There are prospects in big-time college football recruiting that are impactful for their abilities on the field. There are others that not only can stand out on film but also bring others together and help a recruiting class gel. In fact, if you look back on some of the all-time leaders at Ohio State, some weren’t highly regarded but ended up helping lead the program forward (J.T. Barrett anyone?).
However, when the two marry, it’s a beautiful thing.
That brings us to the 2021 recruiting cycle, one that the Ohio State football program has owned to date. Alabama and the other usual suspects might be closing, but the Buckeyes still have far and away the top ranked recruiting class according to almost every recruiting service.
But it didn’t just happen by accident. None of them do. You have to go out and sell, then land the kids that will move the needle forward for the program. Some commitments do it by sheer ability, others with a combination of other attributes and leadership skills.
ESPN took a look at the most impactful recruits in the country (subscription required) based on each team’s current rating in its team recruiting rankings, and it pegged the player it considers the overall top prospect in the class when discussing Ohio State.
Next … Who ESPN picked for Ohio State and why
No. 1 rated prospect per ESPN, linebacker Jack Sawyer
What ESPN says about Sawyer
From Tom VanHaaren:
“This one was difficult, even though Sawyer is the No. 1-ranked player overall, Ohio State has a lot of options in this class. If you wanted to make the case for running back TreVeyon Henderson, that would make sense. Henderson is the No. 1-ranked running back in the class and the Buckeyes didn’t sign an ESPN 300 running back in the 2020 class.”
“If you wanted to make the argument for quarterback Kyle McCord, that would make sense, too, as Ohio State will have only a few options at the position once McCord gets to campus, assuming Justin Fields leaves early for the NFL.”
“But it’s tough to look past the top prospect overall, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Ohio. Given defensive line coach Larry Johnson’s track record with top defensive line prospects and the ability Sawyer has, he has to be the pick. He could be the next great defensive lineman to come through Ohio State.”
Next … What we say
Most impactful 2021 commit for Ohio State
What we say
There’s no doubt Sawyer brings a lot to the table as one of the most sought after defensive ends in the country. He’s got a quick burst, is a multiple-sport athlete, and is as close to a can’t miss prospect as you can find. He should excel under the direction of Larry Johnson, but the D-line seems to always be a strength in Columbus. Again, see note about Larry Johnson.
And VanHaaren’s mention of Kyle McCord is puzzling, not because McCord doesn’t have what it takes to be the next great quarterback at Ohio State, it’s because there are actually multiple options to choose from. Five-star C.J. Stroud and high four-star commit Jack Miller are both already on campus and will be part of quite a quarterback race with McCord once Fields heads to the NFL.
So then, who would we pick as the most impactful commit for 2021?
We would actually nominate five-star running back TreVeyon Henderson as the most impactful. There’s going to be a bit of a hole in the backfield once Trey Sermon moves on (though Master Teague will still be there), and Ohio State just got shunned by two top ten backs during last year’s recruiting efforts.
Getting a guy that many consider as the top running back in the class is one thing. The fact that he’s also been one of the loudest voices in recruiting others to Columbus is another. He has leadership and talent written all over him, and he’s going to have a big impact on and off the field.
