OSU earns high marks for class

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

When opposing recruiters brought up Ohio State’s bowl ban and other problems, new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer fought back.

“It was a two-week assault,” Meyer said after signing 25 players in what many experts have termed a class that is top-5 in the country. “But instead of waiting for that to come, we went after it. We were extremely pro-active.”

Despite a 2012 bowl ban, NCAA probation and recruiting limitations, the forced resignation of Jim Tressel and the most losses (seven) for the Buckeyes since 1897, Meyer’s first recruiting class was an unqualified success.

The headline-grabbing position was the defensive line where the Buckeyes locked up Adolphus Washington (6-foot-4, 230 pounds from Cincinnati), Noah Spence (6-4, 245 out of Harrisburg, Pa.) and Se’von Pittman (6-4, 260 from Canton McKinley.

“I call them the prize of the recruiting class,” said Meyer.

Spence ended up in Columbus despite verbally committing to Penn State — one of four Ohio State recruits who switched allegiance from the Nittany Lions — while Pittman initially indicated he would go to Michigan State. Two others started out by committing to Notre Dame and another to Wisconsin, yet all ended up teammates under Meyer.

“It’s always going to start up front,” said Luke Fickell, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and last year’s interim coach. “If you’re going to start a class, it’s up front, whether it’s on the offensive or defensive line. The excitement starts there.”

Those three signings got the attention of national recruiting observers.

“As with any class at this level, there is a lot to be excited about, but the defensive line stands out as being special,” said Scott Kennedy, director of scouting and recruiting for Scout.com.

Meyer also grabbed top running back prospect Bri’onte Dunn (Canton GlenOak) and offensive linemen Taylor Decker (6-8, 315) and Kyle Dodson (6-6, 310).

The Buckeyes didn’t get everybody they wanted, however. The player considered by some as the best in the state, offensive lineman Kyle Kalis of Lakewood St. Edward, withdrew his original commitment to Ohio State during the middle of the school’s NCAA problems and decided on rival Michigan.

In addition, Ohio State only signed one quarterback — former Cleveland Glenville signal-caller Cardale Jones, who spent last year at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. The new coaching staff will have just four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for the 2012 season, although one is Braxton Miller who started almost all of the 2011 season that finished 6-7.