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Ohio State Recruiting Haul a Consensus Top 5 Class

Buckeyes' incoming recruits strongest at defensive back, wide receiver
Bruce Hooley|
Ohio State Recruiting Haul a Consensus Top 5 Class
Ohio State Recruiting Haul a Consensus Top 5 Class

Not every bride fears being left at the altar on her wedding day, but almost every one is surprised to look at the guest book after the reception and find someone they thought sure would attend didn't show up.

In that regard, football coaches are a lot like brides, particularly tomorrow on the first day of the three-day national signing period.

Ohio State's Ryan Day won't get left at the altar.

He has parlayed the Buckeyes' 13-0 season and trip to the College Football Playoff into a consensus Top 5 class.

Here are the players who have signed with OSU so far on the first of the three-day December signing period:

  • Four-star quarterback C.J. Stroud.
  • Three-star offensive guard. Jakob James
  • Three-star offensive tackle Trey Leroux
  • Four-star cornerback Lejond Cavazos
  • Four-star defensive tackle Jacolbe Cowan
  • Five-star receiver Julian Fleming
  • Five-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
  • Four-star linebacker Cody Simon
  • Tree-star offensive tackle Grant Toutant
  • Four-star center Luke Wypler
  • Three-star tight end Joe Royer
  • Three-star defensive tackle Ty Hamilton
  • Three-star linebacker Mitchell Melton
  • Three-star kicker Jake Seibert
  • Three-star running back Miyan Williams
  • Three-star offensive guard Josh Fryar
  • Four-star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
  • Four-star receiver Mookie Cooper
  • Four-star defensive tackle Darrion Henry-Young
  • Four-star safety Lathan Ransom
  • Four-star cornerback Ryan Watts III
  • Four-star quarterback Jack Miller
  • Four-star receiver Gee Scott Jr.

Day may have a player or two who surprises him by going back on their commitment in coming days, and if that's cornerback Clark Phillips, it will be attributed to co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley taking the head coaching job at Boston College on Sunday.

Ideally, that word would have remained secret for a week, but Ohio State's ideal world is not Boston College's utopia.

Hafley needed to worry more about his future players than his current ones, as did BC, and so his arrival needed to be maximized.

OSU just hopes his departure will be minimized, and that appears to have happened in the early hours of Signing Day.

Cavazos, Ransom and Watts all followed through on their pledges since Hafley's departure to sign with OSU.

Phillips will announce his decision on Thursday.

So Day's lack of angst over the situation, expressed on Monday, proved true:

“I talk to those guys every day for the most part," Day said. "The response has been good. It's been great. Certainly they're disappointed that they're not going to get coached by Jeff, but they're excited to sign. They've been great. It's been really positive.

"They understand this is an unbelievable program that's on the rise. We have a great defensive system. There's great opportunity in the back end next year. Guys are going to be coming in with an opportunity to play."

OSU is certain to lose three-fourths of its secondary unless All-American junior Jeff Okudah turns his back on a certain first-round selection, likely in the top half of the round.

Slot corner Shaun Wade is likely a first- or second-rounder and, although just a sophomore, can also leave OSU because he redshirted in 2017.

Seniors Damon Arnette and Jordan Fuller are definitely gone.

Phillips is an SI.com All-American who recently visited Utah and is the likeliest to bolt from the Buckeyes' grasp.

"They're excited to be here," said Day of his new defensive backfield talent, which he could not name before they signed. "They'll find out who is going to coach them. They will in time. I promised them I'm going to give them the best situation possible to make sure they can reach their dreams and goals.

"That's the whole idea, they committed to me as the head coach, to Ohio State. They understand that. That's been the response.”

Ohio State's class received a late-day dose of adrenaline when four-star quarterback C.J. Stroud, who also considered USC, Michigan, Georgia and Oregon, chose Ohio State.

Stroud's decision means Day has restocked the quarterback room with elite talent behind starter Justin Fields, who is likely to leave OSU for the NFL after next season.

That sets up a battle for Ohio State's starting quarterback in the spring of 2021 between Stroud and Miller, of Scottsdale (Az.) Chaparral, the other quarterback in this class.

"We have to make sure that that quarterback room is solidified moving forward," Day said.

For the latest on Ohio State football follow Sports Illustrated Buckeye Maven on Facebook and @BuckeyeMaven on Twitter

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Bruce Hooley
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