Been awhile since I took a stab at my class. While I had them in my last prediction and a good deal of my list is copy and paste, looking good to land Gant soon and Blue looking like a strong lean here has me excited. In my eyes, keeping those two and Carman (or at least going 2-for-3) is absolutely crucial to this class. Without further ado:
QB: Emory Jones (best QB in the country, we are done at this position...he will stick here barring a disaster in '17)
RB: Brian Snead (early commit and nothing to suggest he won't stay solid...has to be comfortable with us taking at least one more RB though)
RB: Tavion Thomas (had Zamir White in my last prediction and while I have not given up hope there, I think he stays south now...would love Thomas in this class, he brings another element and has HUGE potential)
ATH/Pivot: Jalen Gill (had him in on my last list, glad to color him in red and make it official)
WR: Blue Smith (had him on my last list and maintain he will still be a Buckeye...he is focused on football now and I actually do see him at WR, at the very least a TE that flexes out a ton)
WR: Jahan Dotson (this one looks like it is starting to turn PSU's way quick and while I think we are still in it, looking less likely...hope I am wrong, just don't know who else to put here, but maybe we just take Babb/Smith if we see Gill playing more in the slot)
WR: Kamryn Babb (looking solid for Babb...still love his game, still have him in this class)
TE: Jeremy Ruckert (had him on my last list and I like our chances, but ttun made up a lot of ground...still like UFM to close this one out for the nation's best)
OL: Max Wray (total surprise and one that is EXTREMELY welcome...pair him up with Carman and we have two of the best tackles in the nation)
OL: Jackson Carman (despite the Clemson hype, I still would be shocked if Carman does not end up a Buckeye)
OL: Verdis Brown (had him on my last list, still do...quiet recruitment but we are the strong favorite...would be an excellent addition)
OL: Frederick Juice Scruggs (swap him in for Salyer...I think it is a matter of time on Juice if we have the spot open for him and Kradel)
OL: Jake Kradel (seems the staff wants him as our future center...also believe it is a matter of time if there is room for both him and Scruggs)
DE: Tyreke Smith (still like the Buckeyes in the end, but PSU made up ground...would hate to see him leave the state but I like our odds)
DE: Brenton Cox (had Leonard Taylor here but what a welcome addition Cox is to this class, would make a deadly rush-end opposite of Parsons...might still see Taylor if we miss on Smith or Hawkins, and/or see him at TE and have room)
DE: Micah Parsons (I think the Bucks are far and away in the lead right now...plenty of time to go, but I really expect Micah in this class)
DT: Taron Vincent (had him in last time and I reiterate, the BEST DT in the country and we finally get that "elite" DT)
DT: Matthew Jones (had him in our last class...still have him in somewhere, although I might lean towards him playing OL with the bigger need there imo)
DT: Aneas Hawkins (I still have him in this class and still like him to end up a 3-tech who can also slide outside...I think we get at least one of him or Smith, hopefully both)
LB: Dallas Gant (had him in my last list but am much more confident I get to color his name in red next week...huge to keep the top LB in-state)
LB: Chris Oats (really quiet recruitment but I think he ends up here)
LB: Michael Harris (I am dying to put Terjada Mitchell here in in Oats' spot, but I just think he ends up at FSU with the last visit there...hope I am wrong but people would be wrong to discount Harris, who is a huge stud who should shoot up the rankings fast)
DB: Jaiden Woodbey (had him on the last list and glad we landed him...top 5 DB in the country without a doubt in my mind that could play corner or safety)
DB: Josh Proctor (OK, did not have him in this class last time, but who did?...nonetheless, enormous get and love his game)
DB: Sevyn Banks (well, cleared up the DB picture after he and Proctor committed...lots of upside, excited to see his senior film)
DB: Anthony Cook (why not swing for the fence on the final DB and go for one of the nation's best...we are in good shape, but will be in a huge battle with LSU and Texas, but sitting well now...ND seemed to take over for Griffith as the favorite overnight but we had been the long time favorite and I think we can get back in if we really want him in this class...other national guys like Surtain, Tyreke Johnson, Tyson Campbell and Christian Tutt are longshots right now)
- That is 26 total and seems to be about in line with how many we take in this class. That would be a phenomenal class that would keep a great deal of the talent we want in-state, while also plucking top talent across the country.
