A review of Ohio State’s successful month of July on the recruiting trail

Many Ohio State fans were about to hit the panic button when the month of June began, as Ohio State only had nine commitments in their 2020 class. However, Buckeye fans got a glimmer of what was to come when five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming committed to Ohio State on May 31. This one commitment spurred a chain reaction which lead to June commitments from kicker Jake Seibert, offensive tackle Grant Toutant, defensive end Ty Hamilton, cornerback Clark Phillips III, linebacker Cody Simon and defensive lineman Darrion Henry.

For many college football teams, landing six guys of this caliber is a great summer—but that was only one month for Ohio State. Then came the month of July where Ohio State set the recruiting trail on fire, landing seven very good commitments. Here’s a breakdown of each player that committed in the month of July and what they bring to the table

First up is Joey Royer, a three-star tight end out of Elder High School in Cincinnati who committed on July 2. As many Buckeye fans know at this point, Royer attended Ohio State’s June 6 one-day camp where he beat out Buckeye legacy Luke Lachey for an Offer. Royer is a large athlete at the TE position. Additionally, his playing style and pass catching ability is exactly what the new head coach, Ryan Day, is looking for in his tight ends. Since he does have some work to do as a blocker, he is not a “day one” player, but given some time to develop, Royer could end up being a great weapon in Ohio State’s offense. For more on Joe Royer here are his commitment article and impact analysis:

Next up for Ohio State was three-star outside linebacker/edge player Mitchell Melton out of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Md. Melton announced his commitment on July 3, giving Ohio State a versatile defender for their Front Seven. While Melton currently plays outside linebacker for his high school team, he also has the frame to add weight and be a defensive end. Furthermore, Melton may not be in the lineup very early but look for him to make an impact in 2-3 years no matter what position he ends up playing. To learn more about Mitchell and his game, here are his commitment article and impact analysis:

This past July 4, Ohio State had some fireworks of their own in the form of two commitments. The first being Cameron Martinez, a three-star athlete and reigning Michigan player of the year. Since he is ranked as an athlete, he could play multiple positions at Ohio State. At the high school level, he plays quarterback—and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. This leads some to believe he will play wide receiver in college but his best position at OSU may be safety. In the end though, Ohio State has given him the choice as to what position he will play in college. Below are Martinez’s commitment article and impact analysis to help you better understand his game:

The second of Ohio State’s two commitments on Independence Day was three-star offensive guard Josh Fryar. Fryar is currently ranked as a guard but was previously listed as a center. Even so, he is agile enough to play tackle. Ultimately, though, expect Fryar to be a guard during his time at Ohio State. Fryar is not a finished product by any means along the offensive line but he is a high floor player that will no doubt make an impact at Ohio State. Buckeye fans should expect to see Fryar paving the way for Ohio State’s running backs here in a few years. For more about Ohio State’s next Slob along the offensive line, here are his commitment article and impact analysis:

On July 8, Ohio State landed another future member of Zone 6 in Mookie Cooper. Ohio State has four very good wide receivers in their 2020 class and Cooper may be the most electric. Mookie does a little bit of everything for his high school team; he plays receiver, cornerback, and returns kicks. At Ohio State, Cooper will primarily be a slot receiver and mismatch weapon for Ryan Day to use. One thing is certain with Mookie: When the ball is in his hands, he as the potential to score no matter where he is on the field. If you want to know more about Ohio State’s next dynamic Zone 6 member, here is his commitment article and impact analysis:

Over the past few seasons Ohio State has become somewhat of factory for producing high level defensive backs—and don’t expect that to end soon. On July 16, four-star safety Lathan Ransom committed to Ohio State for his birthday. In Ransom the Buckeyes are getting a ball-hawking field general at the safety position. He was Ohio State’s No. 1 target at the safety position and Ohio State defensive back coach Jeff Hafley got him. The Buckeyes will be losing safety Jordan Fuller to the draft after this season, and do not be surprised if Lathan comes ready to challenge for playing time right away. For more about the next defensive back to carry on Ohio State’s BIA mantra, here are Ransom’s commitment article and impact analysis;

The final of Ohio State’s impressive recruiting haul during the month of July is Kourt Williams. Williams pledged his services to Ohio State on July 24. Williams is a bit of an interesting prospect because he could play a variety of positions at Ohio State. He plays a strong safety position in high school but at times drops down to the outside linebacker spot, which makes him a good candidate for Ohio State’s new bullet position. No matter where he ends up playing he will bring a great deal of athleticism. For Buckeye fans that want to know more about Ohio State’s next great athlete, here are Kourt’s commitment article and impact analysis:

July, arguably, might’ve been Ohio State’s greatest recruiting month in program history. The Bucks currently have a top three recruiting class in the country right, thanks to a big July on the recruiting trail. Look for Ohio State to close this 2020 class out strong during the fall.

Once this class is closed out, the focus turns to the 2021 class. That cycle already has the makings of being a great one.