National Signing Day 2012: Buckeyes Make Resounding Statement with Top 5 Class

Not too many people would've imagined that after everything that has happened at Ohio State, they would end national signing day 2012 with 25 signees, and another one or two more possibly on the way.

That's the Urban Meyer difference for the Buckeyes.

He has not run one single practice and Ohio State has come away with a consensus Top 6 recruiting class, including the No. 3 class according to Scout.com and Rivals.com's No. 4 class.

The quality and talent in this recruiting class in so many positions sends a strong message to the Big Ten and the rest of the country that Ohio State will only be away for one year.

Obviously, OSU cannot play in a postseason game in 2012 under any circumstances due to the Jim Tressel scandal.

In addition, the Buckeyes will have to dole out scholarships carefully over the next few years, because they lose three scholarships a year from now until 2014.

That hasn't stopped Meyer from doing in just two months what most coaches don't do in an entire year: reel in blue-chipper after blue-chipper.

Now there is no question the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State helped Ohio State, because four former PSU commits (Armani Reeves, Camren Williams, Joey O'Connor and Tommy Schutt) signed with Ohio State.

They also signed the best player in the state of Pennsylvania, DE Noah Spence, a consensus five-star prospect and the Maxwell Football Club High School National Player of the Year.

Ohio State also worked to rebuild the metaphorical fence that Jim Tressel put around the state of Ohio for the better part of a decade.

When Tressel was forced out of his job on Memorial Day and Michigan landed some good Ohio prospects, including OT Kyle Kalis, people thought the fence was knocked down.

But the Buckeyes signed 16 players from Ohio, including five of Rivals.com's Top 10 from the state of Ohio.

That number is somewhat skewed by head coaching instability that created a recruiting dry spell, lasting from Memorial Day to just after Meyer's arrival.

When you consider all of that plus the reemergence of Michigan and the lack of success on the field at Ohio State last season, this class is simply stunning.

And Ohio State might not be done. They are still in the hunt on two 5-star prospects, WR Davonte Neal and WR Stefon Diggs.

Neal has Ohio State very high on his list, and his visit to Arizona this weekend might have to be an amazing success to keep him away from Columbus.

Mike Farrell of Rivals.com has a source saying Neal will sign with OSU at some point.

"

Heard from a source just now that Davonte Neal will be a #Buckeye, not sure when he signs though. #RivalsNSD

— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) February 1, 2012

"

Diggs took an abbreviated visit to Ohio State last weekend and had plenty of good things to say about it.

He still has a visit to in-state Maryland left to take this weekend, and will likely decide on Feb. 10.

It seems like Diggs is Florida's prospect to lose, but Meyer has the ability to swoop in and close the deal.

Ohio State seems like they should be able to get either one or the other between Diggs and Neal.

While it's not likely that they will get both, it's probably less likely they will get neither.

One of those two players, both speedsters with the ability to play the Percy Harvin-esque role in Urban Meyer's offense, would be the exclamation point on an already outstanding recruiting class.

If they get both—on top of recent 2013 commit ATH Jalin Marshall, likely the top junior in Ohio—Ohio State's offense will have sky-high potential.

Regardless of the future, the fact is that in just two months, Urban Meyer has revitalized the Ohio State Buckeyes, and their 2012 recruiting class is living proof.

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest college football news and updates, including recruiting updates.