacks Coach Kerry Coombs of the Ohio State Buckeyes huddles with his players during a game against the California Golden Bears at Ohio Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Cornerbacks Coach Kerry Coombs of the Ohio State Buckeyes huddles with his players during a game against the California Golden Bears at Ohio Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

When Urban Meyer stepped down as head coach of the Ohio State football team recruiting had to take a hit, right? Not hardly.

Ryan Day obviously learned from the master Urban Meyer and set out to reload his Ohio State football team with his first recruiting class and certainly brought in plenty of talent. The 2020 class finished No. 5 in the 247Sports Composite.

Now coach Day’s 2021 class is simply absurd.

When Tunmise committed to play for the Buckeyes recently it gave the head coach 16 players. It increased Ohio State’s No. 1 ranked 2021 class’s lead over Clemson 289.96 to 220,73.

Dabo Swinney has a terrific class going and has a slight player average lead, 95.55 vs. 95.52. However, the Tigers’ head coach only has 10 commits so far, 6 ranked in the top 100 and 7 in the top 150. Coach Day has 11 players ranked in the top 100 and 13 among the first 135.

What may be even more impressive is how different units are filling up. Let’s first take a look at the defensive players beginning with the linemen.

  • Jack Sawyer:  No. 3 SDE in the 247Sports Composite, (No. 3 overall recruit)
  • Tunmise Adeleye:  No. 4 SDE, (41)
  • Mike Hall:  No. 7 DT, (92)

Don’t you think Larry Johnson will have fun working with these three players? From the things I have read there could be at least one more outstanding defensive lineman joining this group.

Now for the defensive backs.

During his first stint at Ohio State Kerry Coombs was the cornerbacks coach but now he will be working with safeties as well. I wrote previously that coach Coombs hit the ground rolling and with these DBs you will see what I mean.

  • Jakallin Johnson:  No. 4 CB, (58)
  • Andre Turrentine:  No. 5 S, (135)
  • Jaylen Johnson:  No. 19 S, (349)
  • Devonta Smith:  No. 30 CB, (404)

The last two DBs are teammates at Lasalle High School in Cincinnati. No coach in America knows more about the outstanding football played in the Cincinnati area than Kerry Coombs as he coached high school ball there for many years. Forget rankings here, the DB coach sees a ton of potential with these two and I’ll trust his judgement over recruiting analysts.

Now a look at the last defensive player committed to the class.

  • Reid Carrico:  No. 2 ILB, (72)

They play hard-nosed football in the Ironton, Ohio area so I’m anxious to see this guy fly around chasing ball carriers. Expect at least one or two more linebackers coming on board because the Buckeyes will be losing three to graduation following the 2020 season.

Now let’s look at the other side of the ball.

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