Where does Ohio State turn after missing out on a big target?

Just like on the football field, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose on the recruiting trail. Over the weekend the Buckeyes missed on one of their top remaining targets in the class of 2021.

Committing to head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday afternoon via his Twitter page, five-star rated IMG Academy (FL) offensive tackle JC Latham, who many at one time had pegged to end up in the Buckeyes Scarlet and Gray, instead chose to chase his NFL dreams in Tuscaloosa over not just Ohio State, but also LSU, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

Still blessed with the top overall 2021 recruiting class, Latham’s verbal pledge to Alabama will shift Day and the Buckeyes attention fully to other lineman. Already holding a commitment from big men Donovan Jackson, and Ben Christman, OSU might not be looked as a favorite to add another offensive lineman at the moment, they’re still in the mix for some of the top remaining roadblocks in the country.

Cutting things down to 15 top schools from 40 scholarships last month, five-star Virginia native Tristan Leigh has most around the scene thinking he’ll end up at Clemson, but is also still considering taking his talents to either OSU, Georgia, Florida State, Virginia, LSU, Florida, Virginia Tech, Miami, Penn State, Oklahoma, Central Florida, Alabama, or USC. While four-star Clarkston (MI) tackle and current LSU lean Garrett Dellinger has a final four of the Tigers, Buckeyes, Michigan, and Penn State.

Though things aren’t looking overwhelmingly positive for Leigh or Dellinger to end up calling Columbus home, if the Buckeyes decide to hold off recruiting offensive lineman this cycle they’re already off to a wonderful start in their chase of junior prospects. Sitting with three early commitments overall, four-star Lakota West (OH) offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola, the sixth-best tackle in the class of 2022, will anchor their pursuit of future Ohio State blockers.

What will be the Buckeyes next move? We’ll find out soon. Stick with Land-Grant Holy Land for the latest.