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A state's fears in Ohio of a quarterback unfavorable scenario – and the hopes associated with it for the playoffs – lasted 10 days.
Some chance availability helped. But what Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was able to fix, in addition to occupying a big hole in the most important position, was just remarkable.
The state of Ohio knew it would take a beating when it called on former five-star star Justin Fields, but the situation was about as bad as possible. With Dwayne Haskins at the NFL, Tate Martell was transferred to Miami, Florida after the Buckeyes brought Fields. The addition of Fields, which took place in January, also helped to overtake Dwan Mathis, the 2019 pledge, who traveled to Georgia early in the signing period. What was really unexpected happened when Matthew Baldwin announced his transfer on April 18th. Suddenly, the closet of the Ohio State collapsed.
State of Ohio 2019 QB, as of December 18
Jr. Dwayne Haskins
So. Tate Martell
R-Fr. Matthew Baldwin
5th Sr. Chris Chugunov
So. Danny Vanatsky (on foot)
Dwan Mathis 4 stars (engaged)
State of Ohio 2019 QB, as of April 18
So. Justin Fields
5th Sr. Chris Chugunov
So. Danny Vanatsky (on foot)
It's … undesirable to say the least.
Ohio State suddenly lost Matthew Baldwin to the transfer gate after spring camp. (Birm / Lettermen Row)
Although one was more immediate, the problems were twofold. The first and most important, of course, is that Chris Chugunov was just an incident on the verge of becoming the starting quarterback of the Ohio State. Without being disrespectful, since he played in a few games for West Virginia, any reasonable person would admit that when he was transferring, it was never intended for him to end up so close to the top.
Finding someone more capable would require a graduate transfer capable of giving depth. Clearly, it is not an easy task when the starter is so perceived as immutable that two players and a rookie are gone – especially since graduate transfers usually seek to play.
Beyond that, however, transfers crazed the future depth. In addition to the obvious departure of Dwayne Haskins to the NFL, the state of Ohio lost its class signatories for 2017 (Martell) and 2018 (Baldwin) and never signed a contract starting in 2019 (Mathis) because he had reversed the first day of the early signature. period. The Buckeyes needed someone – no matter who – to help bridge the gap there, especially with Chugunov completed after this fall and Vanatsky retaining door-to-door status. So, yes, things were not going too well for Day and Ohio State.
Ten days later, everything is fine. Saturday night, the state of Ohio has landed an ideal position to support quarterback Gunnar Hoak of Kentucky in Kentucky, a transfer of graduates with two years left. Hoak played high school football for Dublin Coffman, and his family has a lot of relationships with Buckeye. Hoak's father (Frank) and his uncle (Fred Pagac) both played for the Buckeyes, and Pagac was also an assistant coach.
"Since I was born at the OSU Hospital, some aspects of my life have been scarlet and gray," Hoak said. statement posted on Twitter. "I heard my dad's football stories with the coach [Earle] Bruce, I saw my uncle coach play many Buckeye games in The Shoe and watch my cousin win a national championship. And while I won so much during my stay in Lexington, I could not let the opportunity to continue a family legacy. "
A night before, Ohio State had solved the problem of its total absence of young players. JP Andrade, a 3-star California prospect, visited the Buckeyes as a favorite after two visits in April. As he was late, Andrade's only scholarship offers came from programs in South Alabama and FCS, Morehead State and Fordham. He waited for the early signature period and the national signature day until something else materialized, and he and the Buckeyes were able to solve each of their problems.
Ohio State will probably start the season with Justin Fields as starting for the Buckeyes. (Birm / Lettermen Row)
Now, one thing is right to admit. It worked out well that a strong Columbus native with family ties to Ohio State found himself on the transfer portal. It's not bad either that the 3-star quarter-star chose not to settle in a school where he did not want to be and expects something better.
But having said that, none of these additions was a certainty. Gunnar Hoak is a good enough player to limit damage if anything happened in Fields. He did not play Kentucky. It is quite clear that he will not be the starter at Ohio State, even though Day will hold a legitimate competition in the training camp.
Convince a player who transfers because it's a backup choose another school where he is still more likely to be a backup is easier said than done. Ohio State is of course a better option than Kentucky, with equal playing time. But playing time does not have to be equal. It was not his only two choices. So, credit to Day for successfully attracting someone who could have followed an easier path to the field and eventually increased his chances of extending his playing career.
The same goes for Andrade. Yes, it's a chance for the Ohio State that a reasonably talented (though crude) quarterback is available in April, nearly three months after National Signing Day. It probably does not happen very often. And yes, Ohio State is a great program that can change the life of a player. But Day needed to do this without affecting the status of scholarships, and it's never easy to ask someone to pay the bill to serve as a replacement across the country.
Is Ohio State better than if Martell and Baldwin had not left? Of course not. But that's the price you pay as a program when you recruit elite talent with a lot of eligibility and you install it as a de facto starter. However, it is important to remember how much worse it could have been.
Without these players, Ohio State was looking at an incredibly thin depth chart. Now coaches, players and fans can sleep well at night knowing that the Buckeyes have a solid base and a member of the 2019 class that gives the team a solid young player who can grow without losing a bourse.
This seems to be a masterful solution given the time and circumstances, and it only took Ryan Day 10 days to go from a nightmare to a peaceful sleep.
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