L.C.

At this point we have 15 players listed in this class, and to those we have to add grayshirts:
Adam Luehrman
Ryan Luehrman
Matt Seymour
Louis Zervos

and presumably:
Demetrius Colbert
Michael Farakas

and possibly, if he qualifies, from the 2015 class, via Jireh Prep:
Clayton Glasco

That possibly gets us to 22 players. With 17 Seniors, and adding in the usual attrition of about 5 players, this class is pretty full already. I don't expect many more additions to it, though I hope they still have room for a QB.


Ted Thompson

Offense

Dontez Rash - RB Cleveland Benedictine HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Sean Beadle - OL Franklin Regional HS, PA (COMMITTED)
Haydn Lewis - OL St. Clairsville HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Nathan Murray - OL Pineville Bell County HS, KY (COMMITTED)
Desmond Noel - OL Cincinnati Colerain HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Adam Notestine - OL Pickerington North HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Cameron Odom - WR Bedford HS, OH (COMMITTED)


Defense


William Evans - DE Augusta Aquinas HS, GA (COMMITTED)
Amir Miller - DE Worcester Academy, MA (COMMITTED)
Dylan Conner - LB Ft. Wayne Carroll HS, IN (COMMITTED)
Jared Dorsa - LB Kings HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Eric Popp - LB Loveland HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Ilyaas Motley - CB Centerville HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Xavior Motley - CB Centerville HS, OH (COMMITTED)
Tyler Tupa - S Brecksville HS, OH (COMMITTED)

It's very difficult to know the answer to that question, Monroe. We know there are definitely 17 Seniors. We know that there will be some attrition, which comes from players dropping out, getting homesick, quitting due to medical disqualification (injuries), transfers, and so forth, but it is impossible for those of us on the outside to know how many there will be in any given years. In most years there seem to be 4-5 additional scholarships open up.

Based on the above, my best guess is that they will give out about 22 scholarships this year. Now, if you add up the numbers that have already been agreed to, which are listed above, you get to 22 or so. From those you have to subtract those that don't qualify, but most of the times the early commits seem to qualify, so let's guess that 1-2 don't qualify. If some of the 22 they already have will be grayshirts, I'd have no way to know that, but that would also make more available. My best guess is that they will end up giving 2 more.

Keep in mind that this is only a guess. I am often totally surprised, and last year is a perfect example. With 12 Seniors, I expected them to give out about 16 scholarships, and they gave out about 25, but of course, four of those ended up being grayshirts, and four didn't qualify (Cloud, Glasco, D. Williams, Christian).

As for positions, I certainly hope they are still trying to get a QB in this class. Other than that, I see no pressing needs, so they should take the best possible player(s) regardless of positions. They also needed a Punter and a placekicker in this class, but they seem to have that covered with Farakas and Zervos.

The start hasn't changed the recruiting calculus. This program is doing fine in signing its core HS class, utilizing walk-ons and networking for transfers. What I think is needed is a pipeline of non-qualifiers from top SEC programs. I'd take a gamble on 10 guys who are 4-5 stars with the idea that 3-4 of them could pan out and see the field at Ohio. Over sign by 8-10 guys a year to take a shot at finding the next Randy Moss or Ben Rothlisberger.