Buckeyes land nation’s top QB in 2022

Tomorrow, Ohio State has Indiana coming to town for a top 10 match-up, and while this next game is the biggest priority to the players and staff, the Buckeyes recruiting efforts have once again stolen the spotlight.

So early into Ryan Day’s tenure at the head of the program, he is landing elite classes like the 2021 cycle they’re about to sign. While that class sits at No. 2 in the country with still a chance to be at the top before it’s all over, it’s now the 2022 class that could be shaping up to be even more impressive. The way the Buckeyes are stacking these classes one after another, it does feel like the making of what could be an incredible run for Ohio State in the near future.

It doesn’t get any better than this

Before the internet almost broke down last night, Buckeyes receiver coach Brian Hartline took to his Twitter account to tweet the “popcorn” emoji, which does nothing but grab your attention. Ohio State’s staff and commits have tweeted these random food emojis before, so you knew something was up in regards to recruiting.

Coming from Coach Hartline, you would have thought the tweet had to do with one of his own position group players, but seeing Mark Pantoni join in the fun just moments later pretty much gave it away that something big was just around the corner.

As huge as it gets, the nation’s best quarterback and the top ranked player by 247Sports in 2022 Quinn Ewers announced his commitment to Ohio State nearly three weeks after de-committing from Texas. A feat that further proves Ryan Day’s status as arguably the best developer of the quarterback position, it must be mentioned again what this means for the Buckeyes moving forward.

After landing two elite signal callers in 2020, five-star Kyle McCord in 2021, and now the best it gets with Ewers in 2022, there’s probably not a better haul of quarterbacks in three years as what Ohio State has here. The perfect example of the rich get richer, this type of recruiting win is almost unheard of.

What needs to be done too is giving position coach Corey Dennis his credit where it is deserved. Not even a full season under his belt as the quarterbacks coach, Dennis has helped accomplish what most coaches hope to do one time in their entire career in landing the top overall player for their program.

A testament to his recruiting chops, Dennis did everything it took to help seal the deal for Ohio State to land Ewers. Whether it was with Quinn personally or his family, Dennis never gave up, even during the time where Texas was the choice. It’s safe to say with the help of Dennis in addition to Ryan Day, the Buckeyes quarterback spot may be the strongest it’s ever been.

To get some great insight as to what brought Quinn to his Ohio State decision, Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong, laid it out in this piece he posted last night. In the article, it’s mentioned how pivotal a role Dennis played and why the Buckeyes are the best fit for Ewers both on and off the field.

Just how good is Quinn Ewers as a prospect? Well...

What could be coming next

Still blown away by the boom Ohio State was able to get with Ewers last night, the next thing to consider is what else could be coming in the near future thanks in large part to Quinn’s decision to be a Buckeye. For starters, Ohio State with the help of Hartline is yet again in the running and the early leader for the top receiver in the class for 2022 just as they have been three years in a row.

A fellow Texas native, Caleb Burton has been linked many times to Ewers, and the two have made it clear that they would love to play together on the same team at the next level.

Fortunately for Ohio State, not only does Burton have a great relationship with Ewers, but the Del Valle product also works out with current Buckeye star receiver Garrett Wilson when he’s back in his home state of Texas. Adding those two components to the bond he already has with Hartline, and this looks like it’s already in the works of becoming a done deal that could be completed very soon.

If Burton does in fact choose Ohio State, it would give the Buckeyes yet another year where they are able to go into the Lone Star state and snatch not only one of the best receivers in Texas, but one of the best players period in a state that produces talent at an incredible rate.

Make no mistake about it: Brian Hartline is clear in his approach. He is recruiting Texas at a rate that probably honestly shouldn’t happen being an out of state coach. With the way the Buckeyes are poaching Texas talent right now, it’s really nothing new and just part of the trend. More major booms could be coming real soon thanks to the momentum started by landing the best QB in the country.

Quick Hits

• Last night, Ohio State stayed busy on the 2022 front when they sent out their latest offer to three-star defensive end prospect, Jihaad Campbell. The New Jersey native is currently ranked as the 23rd-best player at his position and the 17th-best player in the Garden State for his class.

• Per Bill Kurelic, 2022 four-star running back Damari Alston has the Buckeyes as “definitely a leader” in his recruitment. Ohio State has made it clear that Damari is a major target for their 2022 class. As it stands now, the Buckeyes look to be in the driver’s seat for Alston.