Is this the most fascinating spring for the WRs in a decade?

I think it is, so I got some thoughts on it out of my brain along with a couple early quotes from Day on the depth of the position.

Feels like they somehow reset the room and still managed to get more playable depth this year. They lost some raw talent to transfer and a first round draft pick, but it feels like they have more guys that can contribute this year than last year.

HARDDRIVE said:

Feels like they somehow reset the room and still managed to get more playable depth this year. They lost some raw talent to transfer and a first round draft pick, but it feels like they have more guys that can contribute this year than last year.

It's going to be really interesting to see how it all comes together. Agree with you, does feel like this is a group that could be more equipped to going back to playing six guys in the rotation for the first time in a while.

AustinWard said:

I think it is, so I got some thoughts on it out of my brain along with a couple early quotes from Day on the depth of the position.

Really interesting perspective here

AustinWard said:

It's going to be really interesting to see how it all comes together. Agree with you, does feel like this is a group that could be more equipped to going back to playing six guys in the rotation for the first time in a while.

And it's a group that I think will get better as the season goes on and Julian becomes more comfortable in-game with the new pieces.

Agreed. Jeremiah is the last 1st guaranteed first rounder as it stands right now, so the annual 1st round WR chain may be broken. His development will be credited to BH rather than OSU. I don’t know if the transfers have more than one year of eligibility left, but if there is an OSU WR declaring for 2028, there’s gonna be a lot of pressure to maintain a 1st round grade. Otherwise, with all the hatred towards OSU from other fanbases you know the narrative will be that OSU has lost its touch after BH left, and it’s BH and not OSU who developed the WRs.

AustinWard said:

It's going to be really interesting to see how it all comes together. Agree with you, does feel like this is a group that could be more equipped to going back to playing six guys in the rotation for the first time in a while.

So basically the 2018 or 2019 WR room along with (probably at this point) the greatest WR and will be one of the greatest players in school history. I’ll take that.

Aesculus glabra said:

Agreed. Jeremiah is the last 1st guaranteed first rounder as it stands right now, so the annual 1st round WR chain may be broken. His development will be credited to BH rather than OSU. I don’t know if the transfers have more than one year of eligibility left, but if there is an OSU WR declaring for 2028, there’s gonna be a lot of pressure to maintain a 1st round grade. Otherwise, with all the hatred towards OSU from other fanbases you know the narrative will be that OSU has lost its touch after BH left, and it’s BH and not OSU who developed the WRs.

Who cares? There were years where we had a top 2 pick at QB throwing to two or three future first rounders at WR and it resulted in losing to Michigan and winning nothing. I personally wouldn't mind getting away from the position group being the identity of the offense and program

ardy93 said:

Who cares? There were years where we had a top 2 pick at QB throwing to two or three future first rounders at WR and it resulted in losing to Michigan and winning nothing. I personally wouldn't mind getting away from the position group being the identity of the offense and program

I care. The perception of being WRU makes it easier for our coaches to recruit the 4- and 5- stars, especially since we often cannot outbid Oregon, USC and Miami.

Aesculus glabra said:

I care. The perception of being WRU makes it easier for our coaches to recruit the 4- and 5- stars, especially since we often cannot outbid Oregon, USC and Miami.

Do you think these guys come and play here for pennies on the dollar? We have a $40M roster. And furthermore why do we NEED to be WRU?

ardy93 said:

Do you think these guys come and play here for pennies on the dollar? We have a $40M roster. And furthermore why do we NEED to be WRU?

Football is a team sport. Our inability to win against Michigan has nothing to do with the WRs. And we always need great WRs and great players on our team. I do not think that we are being cheap with the recruits but having a reputation of being able to develop first rounders will make them be more willing to take a discount. Countless WR prospects who have dozens of D1 offers have alluded to this.

STL_Buckeye said:

So basically the 2018 or 2019 WR room along with (probably at this point) the greatest WR and will be one of the greatest players in school history. I’ll take that.

Well, when you put it like that ... !

It's a really, really interesting room for a lot of reasons but the combination of new guys, the greatest WR in program history, a new coach and all the young, unproven players makes for just a terrific storyline to watch.

STL_Buckeye said:

So basically the 2018 or 2019 WR room along with (probably at this point) the greatest WR and will be one of the greatest players in school history. I’ll take that.

Which honestly, I would take over the 2022-2025 WR rooms Hartline had assuming we still have a dominant X WR. Like it's awesome to theoretically have 3 or 4 future first round WRs on the roster but if it's like 2023 or 2025 for example, where you basically only have two WRs you trust then your room actually isn't that good and just kind of limit the offense in some ways.

it’s pretty nice to have Jeremiah Smith

MickWalker said:

it’s pretty nice to have Jeremiah Smith

🐐

MickWalker said:

it’s pretty nice to have Jeremiah Smith

Fact check: true

MickWalker said:

it’s pretty nice to have Jeremiah Smith

Probably a decent place to start.

Billybob55443 said:

Outside of 2019 I feel like it should be. 2020-2025 the rooms had a ton of talent on paper but weren’t actually that deep

bucksncats said:

Outside of 2019 I feel like it should be. 2020-2025 the rooms had a ton of talent on paper but weren’t actually that deep

Brian wasn't one to rotate a lot so how deep they were will never really be known. JMHO

350zjk said:

Brian wasn't one to rotate a lot so how deep they were will never really be known. JMHO

Hartline recruited talent but wouldn't play them. Maybe they refused to block. As a great recruiter, one might expect Hartline to play/rotate 5-6 receivers....especially against the weaker opponents. I also expected the DC to blitz the LBs and stunt the DL more against the weaker teams.

bjaym99 said:

Hartline recruited talent but wouldn't play them. Maybe they refused to block. As a great recruiter, one might expect Hartline to play/rotate 5-6 receivers....especially against the weaker opponents. I also expected the DC to blitz the LBs and stunt the DL more against the weaker teams.

Good post, however hard to imagine a WR "refusing" to block under Hartline. He'd be gone in a heartbeat. lol

Great piece, Austin. A lot is going to ride on how quickly Julian can get on the "same page" with McCuin, Parker, CHJ and the rest. With Sayin going into his 2nd year as a starter, I like our chances.