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.