What I Know, What I Think, What I Wonder — 2024 Offensive Recruiting Class Edition

I know that in any other year, Mylan Graham would be the crown jewel of this recruiting class. He’s got some Peter Warrick to him but with Chris Olave’s speed. He has special components to his game. He is always looking to make somebody miss, which has made him a very good yard-after-the-catch guy. But Ohio State doesn’t need to force him into being a gadget who just catches screens. He can be a legitimate downfield Z as well.

I think Gabe VanSickle reminds me of Luke Montgomery. He can play guard or tackle, and he keeps chasing defenders until they are asking for the whistle to be blown. He has fun winning the battle.

I wonder how long it will be before Max LeBlanc is a contributor. He’s not enrolling early, and tight end is a developmental position for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have depth at the position at the moment, so he won’t be asked for much right away. He, Jeremy Ruckert, and Jelani Thurman have/had the most potential as any tight end recruit at Ohio State since the Heuerman/Vannett class 13 years ago in my opinion.

I know that people are comparing James Peoples to JK Dobbins, but I see more Mike Weber. And that’s not a bad thing. He runs hard and finishes plays with a purpose. He might be a touch faster than Weber. Peoples will be battling to be the third running back this season, and if this team is as good as it should be, there could be a lot of fourth-quarter snaps for the No. 3 running back.

I think as a junior Air Noland displayed elite anticipation and ball placement. He hits receivers in stride so that they can continue their momentum after the catch. He threw for over 4,000 yards as a junior, but only about half of that as a senior. I didn’t see enough of him as a senior to know if that placement was still there or not.

I wonder if Damarion Witten can find a place in this offense in the next few years that can use him in the passing game even if he never becomes the blocker that Ohio State wants. Can they keep him at receiver and get a Julian Fleming-type of blocker but with better ball skills as a receiver? If that keeps him from spending four years growing into a tight end, then I say go for it.

To read the rest of this extended edition of What I Know, What I Think, What I Wonder, you can click here, but you must be a premium subscriber. Additional topics include thoughts on Deontae and Devontae Armstrong’s differences and similarities, additional discussion of Mylan Graham and his initial and eventual position in the OSU offense, more on tight end Max LeBlanc, the appeal of this offensive line class, further thoughts on Air Noland, the unfair expectations on Jeremiah Smith, and much more on each of Ohio State’s 11 offensive players in the 2024 signing class.

Go to discussion...