Take Two returns with another offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
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THE STORYLINE
Ohio State has absolutely dominated the Big Ten recruiting rankings in the last decade, crushing its opponents and making it a rarity that the Buckeyes did not end up on top in the conference.
The numbers are striking: Ohio State has finished atop the Big Ten team recruiting rankings every year since 2011 and hasn't finished No. 1 only once since 2008. That’s a decade of complete dominance that has also played out that way on the field.
Former coach Urban Meyer basically landed five-star after five-star, the snowball effect took hold and the Buckeyes were the kings of the Big Ten.
This 2019 recruiting class is different, though. First, it was expected to be a smaller class. And second, it’s a transition year from Meyer to first-year coach Ryan Day, and those classes are always down a little bit.
But Ohio State currently finds itself fourth in the Big Ten rankings behind Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska. If the Buckeyes finish in that spot, it would be their worst finish since 2003, when they ended up sixth in the Big Ten.
Is there anything at all to worry about at Ohio State? Or was this one hiccup in a long run of dominance, and the Buckeyes will be back to normal in the 2020 class?
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FIRST TAKE: MARC GIVLER, BUCKEYEGROVE.COM
“This was always going to be a smaller class for Ohio State. It just was never going to be one of those 25-man classes. However, it probably is going to end up being a little bit on the smaller end of what was expected. After losing Jordan Battle and Dwan Mathis late, the Buckeyes likely aren't going to address those losses with additions in the 2019 class, especially after defensive back Damon Arnette announced a surprise return for a fifth season.
"Overall, the average ranking of the players in this class is still very strong, but between a generally small class from the jump and transition from Urban Meyer to Ryan Day, this will be one of the smaller OSU classes in recent memory.
"The Buckeyes will probably try to add another player or two, in addition to trying to keep Doug Nester in the fold, but it looks like Day and company are content to not push the envelope with such a strong 2020 class nationally on the horizon.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“It’s a transition class and transition classes are usually lower than your regular classes. You have a transition going on here. When Urban Meyer took over for Ron Zook at Florida his transition class wasn’t great. When he took over at Ohio State, his transition class was very good, but not great.
“Anytime you have a transition like that you will have a fall from average. We’ll see what 2020 brings. I wouldn’t worry about Ohio State at all when it comes to talent. Ryan Day will end up getting them in the top five and back to the top of the Big Ten. If it’s not this year it will be next year.”
