Ohio State Football Recruiting: Noah Spence Headlines Loaded 2012 Class

The 2011 season was unkind to Ohio State, but Urban Meyer's first recruiting class will erase those painful memories.

Led by defensive end Noah Spence, Meyer is bringing in at least 23 freshmen to help him lead the Buckeyes back to BCS glory.

Ohio State has already received commitments from 13 4-star recruits and two 5-star prospects (according to Rivals). With national signing day coming up this Wednesday, it will have a chance to add a few more.

Of the players they Buckeyes have already wrapped up, the 6'4", 245-pound Spence is the most impressive. The kid is an absolute monster defensively, using his speed and explosiveness to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.

As a senior at Bishop McDevitt in Pennsylvania, he recorded 108 tackles (28 for loss) and 13 sacks. Rivals ranks him as the No. 9 prospect in the class of 2012, while ESPNU has him fourth overall.

While Spence headlines the Buckeyes' recruiting class, he's certainly not the only elite defender they're bringing in. Adolphus Washington, Se'Von Pittman and Tommy Schutt will be joining him on the D-line.

Washington, a 6'4", 251-pound defensive end, racked up an absurd 25 sacks in his senior year of high school.

Offensively, Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball will look to become the next great running backs to wear the scarlet and grey. Both are violent, bruising runners with deceptive speed. Braxton Miller is only a sophomore, but with Dan Herron graduating there will be some opportunities for the incoming freshmen.

Urban Meyer has only been on campus for a couple months, but he's already living up to his reputation. If he has as much success on the field as he did on the recruiting trail, it will be a good first season for Meyer and the Buckeyes.