It’s the Cadillac position at almost every school now. If you don’t have a supremely talented quarterback in today’s college game, it’s hard to win at the highest of levels. Just ask Michigan (too soon?).
As the game has evolved over the last fifteen years or so, the Buckeye program has too, and has now become a destination for some of the top-rated quarterback prospects in the nation. Just look at the signal-callers on the banks of the Olentangy, almost in progression. Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields.
Not bad eh?
But it’s not just the past. Ohio State is set up pretty good for the future as well under head coach Ryan Day. By the time next fall rolls around, Ohio State will have three high four or five-star quarterback caliber quarterbacks competing against each other to take over for the departed Justin Fields. That doesn’t even account for the nation’s top 2022 prospect, QB Quinn Ewers coming in the year after.
So yeah, the program is in pretty good shape over the next few years.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN took a look (subscription required) at college football programs and how they are set up for the next three years under center and ranked them all. With what is in the cupboard or on the way, before even looking at the rankings, you have to feel pretty good about where Ohio State stands.
Let’s look at how Rittenberg thinks OSU stacks up with the rest of the country.
NEXT… Ohio State’s ranking at QB for the next three years according to ESPN
No. 5 – Ohio State
What Rittenberg Says
“For the first time in Ohio State’s storied history, quarterback is a premier position in the program. Day’s presence alongside offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has placed a major emphasis on developing elite quarterbacks. Justin Fields will become the second Ohio State quarterback in three years to become an NFL first-round draft pick, after none since Art Schlichter in 1982. Fields undoubtedly leaves a massive short-term void — he had 5,373 pass yards and 63 touchdowns in just two seasons as a Buckeye — but with Day and Wilson still around, the position is stable. C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller both have four years of eligibility left and will compete to succeed Fields. Stroud, ESPN’s No. 2 pocket passer in the 2020 class, is the more decorated prospect, but both enter a truly open competition this spring.”
“Don’t discount Kyle McCord, ESPN’s No. 5 pocket passer and No. 31 overall player in the 2021 class. Ohio State also flipped Texas commit Quinn Ewers, ESPN’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 class, and he is potentially the Buckeyes’ most decorated quarterback recruit ever. Day is stockpiling talent, and Ohio State remains a top transfer spot for QBs after Fields’ success.”
NEXT … What we say
No. 5 Ohio State
What We Say
It’s hard to look out to the future and see too many programs in better shape at the quarterback position than Ohio State. You feel pretty good about one of the three guys — C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, or Klye McCord — picking up the offense and being a playmaker right away. Then, throw in Quinn Ewers a year later and you’d be hard-pressed to find four more talented quarterbacks anywhere in the country — if they all stay.
So why does Rittenberg at No. 5 then? Mainly because of the unknown. Justin Fields took nearly every snap last year and there just isn’t a whole lot of experience behind him. The talent is there yes, but it’s unproven. If we look back on these rankings after four years, they might look very different, with Ohio State being No. 1.
As with many things, we’ll have to wait and see.
For now though, Rittenberg has Oklahoma (1), Clemson (2), USC (3), and Alabama (4), ahead of Ohio State projecting out three years. If you’re interested in the rest of Rittenberg’s rankings, feel free to head on over to ESPN (subscription required) and check them out.
Ohio State football very early projected defensive depth chart for 2021
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