An evaluation of this year's freshman class is helpful in projecting future success. During the current lull between the end of the regular season and the recruitment signing date on December 20th and the Bahama Bowl, December 22nd, this post will hopefully maintain fan interest [and be fun]. This endeavor is challenging since the majority did not have game experience. Players are grouped by position:

1] DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Hudson, Mitchell, Drake, Brooks and Floyd. Should be a productive group. Hudson and Brooks got reps against some of the best wide receivers in the MAC.

2] OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Kitrell, Rodgers, Tusha, Meservy, Jackson: Will be an outstanding group. Kitrell and Meservy beat out highly regarded redshirt freshmen/sophomores. Former Purdue coach stated that Tusha was one of his top recruits.

3] WIDE RECEIVER: Harris B., Cox, Cherry, Minter, Harris K.: Earlier in the season, Solich stated that the current players [freshman included] are the most talented group of wide receivers he has coached during his tenure at Ohio. Hopefully, there will be a future first team ALL MAC wide receiver in the group.

4] OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Keszei, Ross: Keszei was an Indiana all-state recruit. Ross is a productive, instinctive player showing cutting ability when he hits the line of scrimmage. But does he have break-away speed?

5] DEFENSIVE LINE: Coleman, Caesar, Ogun-Semore: Size and quality. Each will be a starter no later than their redshirt sophomore year.

6] Linebacker: Robinson is a highly regarded recruit.

This list is not all-inclusive. Hopefully, a walk-on not listed will be a significant contributor. Discuss!!!

We lose 2 top notch LBers in Poling and Moore. Croutch and/or Conner should be ok at MLB.

OLB looks a little thin.. but we have 2 good recruits and I was pleased to see an offer to local OLB Cullen’s from Meigs. He reminds me of Moore.

The key to this all will be the DBs. I will assume that Ball's return will take the pressure off the WR position a bit. The young DBs will really have to produce given that the front seven will lose key players.