Buckeyes Get A Haul

Today is National Signing Day...the first day that a high school senior can sign his National Letter of Intent (LOI) to play football for an NCAA program. Most players sign on this day, but some don't sign until after for various reasons.

Ohio State had one hell of a day!

The rankings per different sites:

Scout - #1
Rivals - #2
ESPN - #3

All three have us as the #1 class in the Big Ten.

So no matter where you look, we pulled in a top three class. We got a "surprise" LOI from safety Von Bell of Georgia, a player many felt was going to Tennessee. Ezekiel Elliott was a player some thought was going to Missouri, he stayed with his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes!

Here is a list of the players that signed Letters of Intent with the Ohio State Buckeyes today:

Mike Mitchell, RB 5*
Von Bell, S 5*
Joey Bosa, DE 5*
Jalin Marshall, WR 5*
 Marcus Baugh, TE 4*
Evan Lisle, OT 4*
Ezekiel Elliot, RB 4*
Dontre Wilson, RB 4*
Eli Apple, CB 4*
Cameron Burrows, CB 4*
J. T. Barrett, QB 4*
Gareon Conley, CB 4*
Michael Hill, DE 4*
Trey Johnson, OLB 4*
Jayme Thompson, S 4*
Billy Price, DT 4*
Donavon Munger, DT 4*
Tyquan Lewis, DE 4*
Darron Lee, S 4*
James Clark, WR 4*
Corey Smith, WR 4*
Tim Gardner, OG 3*
Tracy Sprinkle, DE 3*
Christopher Worley, OLB 3*

That is a crazy class!

It is also heavy on defense, and heavy on playmaker positions on offense.

Last year, even though the Buckeyes went undefeated, you could say their Achilles heel was the defense...especially at the beginning of the season. This class being brought in, on top of last year's amazing class on the defensive line, is going to bring depth on defense and keep guys fresh so nobody is out there sucking wind. The linebacking corps got a huge upgrade, seeing how that was our thinnest and weakest spot on the team last year. I am also absolutely LOVING the fact that Von Bell is going to be in the scarlet and gray....I have a feeling that this kid is going to be an absolute monster in the defensive backfield.

On offense, we've got speed. Lots of speed. Guys that can (and will) break games wide open for the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes are going to have quite a stable of running backs. Carlos Hyde is the unquestioned starter. We also have Rod Smith, Jordan Hall, Bri'onte Dunn, and Warren Ball. Add to that the guys that came into the fold today, and it's going to be interesting how the depth chart at running back shakes out. Will a few guys get red shirts? Will some other guys transfer if they feel they won't get playing time? When Urban Meyer came to Ohio State, he said that he wouldn't abandon the run game. I think this year's class helps back that statement up.

The running back I am really most intrigued by out of this class is Dontre Wilson. I think he's going to play a very exciting roll in the offense his freshman year. Think our version of what Percy Harvin did at Florida. He can lineup in the backfield, as the slot receiver, or out wide. He can take the hand off to the edge, catch the ball out of the backfield, catch it out of the slot, catch it out wide on a streak pattern down the sideline, take a reverse all the way, take a pitch in the option....it's really limitless to how he can be used.

Urban Meyer is bringing not just talent to the Buckeyes...but SEC type talent. He's remaking this team into an SEC team, purely dominating. And that's how you beat the SEC, match their talent.

Lots of coffee must have been served in Columbus today, because COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS! Ohio State closed today, and the talent brought in could bring amazing success to the Buckeyes. In Urban Meyer we trust!!!