Ohio State Buckeyes 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Ohio State had a strange but successful season in 2020 as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on their schedule as they only played six regular-season games but it was still enough to propel them to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Buckeyes went into the playoffs with a 6-0 record with their best win coming against Northwestern in the conference championship game. In their semifinal battle against Clemson, Ohio State dominated on their way to a 49-28 victory to set up a date with Alabama. Unfortunately, the Crimson Tide blew out the Buckeyes (52-24) to win the title.
An appearance in the National Championship Game is just one factor that helps Ohio State continually lock up one of the top recruiting classes in the nation year after year, and 2021 is no different. Currently, head coach Ryan Day and his staff have locked up the nation’s No.2 class, behind Alabama, with talented prospects from all over the country.
During December’s early signing period, the Buckeyes received letters of intent from 21 prospects including the top player in Ohio, five-star defensive end, Jack Sawyer from Pickerington. They also locked up their quarterback of the future in five-star quarterback Kyle McCord from Philadelphia. McCord’s teammate and son of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison, four-star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., also signed with Ohio State.
Ohio State’s 2021 class has a mix of five five-stars, 13 four-stars, and three three-star players.
The Buckeyes are one of those programs that never rebuild but only reload their roster so they can make a run towards a national championship. It will be exciting to watch these young men blossom in Columbus over the coming years.
Ohio State’s Early Signees
DE Jack Sawyer, 6-5, 248, Pickerington North HS-Pickerington, OH
WR Emeka Egbuka, 6-1, 190, Steilacoom HS-Steilacoom, WA
OG Donovan Jackson, 6-5, 308, Episcopal HS-Bellaire, TX
RB TreVeyon Henderson, 5-11, 195, Hopewell HS-Hopewell, VA
QB Kyle McCord, 6-3, 215, St. Joseph’s Prep-Philadelphia, PA
CB Jakailin Johnson, 6-1, 175, De Smet Jesuit-St. Louis, MO
DT Mike Hall, 6-3, 290, Streetsboro HS-Streetsboro, OH
WR Jayden Ballard, 6-2, 175, Washington HS-Massillon, OH
CB Jordan Hancock, 6-1, 170, North Gwinnett HS-Suwanee, GA
APB Evan Pryor, 5-10, 190, William Amos Hough HS-Cornelius, NC
LB Reid Carrico, 6-3, 225, Ironton HS-Ironton, OH
WR Marvin Harrison Jr, 6-3, 190, St. Joseph’s Prep-Philadelphia, PA
OG Ben Christman, 6-6, 299, Revere HS-Richfield, OH
DT Tyleik Williams, 6-3, 330, Unity Reed HS-Manassas, VA
S Andre Turrentine, 6-0, 175, Ensworth HS-Nashville, TN
ATH Denzel Burke, 6-0, 189, Saguaro HS-Scottsdale, AZ
S Jantzen Dunn, 6-2, 178, South Warren HS-Bowling Green, KY
OT Zen Michalski, 6-6, 288, Floyd Central HS-Floyds Knobs, IN
TE Sam Hart, 6-5, 225, Cherokee Trail HS-Aurora, CO
S Jaylen Johnson, 6-1, 200, La Salle HS-Cincinnati, OH
P Jesse Mirco, 6-3, 200, ProKick Australia-Australia
Photo credit: CBS Sports; Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day