Ohio State Football: 2013 Ohio Recruits the Buckeyes Need the Most

Since his first day as head coach of the Ohio State football team, Urban Meyer has been a recruiting mastermind, landing big name recruits and putting together one of the top 2012 recruiting classes in the nation.

It seems as if all the recent prospects that committed to the scarlet and gray have mentioned the possibility to one day play for a national title under the leadership of coach Meyer. If Meyer keeps reeling in talent like he already has, he will do just that.

In order for Meyer to piece together a national championship winning squad, however, he'll have to bring in top recruits in the 2013 class as well. If he wants to do so, he'll have to take care of business in his home state first. Without further ado, here are the top Ohio recruits that Urban Meyer and Ohio State need. 

Evan Lisle – OT – Centerville, Ohio

Considering the fact that the Bucks are losing a lot of talent and experience on the offensive line, it's safe to say that they need to reload and do it quickly. To do so, however, it all starts out by picking up guys like Evan Lisle. 

Lisle's schools of  interest: Northwestern, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State.

Jacob Matuska – TE – Columbus, Ohio

Jake Stoneburner is aging, and Ohio State is looking to reel in another talented tight end to one day fill his void. Though Matuska may not possess the same speed and route running ability as Stoneburner, he has great hands and he's a pretty good blocker too.

Jacob's schools of  interest: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Toledo.

Mike McCray – OLB – Trotwood, Ohio

If you wanted a big bruising linebacker to play for your defense, you would look no further than Mike McCray. McCray has the body frame of a lineman, and the speed of a strong safety. Combine these attributes with great field awareness and an above average tackling ability, and you have yourself a pretty good linebacker prospect.

McCray's schools of  interest: Syracuse, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee, and Toledo. 

Shelton Gibson – WR – Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Speedy receiver out of Cleveland Heights, Shelton Gibson has a certain swagger about him and it's evident on the football field. Gibson has the type of elusiveness that spark comparisons to that of former Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr. 

Gibson's schools of interest: Auburn, Duke, East Carolina, Bowling Green, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Caleb Day – ATH – Hilliard, Ohio

Caleb Day is one of those guys that could find success at the wide receiver or defensive back position. He is quick, versatile, resourceful with the ball in his hands, and he has great awareness. 

Day's schools of interest: LSU, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon.

Lovell Peterson – OG – Huber Heights, Ohio

Like Braxton Miller, Lovell Peterson is a stud player out Wayne High School. Perhaps Peterson would have been overlooked had Miller not attracted so much attention to the Wayne Warrior football team. Nevertheless, he's a big boy who has the skill set to one day start for a high quality division one football program.  

Peterson's schools of  interest: Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, and Cincinnati.

Corey Smith – WR – Akron, Ohio

Corey Smith could be used in many ways in an Urban Meyer coached offense. Just think of how Percy Harvin was used in his days as a Florida Gator. With the talent Ohio State has in the backfield, however, this wouldn't be the case if Smith committed to the Bucks. But he is certainly that type of athlete.  

Smith's schools of  interest: Georgia, Indiana, Notre Dame, Michigan State, North Carolina, Miami (OH), Ohio State, Penn State, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Illinois, Akron, Ball State, Iowa, Tennessee, and Toledo.

Billy Price – OT – Youngstown, Ohio

If the Buckeyes are looking for fresh talent to fill the void of three seniors leaving from the 2011-12 offensive line, the size, strength, and attitude of Billy Price (who is also attracting nationwide attention) could do just that. If the Price is right for Urban Meyer, he will commit to Ohio State over the other school's he's interested in. 

Price's schools of  interest:UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan, Miami (OH), Ohio State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Southern Methodist, and Tennessee.

Sean Welsh – OG – Springboro, Ohio

Sean Welsh in one of the best offensive guards in the "Buckeye state", and he doesn't hesitate to demonstrate it on opposing defenders. Having the privilege to go to a few of his games, I realized that he stood out like a sore thumb... but in a positive way. 

Welsh's schools of  interest: Northwestern, Notre Dame, Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio State, Ohio, Cincinnati, and Toledo.

Robert Wheelwright – WR – Columbus, Ohio

With a body frame and skill set similar to that of former Ohio State receiver Devier Posey, Robert Wheelwright could be an adequate deep threat against any opposing defense. Hopefully, he will become a Buckeye, and become a threat towards defenses in the Big 10. 

Wheelwright's schools of  interest: Indiana, Boston College, Michigan State, Michigan, Syracuse, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Cincinnati, and Purdue.

DeVeon Smith – RB – Warren, Ohio

Though the Buckeyes are loaded at the running back position for years to come, the philosophy's always the same: reload, reload, reload!

DeVeon Smith is the next target for the Bucks, and if he jumps on board with the scarlet and gray he'll be yet another weapon in the deepest backfield in the Big 10. 

Smith's schools of  interest: Boston College, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. 

Jalin Marshall – QB/ATH – Middletown, Ohio

When it comes to athleticism, Jalin Marshall is the top of the line. Not only is he lightning fast with great vision and shifty moves, he has the ability to hurt you in three ways: running, throwing, or catching the football. 

Marshall's schools of  interest: UCLA, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Cincinnati, and Tennessee.

Kyle Meadows – OT – West Chester, Ohio

Kyle Meadows is a huge, quick, and powerful offensive tackle out of Lakota West high school and he has gotten multiple scholarship offers from some big name programs. However, Meadows has narrowed his schools of interest down to two, and ironically they are arch rivals.

Having the stature of former Ohio State tackle Mike Adams, he will most likely start at left tackle at the collegiate level. 

Meadow's schools of  interest: Ohio State, and Michigan.

1.) Malik Zaire – QB – Kettering, Ohio

This kid is the cream of the crop among the recruits Ohio State is targeting in the 2013 class. He has an excellent arm, great awareness, and the wheels needed to make him a legitimate dual threat quarterback. Zaire, like Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, is the type of guy that would thrive in an Urban Meyer coached offense. 

Zaire's schools of interest: Northwestern, Indiana, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Boston College, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Cincinnati.