Ohio State could have record group of early-enrollees in 2020 class

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Ohio State Recruiting Question of the Day

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A week ago, Ryan Day mentioned the pickle he and his assistant coaches found themselves in on the recruiting trail because of the Big Ten championship game and the loss of key dates other schools were using for visits with top prospects.

“Certainly it’s a challenge because we have so many midyear guys coming in and only one week on the road, really only four days,” Day said. “It’s going to be a bear to try to get out there and see everybody, get all that done.

“[Ohio State director of player personnel] Mark Pantoni is working hard on it, trying to get all the plans to go to make sure we maximize all the time. Other events going on during that week. It will be a race.”

Day didn’t and really couldn’t specify exactly which of the Buckeyes 25 verbal commitments in the Class of 2020 are expected to arrive on campus in January. But Lettermen Row has had a few months to get this information together and has compiled who we’re expecting to join the Ohio State program in just about four weeks.

Jack Miller is coming to Ohio State in January

Ohio State’s long-time quarterback commitment Jack Miller will enroll early with the program. With only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster following this season, it’s a big boost for the Buckeyes to have the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Miller starting his career as soon as possible.

All four Ohio State receiver commitments will enroll early

The Buckeyes are expecting their star-studded receivers haul to arrive in January. Julian Fleming, Gee Scott, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mookie Cooper have each been committed for a while now. Cooper verballed in July, and he’s the most recent one in the group. They all have remained steadfast in their pledge to Ohio State and Brian Hartline.

With K.J. Hill, Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor and C.J. Saunders all moving on, it was imperative for the Buckeyes to get a group that includes three of the country’s top five wideouts on campus early. They all will be.

Paris Johnson, Luke Wypler will start Ohio State careers early

With six offensive line commitments in 2020 and the possibility of losing all five starters from the current team, it was reasonable to expect the Buckeyes would push for a few guys to make their way to town early. Fortunately for Ryan Day and Greg Studrawa, the two highest-ranked members of the offensive line haul are doing just that.

5-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson and 4-star interior lineman Luke Wypler, the top-ranked center in America, will start their college careers next month. Trey Leroux, a tackle prospect from Norwalk, Ohio, will do the same.

Ohio State defensive line will get big early boost

The Buckeyes have only three defensive linemen committed to this point in the Class of 2020, and two of them will be in town next month getting a headstart on college.

North Carolina defensive end Jacolbe Cowan and his counterpart, Darrion Henry from Cincinnati Princeton High School, will enroll early. Ty Hamilton had considered doing the same, but he will no longer do that and instead arrive in June.

Defensive back seven will be reloaded in Columbus

With five commitments in the secondary along with Bullet prospect Kourt Williams, the Buckeyes are going to be reloading on defense next year with the back half of the defense being a priority.

That means it’s imperative for Kourt Williams, Lejond Cavazos, Clark Phillips, Ryan Watts to make an impact early for Ohio State. So, it’s good news for Day that those three defensive backs — and the hybrid Williams — are planning to begin their Buckeyes careers when January starts.

Ohio State could land one more early enrollee

There is just over a week until the early signing period begins, and Ohio State still hopes to land 4-star quarterback C.J. Stroud. After taking an official visit to Michigan last weekend, Stroud is expected to make an official visit to Columbus this weekend and then make a college decision shortly thereafter.

If he picks the Buckeyes, Stroud is also expected to enroll early. So, that’s a development worth watching over the next 10 days.

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