STAR STUDDED
A look at the best recruits at each position in Ohio State history
Clockwise, from top left: C.J. Hicks was the top-ranked linebacker in 2022 recruiting class; 2004 No. 2 Ted Ginn signed as a cornerback; Michael Brewster was the top-ranked center in the 2008 class. J.T. Tuimoloau had the same recruiting rating as defensive end Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) and quarterback Matt Barkley (USC); Donovan Jackson was considered the best interior offensive lineman in the 2021 class; Louis Irizarry was considered the second-best tight end in 2003, behind Notre Dame's Greg Olsen; Quinn Ewers is the highest-rated recruit to sign with Ohio State, although he has since transferred to
Texas. Chris “Beanie” Wells was the No. 1 running back recruit in 2006.
Ohio State football has accumulated its share of talent on the recruiting trail. Since 2000, the Buckeyes have landed commitments from 58 five-star players, including 20 since coach Ryan Day took over the program in 2019. Ohio State has commitments from four five-star players in the 2024 class — wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham, defensive lineman Justin Scott and quarterback Air Noland.
Here's a look at the best recruits Ohio State has landed at each position since 2000 through 2024's current commitments, according to 247Sports' composite rankings, and how each performed for the Buckeyes in their college careers.
In 2021, Ohio State secured the commitment of one of the highestrated players in history.
Quinn Ewers, the No. 1 player and quarterback in the country, reclassified from the 2022 class to 2021 and joined the Buckeyes after his junior season at Southlake Carroll High School in Texas.
Heading into his college career, Ewers had a perfect recruiting rating, the second quarterback ever to reach that milestone, along with Vince Young in 2002. There are just six players overall to receive a perfect rating. That list also includes
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (2011), Mississippi defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (2013), Michigan defensive tackle Rashan Gary (2016) and Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims (2003).
But those ratings did not translate to success for Ewers at Ohio State, who played only two snaps for the Buckeyes in their 56-7 win against Michigan State in 2021 before transferring to Texas.
While Ewers is the top-ranked recruit that has ever committed to Ohio State, 2008 quarterback Terrelle Pryor is right behind him at No. 2.
Running back: Beanie Wells (2006)
While highly-touted running backs, such as Treveyon Henderson and J.K. Dobbins, have signed with the Buckeyes, OSU has not secured a running back recruit on par with Beanie Wells.
Wells, out of Garfield High School in Akron, was ranked as the No. 7 recruit and No. 1 running back in the country in 2006. He is the 10th-highest-rated commit in Ohio State history.
Wells met expectations with the Buckeyes, recording 3,282 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in three seasons from 2006-08 and averaging 5.8 yards per touch. He was later selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the No. 31 pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Wide receiver: Jeremiah Smith (2024)
The highest-rated wide receiver recruit in Ohio State history has yet to play a snap of college football.
Smith is the fourth-highest-rated recruit ever to commit to Ohio State behind Ewers, Pryor and Ted Ginn Jr., who was initially considered a cornerback when he joined the Buckeyes.
As a member of the 2024 class, Smith is the second-ranked recruit nationally behind former Ohio State commit and five-star Georgia quarterback commit Dylan Raiola. Smith earned that distinction by posting 1,073 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns on 58 catches during his junior season at Chaminade Madonna Preparatory High School in Florida.
2020 five-star Julian Fleming (No. 7) joins Smith as the only other wide receiver in Ohio State’s list of top-10 recruits in program history.
Tight end: Louis Irizarry (2003)
Louis Irizarry, a Youngstown native, was ranked as the third-best tight end in 2003, sitting behind Greg Olsen at No. 1 and ahead of Vernon Davis at No. 5. In Ohio State history, Irizarry is the 58thbest
recruit to have ever committed.
However, Irizarry was charged with a felony robbery in October 2004 and was subsequently dismissed from the team. Irizarry served six months in prison before transferring to Youngstown State.
Offensive tackle: Nicholas Petit-frere (2018)
Nicholas Petit-frere, a five-star offensive tackle out of Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, was the No. 7 player in the country in 2018 and chose to play for Ohio State over Michigan, Alabama, Florida and Notre Dame.
That decision resulted in his becoming the 12th-best prospect in Buckeyes history. Petit-frere ended up a first-team All-big Ten left tackle, earning first-team All-american honors by the Football Writers Association of America and CBS Sports in 2021 before being selected in the third round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 NFL draft.
Paris Johnson Jr. (No. 15) is the only other offensive lineman ranked in the top 20.
Center: Michael Brewster (2008)
There was no center better than Michael Brewster in the 2008 recruiting class.
The Orlando, Florida, native was the No. 15 prospect in the country, 105 spots higher than the next-best center in the class. Brewster is ranked as the No. 27 recruit in Ohio State history.
At Ohio State, Brewster was a freshman All-american in 2008 before being named first-team All-american by the FWAA in 2010. He was also first-team Allbig Ten that season but slipped to a second-team All-big Ten in 2011, Brewster was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2012 season.
Offensive guard: Donovan Jackson (2021)
Not only was Texas native Donovan Jackson the best interior offensive lineman in the 2021 class, he was considered one of the best offensive linemen, joining tackles JC Latham (Alabama) and Tommy
Brokermeyer (Alabama) in the top 10 of overall players in the country.
Jackson, the No. 33 recruit in program history, started at left guard for the Buckeyes in 2022, earning first-team All-big Ten honors from the media and secondteam honors from the coaches.
Defensive lineman: J.T. Tuimoloau (2021)
Coming out of Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Washington, J.T. Tuimoloau was the fourth-best player and second-best defensive lineman in the class behind Southern California commit Korey Foreman.
Tuimoloau had the same recruiting rating as defensive end Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) and quarterback Matt Barkley (USC).
As a sophomore, Tuimoloau was named first-team All-big Ten after recording 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks.
While Tuimoloau is ranked as the fifth-best recruit in Ohio State history, Jack Sawyer (No. 6), Noah Spence (No. 8)
and Nick Bosa (No. 9) are also in the top 10.
Linebacker: C.J. Hicks (2022)
The top linebacker commit in Ohio State history has been with the team for one season.
C.J. Hicks, a former five-star linebacker out of Kettering Alter High School near Dayton, is ranked as the 16th-best recruit in Buckeye history, coming in as the No. 7 player and No. 1 linebacker in the 2022 class.
Hicks played in 12 games for Ohio State in 2022, recording six tackles on special teams.
Cornerback: Ted Ginn Jr. (2004)
Ohio State’s top cornerback recruit in school history and No. 3 prospect overall did not stay on defense.
Ginn entered OSU as a five-star cornerback and the No. 2 player in the 2004 class, coming in with the same recruiting rating as safety Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (Clemson) and wide receiver Julio Jones (Alabama).
At Ohio State, Ginn primarily played wide receiver, finishing his career with 2,156 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns, along with eight returns for touchdowns on special teams. Ginn was drafted with the No. 9 pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2007.
Jeff Okudah is ranked as Ohio State’s next-best cornerback recruit at No. 14.
Safety: Sonny Styles (2022)
Ohio State’s top-ranked safety joined the Buckeyes a year early.
Sonny Styles, the No. 20 prospect in Ohio State history, was originally a member of the Buckeyes’ 2023 class, but reclassified to 2022, joining the team as the No. 27 prospect and the No. 2 safety in the country.
In his first season, Styles played in 12 games and played in the second-most snaps of any freshman with 280. He recorded nine tackles and one tackle-forloss. cgay@dispatch.com @_Colingay