Ohio State football: The next hidden gem lineman?

Billy Price. Thayer Munford. Dawand Jones. A unanimous All-American who won the Rimington Award for the nation’s top center. A first-team All-American. A third-team All-American. I’m sure you’re assuming they were all highly-rated members of the Ohio State football team’s recruiting class. Nope. Not even close. All three were hidden gems. Is Miles Walker the next hidden gem Buckeye lineman?

Walker committed to the Buckeyes on July 7th. He’s the number 38 offensive tackle in the country and the 463rd-ranked player overall according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. So, you’re probably wondering why Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye would want this guy from Connecticut. Walker has a very high ceiling and is only now beginning to tap into his potential.

To say Walker was not on the radar of many as late as May 1st is a bit of an understatement. He was not even ranked by 247Sports and had just a couple of offers. That all changed when his high school, Brunswick School, held a showcase day. Coaches liked what they saw and offers began to pile up. Justin Frye visited him later in the month and, after looking at his tape, extended an offer.

What are the Buckeyes getting in Walker? A player who is very capable of adding weight to his lanky 6’6” frame (he’s currently 285 pounds). He has the footwork that is needed to protect a quarterback and be an elite tackle. Oh, one other thing, he also has a mean streak.

I like lineman with a mean streak. While Price, Munford, and Jones all started early in their careers, the consensus is Walker will not see the field much, if at all, for OSU until he’s a redshirt sophomore. He is raw and considered a project, but with the type of physical skills he possesses, Walker will be worth the wait. I really will not be surprised to see him begin to push for a spot on the depth chart by the middle of his second season when he’ll be a redshirt freshman.

When 247Sports updates its player ratings, Walker is expected to make a considerable jump. He will most certainly move way up from his current 463 national ranking and, if it doesn’t happen in this round of updates, will be bumped to a four-star by the end of his senior season. While he is an excellent addition to the Buckeyes and helps fill an area of need in the 2023 class, there is still work to be done with offensive line recruiting.