COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five-star offensive lineman Zach Rice has committed to North Carolina, ending two five-year recruiting trends for Ohio State football.
The first is within the program. The Buckeyes managed to bring in a five-star offensive line recruit alternating between interior guys and tackles, starting with Wyatt Davis in 2017.
Davis, a California native, was the nation’s No. 24 player, top guard and the highest-rated player at the position OSU had signed up to that point. Davis developed into a two-year starter and two-time All-American during his time in Columbus.
Nicholas Petit-Frere started the run at tackle for OSU as the No. 7 player and top tackle in the 2018 class. The Florida native is still the highest-rated offensive lineman the program has signed and is in his second year as a starter. He was at right tackle in 2020, then flipped to the left side this season, where he looks like a potential All-American candidate. He’s come a long way since arriving as a guy who didn’t win a job in Year 2 because of his struggles putting on weight.
Harry Miller followed in 2019 as one of three five-stars in the class and the nation’s No. 30 player and No. 2 center. He’s second-rated in OSU history among center, behind only 2008 signee Michael Brewster. Miller showed up in the summer, established himself as the second-string center behind Josh Myers, then won the left guard job in 2020. This season, he’d be the starting center if he did not suffer an injury in fall camp.
The came Paris Johnson Jr. as the last tackle in this line in 2020 as the nation’s No. 7 player and top tackle. The hype has been loud since he showed up, and even though he’s playing out of position as a first-year starter, he’s already flashed his potential. He’s the second highest-rated offensive lineman signing in OSU history, and next season he’ll take over as the left tackle.
Donovan Jackson closed things out in 2021 as the No. 19 player and top guard, replacing Davis as the highest-rated guard OSU ever signed. He looks like he’s on the same trajectory as Johnson and Miller and will be a starter in 2022.
The other trend is an accidental partnership with Alabama that ended with the Crimson Tide snatching up a player most thought would be a Buckeye. In the years Ohio State wasn’t getting the nation’s top tackle, they were going to Tuscaloosa. That list includes Alex Leatherwood (2017) — a 2021 first-round pick — Evan Neal (2019) and J.C. Latham (2021).
Rice did visit Columbus over the summer for Buckeye Bash 2.0, but nothing came from it, even if OSU made his final five.
The Buckeyes have already met the number of offensive line commits it wanted in this cycle. Tegra Tshabola committed in April 2020. George Fitzpatrick followed this past July as the only one of the trio who isn’t from Ohio. Avery Henry committed on Wednesday. Some of the national options are still on the table, like Earnest Greene, Kam Dewberry and Aamil Wagner.
With Rice choosing the Tar Heels, it’s the second time it’s lost out on a five-star recruit from Virginia to Mack Brown, with the other being cornerback Tony Grimes who then reclassified from the 2021 class to 2020.
“The Virginia vibe at Carolina was the biggest thing,” Rice said.
If the Buckeyes add another offensive lineman, it’ll most likely be from the list mentioned above, unless they find another in-state developmental kid. If neither happens, it’s best to start looking towards 2023.
They’ve already offered 10 guys — five tackles and five interior — headlined by five-star Kadyn Proctor, who is the nation’s No. 5 player, top tackle and teammate of 2022 target Xavier Nwankpa at Southeast Polk High School in Iowa.
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