I know this will open me up to a great deal of criticism, but this staff, though outstanding, is not wholly above criticism. After losing Asiasi the tight end position, one of the most important in a Jim harbaugh offense, is a massive question mark. Yes there is potential, but as of now I believe Gentry and Eubanks have combined for 0 career receptions, Wheatley has shown flashes but in very limited playing time, and McKeon was a lowly ranked recruit we think can be good. Bunting has also not exactly set the world on fire, though in fairness he was playing behind an elite TE.
To me, that's not a great situation. This cycle we paid Ford essentially no attention prior to and during his clearly tenuous commitment to Arkansas, so are now playing catch up (which it seems is going well, but imagine we'd had pressed for the kid all along?) we were hinging our hopes for a much needed two TE class on Mohammed and Ruckert, both great prospects, but far from locks. Ruckert has long been an OSU lean, and though we hear MM nearly committed at the spring game, he hasn't, and since 2013 we have signed a grand total of 1 top 150 composite players from Texas (chuck filiaga) so forgive me for my somewhat pessimistic view of that recruitment.
Which leads me to will Mallory. Kid is a legacy, and by all accounts a star. He was outstanding at the opening, and has gone up in each of the last three composite ranking updates. He is very close to a top 100 overall player, and at one time considered a "lock." He's extremely close to one of our best commits (Hutchinson), who even expressed their interest in rooming together.
And in a year we need two tight ends, we abruptly cool on him? Unless there are character concerns we aren't privy to, this makes no sense.
In short, after last year's monster class, which I personally think is the best top to bottom of the rivals era for our program, 2018 has been extremely bizarre IMO. I know there are fewer scholarships, I know 2019 looks amazing (which it does, to a truly unbelievable extent) but what on earth has gone on this cycle? I have to admit, the class OSU is putting together in comparison is, quite frankly, troubling. I believe we have great coaches, but so do they. We absolutely must keep up in the arms race with Urban.
To me, that's not a great situation. This cycle we paid Ford essentially no attention prior to and during his clearly tenuous commitment to Arkansas, so are now playing catch up (which it seems is going well, but imagine we'd had pressed for the kid all along?) we were hinging our hopes for a much needed two TE class on Mohammed and Ruckert, both great prospects, but far from locks. Ruckert has long been an OSU lean, and though we hear MM nearly committed at the spring game, he hasn't, and since 2013 we have signed a grand total of 1 top 150 composite players from Texas (chuck filiaga) so forgive me for my somewhat pessimistic view of that recruitment.
Which leads me to will Mallory. Kid is a legacy, and by all accounts a star. He was outstanding at the opening, and has gone up in each of the last three composite ranking updates. He is very close to a top 100 overall player, and at one time considered a "lock." He's extremely close to one of our best commits (Hutchinson), who even expressed their interest in rooming together.
And in a year we need two tight ends, we abruptly cool on him? Unless there are character concerns we aren't privy to, this makes no sense.
In short, after last year's monster class, which I personally think is the best top to bottom of the rivals era for our program, 2018 has been extremely bizarre IMO. I know there are fewer scholarships, I know 2019 looks amazing (which it does, to a truly unbelievable extent) but what on earth has gone on this cycle? I have to admit, the class OSU is putting together in comparison is, quite frankly, troubling. I believe we have great coaches, but so do they. We absolutely must keep up in the arms race with Urban.
