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COLUMBUS, Ohio – We tend to throw away these terms casually as Ohio State football continues to recruit classes to compete with those in the country.
The No. 1 rookie in the 2022 class. The No. 1 running back in 2021. The No. 1 wide receiver in three consecutive classes and counting.
By jumping into the virtual time machine and jumping three years into the future, you get a new perspective on what the Buckeyes have been up to and where they’re headed.
Wednesday’s episode of Buckeye Talk (link below) explored Ohio State’s planned offensive and defensive starting lineup for the 2023 season. Eligible players included freshmen and sophomores and the players we expect the Buckeyes to sign for 2022. In this case, that includes some players who are not yet signed.
I did my best to guess how things might turn out, and Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means told me where they think I was wrong. (Specifically, they made a commitment to come back in 2023 and laugh at me for any mistakes.)
Here are my 22 starters, as well as their projected class at the start of the 2023 season:
Defense
DEFENSIVE END
• Jack Sawyer (Jr.)
• JT Tuimoloau (Jr.)
Sawyer is already signed, sealed and delivered as one of the star members of the 2021 freshman class. He could have a rotating role as early as this fall. Tuimoloau remains without commitment and does not expect to make a decision until April. Adding it, however, could give the Buckeyes the best passing run in the country if both players develop as expected in those early years.
DEFENSIVE TACLE
• Mike Hall (Jr.)
• Tyleik Williams (Jr.)
In a freshman class with so many other talented prospects, Hall may be the one slipping through the cracks a bit. That could change quickly, as the state of Ohio could benefit from its aid as early as this fall. It should smoothly follow the line of 3 techniques that recently went from Jashon Cornell to Haskell Garrett.
Options are less plentiful on the nose, where Williams’ large body is a natural fit. If any of the current young Buckeyes can develop, there could be a path to a big role in a year or two. Not to mention the need for immediate help after Tommy Togiai leaves the NFL.
LINEBACKER
• Willpower: Gabe Powers (Soph.)
• Mike: Reid Carrico (Jr.)
• Sam: Kourt Williams (Jr.-RS)
Between classes 2021 and 22, the Buckeyes bring in at least four top 100 linebackers, if current commitments follow. Some seem locked into their future positions. Carrico possesses the physicality and demeanor of a prototypical center linebacker. The powers’ ability to chase ball bearers from the sideline to the sideline should follow perfectly in Pete Werner’s mold.
The big question is, what will the attitude of the state of Ohio be towards the lone outside linebacker in 2023? I don’t even know for sure that Williams will be linebacker at this point. But I know he was recruited with that hybrid future in mind, and I know one of his best assets will be his leadership, which Buckeye’s coaches will likely want on the pitch as much as possible.
REAR CORNER
• Away: Jordan Hancock (Jr.), Jakailin Johnson (Jr.)
• Slot machine: Cameron Martinez (Jr.-RS)
I took a somewhat wild impetus for players like Lathan Ransom and Ryan Watts to take over Ohio State’s earlier tradition of transferring their top cornerbacks to the NFL after three years. The shortened COVID-19 season, however, reverses that trajectory somewhat. The two may still be there and locked down as alleged starters in 2023.
Either way, this season should feature a nice collision between the already developing cornerbacks under Kerry Coombs and the top prospects on the way. Hancock and Johnson are both among the top 100 prospects who would end up in true veteran status. We haven’t seen much of Martinez in 2020, but his size and tenacity should play well in the slots.
FREE SECURITY
• Jantzen Dunn (Jr.)
The state of Ohio needs someone to start reminding people of Jordan Fuller’s 2019 version – long enough to cover the background alone but reliable as a tackler. Dunn has that potential, but safety will also be a priority in the recruiting class of 2022.
Offense
STRATEGIST
• Quinn Ewers (Soph.)
Who wins when you start racking up five-star quarterbacks in each class? Well, not all five stars are created equal. Could it be awkward if a comeback starter isn’t ready to move on to the NFL when Ewers is ready to take over? Sure, but we have to assume Ryan Day factored that into the calculations.
RETURN
• TreVeyon Henderson (Jr.)
What is the baseline expectation for Ohio State fans of what Henderson will produce by his third year? Keep in mind that JK Dobbins ran over 2,000 yards as a junior and would have been a Heisman Trophy finalist for many years. These are the standards Henderson may begin to seek this fall.
WIDE RECEIVER
• Julian Fleming (Sr.)
• Emeka Egbuka (Jr.)
• Caleb Burton (Soph.)
This assumes Jaxon Smith-Njigba capitalizes on the momentum from the start of last season and bumps his NFL after third year, unlike Fleming. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson’s part in the offense will likely prevent many more receivers from breaking out in 2021, which can mean at least a four-year treaty, even for someone as talented as Fleming.
If that projection holds true, it would mean Ohio State entered 2023 with a quarterback, running back and three receivers ranked No.1 in those positions in their respective recruiting classes. I am not looking but it must be unprecedented. Even though Fleming has turned a pro by then, the Buckeyes have a long list of other elite targets to hook up.
TIGHT END
• Benji Gosnell (Soph.)
The state of Ohio will have older ends on the list at this point, like Sam Hart and Cade Stover. I think Gosnell might be the more complete option, though, and the one that most reminds us of what Luke Farrell has given to the Buckeyes in recent seasons. It could still be a strong committee approach, and we have proof that Day is willing to get creative with the number of tight ends he puts on the court.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Left tackle: Zach Rice (Fr.-RS)
• Left guard: Donovan Jackson (Soph-RS.)
• Center: Luke Wypler (Jr.-RS)
• Right guard: Enokk Vimahi (Sr-RS)
• Right tackle: Tegra Tschabola (Fr.-RS)
Nothing has ever gone as planned on the offensive line so far. Players such as Dawand Jones and Harry Miller could still be on the roster thanks to the free year of COVID-19-related eligibility in 2020. Tschabola could end up in custody depending on his growth and development and what the Buckeyes need in any given year.
The most difficult projection is the left tackle. Regardless of where he plays in 2021, we have no reason to believe Paris Johnson Jr. has gone from a three-year run to the pros. Rice looks to be the best tackle prospect of 2022 with the best chance of ending up in Columbus. Either way, it looks like the 2023 response to either tackle site isn’t currently on the roster, which is why this position is such a priority in the current recruiting cycle. from OSU.
If you’ve never listened to Buckeye Talk, give it a try now. And subscribe to Buckeye Talk on any of these podcast platforms or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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