There has been plenty documented about the Ohio State Buckeyes‘ success at recruiting in the state of Texas since the beginning of Tom Herman’s tenure in Austin. In the three years of recruiting before Herman arrived, Ohio State didn’t have a single one of the top 10 players in the Lone Star State. The downfall technically started under Strong, but Herman has failed to stop the floodgates from opening.
It not just the fact that the Longhorns are losing quality talent to Ohio State — one of Herman’s previous employers — it’s who they are losing. Gabe Brooks of 247Sports broke down each of the top talents that the Buckeyes have snagged since 2017.
Texas players who left for Ohio State
Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Grand Prairie
Class: 2017
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 1 CB, No. 2 in Texas
Baron Browning, LB, Kennedale
Class: 2017
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 1 OLB, No. 4 in Texas
J.K. Dobbins, RB, La Grange
Class: 2017
Rating: Four-Star
Rank: No. 2 APB, No. 6 in Texas
Elijah Gardner, WR, Kemp
Class: 2017
Rating: Three-Star
Rank: No. 115 WR, No. 116 in Texas
Matthew Baldwin, QB, Lake Travis
Class: 2018
Rating: Four-Star
Rank: No. 12 Pro Style QB, No. 43 in Texas
Garrett Wilson, WR, Lake Travis
Class: 2019
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 2 WR, No. 3 in Texas
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Rockwall
Class: 2020
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 5 WR, No. 5 in Texas
Ryan Watts, CB, Little Elm
Class: 2020
Rating: Four-Star
Rank: No. 18 Safety, No. 31 in Texas
Donovan Jackson, OG, Bellaire
Class: 2021
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 1 OG, No. 2 in Texas
Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll
Class: 2022
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 1 QB, No. 1 in Texas
Caleb Burton, WR, Del Valle
Class: 2022
Rating: Five-Star
Rank: No. 2 WR, No. 4 in Texas
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The additions of Ewers and Burton make this year in recruiting feel eerily similar to the 2017 transition class for Herman. The Longhorns seem to be losing all the recruiting momentum they built in the 2018 and 2019 classes. After finishing with the No. 3 classes in both years, the 2020 class fell off just a bit. Finishing No. 8 is no laughing matter but the 2021 class that originally started off on fire is now smoldering.
The Longhorns are currently sitting at No. 17 in the country for the 2021 class after losing out on the Brockermeyer twins in addition to Jalen Milroe and Billy Bowman both decommitting.
The 2022 class has one commit remaining due to the decommitments of a four-star wide receiver and the top quarterback in the nation. It appears that the newest Ohio State recruit plans on taking some top Texas talent on the offensive side of the ball with him.
y’all didn’t think I was just gonna commit to Ohio State and not bring any other texas receivers with me lol??
— Caleb Burton III (@calebburtoniii) November 24, 2020
Looks like Lewisville wide receiver Amani Winfield could be next.
The Longhorns are going to have their work cut out for them to keep some of the in-state talents.