5 things to know about Ohio State’s early-enrollees for 2020

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class is not even finished, but already the group has made history.

A record 14 members have already enrolled, surpassing the previous high of nine set in 2017 and matched a year later.

>>RELATED: Ohio State announces important spring dates

Here is a look at the players who are getting a jumpstart on their college careers after graduating from high school early:

1. Two are quarterbacks.

C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller might be the most interesting pair of the early enrollees. Sure, quarterback always gets the most attention, but this spring could go a long way toward determining who is the starter in 2021.

Justin Fields is back this fall but likely to skip his senior season if he is as good as he was last fall, and the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster is senior Gunnar Hoak.

The freshmen can both play in four games without losing the ability to redshirt.

>>READ MORE: Fields leads returners on offense 

2. Four are receivers.

Barring disaster, the quarterbacks will not see meaningful playing time this fall.

None of the freshmen seeing meaningful playing time this fall probably would be viewed as a disaster in some circles considering the talent they are bringing to campus.

Five-star Julian Fleming of Pennsylvania headlines the group that also includes Mookie Cooper of Missouri, Gee Scott Jr. of Washington and Jaxon Smith-Njigba of Texas.

That is both a function of losing six seniors over a two-year period and the perceived talent this group of newcomers.

>>READ MORE: Class pleases Day with key needs met

3. Three are offensive linemen.

Paris Johnson Jr. is the highest-rated member of the class, and the Cincinnati Princeton grad should have a great opportunity to work his way into the two-deep with Branden Bowen having graduated.

Luke Wypler of Montvale St. Joseph in New Jersey and Trey Leroux of Norwalk, Ohio, are also set to join the fray this spring, meaning numbers won’t be as low on the offensive line as they often are this time of year.

With 14 scholarship linemen, coach Greg Studrawa should be able to roll two full lines with players to spare.

4. Watch the defensive backs.

Like receiver, the defensive backs room lost several standouts from the 2019 Big Ten champions.

Lejond Cavazos, a cornerback from San Antonio via IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and fellow four-stars Kourt Williams (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) and Ryan Watts (Little Elm, Texas) don’t know who will be their primary position coach yet, but they knew when they signed up to be Buckeyes there would likely be a big chance to earn playing time.

5. A team can never have too many defensive linemen.

This is a relatively new mantra as the game has evolved into one in which rushing the passer is a premium trait.

Darrion Henry, who played with Johnson at Princeton last season, was a big get by coach Larry Johnson, who will add Henry and Jacolbe Cowan of Charlotte, N.C., to a group that is experienced and deep but missing three starters from last season.

Johnson likes to play eight linemen, if not more, and he is not afraid to throw freshmen into the fray if they take to his teaching.

About the Author