There was a time when Ohio State fans were staking claim to the fact that OSU was in fact, Linebacker U. However, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a dominant linebacker playing in scarlet and gray.
Actually, you’d have to go all the way back to 2013 to find an All-American at linebacker in Ryan Shazier. To find a Consensus All-American at the backer spot? That will take you back more than a decade to James Laurinaitis, who earned the honor three times (2006, 2007, 2008). And we can’t forget names like Katzenmoyer, Gradishar, Hawk, Cousineau, and Spielman.
That all may change with the 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes coming to Columbus with names like Carrico, Powers, and Hicks. And now the No. 1 rated inside linebacker in ’22, Shawn Murphy has put Ohio State in his top list of schools.
Murphy hails from Manassas, VA, and not only ranks as the best ILB prospect but also as the No. 17 best overall according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Murphy has a list of offers a mile long but trimmed that list to a final eight on Wednesday. Other schools in the mix are the usual suspects including Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
Thank you you yo all the schools who have been recruiting me @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/7JurIGkGXw
— Shawn Murphy (@Theicedupshawn) January 14, 2021
If Ohio State can add a player like Murphy, it will only add the mythical status of the 2022 class that is already considered to be one of the greatest in Buckeye football history.
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