Ohio State Football: 3 early signees who’ll have instant impacts in 2020
By Will Koger
As Ohio State football’s talented 2020 recruiting class appears to be finalized, which incoming freshmen are best positioned to contribute in 2020?
Ryan Day looks to continue the success on the national recruiting trail for Ohio State football that Urban Meyer began back in 2012, and if year one is any indication, he won’t have any issues with that task.
Day’s 2020 recruiting class ranks fifth in the country, which is also good for first in the Big Ten — besting Michigan by nearly 50 points in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
The Buckeyes have now received inked letters of intent from 25 members of the class as Cameron Martinez, four-star athlete from Michigan, reaffirmed his commitment to Ohio State on Jan. 28. Which of these 25 recruits could have an impact as a true freshman in 2020?
It’s often difficult at a place like Ohio State for a true freshman to crack the rotation and contribute. Michael Jordan started at offensive guard in 2016 out of necessity and elite five-star pass rushers along the lines of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Chase Young and Zach Harrison always figure heavily into the rotation.
In more recent years, freshmen receivers such as Chris Olave in 2018 and Garrett Wilson last season have been in the mix.
Oddly enough, there is only one defensive end in this 2020 class — the 750th national recruit Ty Hamilton out of Pickerington, Ohio — so the Buckeyes will have to lean on experience off the edge.
The only glaring position of need for Ohio State in 2020 is at cornerback. But cornerback is usually a position in which recruits need to sit and develop for at least one season — stud true freshmen like LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. are few and far between — so returnees like Cam Brown, Amir Riep and Sevyn Banks should be in line to play here.
There might not be a clear path for a true freshman to start for Ohio State in 2020, but the top three recruits in this class are far too talented to count out. Whether they win a job or not, they will certainly be on the field during meaningful snaps.
All recruiting information according to 247Sports.