Ohio State Football: 5 Underappreciated Members of the 2013 Recruiting Class

Ohio State is coming off a 12-0 season, and the successes on the field have carried over into offseason recruiting success.

It should come as no surprise that with one week left to recruit, Urban Meyer has put together a top-five recruiting class, according Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247 Sports.

The class is headlined by 11 members who played in either the U.S. Army All-American Bowl or the Under Armour All-America Game.

The class isn't necessarily done at 23; there could be room for a couple more if they're the right type of players.

But there are five members in this class who aren't getting the attention they deserve. Whether it's because they are underrated or because their recruitment didn't cause drama, they deserve more ink.

Evan Lisle

It’s hard to imagine a top-10 offensive lineman in a recruiting class with only two offensive linemen as an underappreciated member of the Buckeyes’ new players.

Especially considering that recruit, Evan Lisle, played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and is a 4-star prospect by all four major recruiting services—Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247Sports.

Nonetheless, Lisle feels like he is flying under the radar.

The Buckeyes didn't have much of a battle for his commitment. Lisle didn't make a huge show out of his announcement and has been relatively quiet since he committed last February.

Another reason Lisle is being overlooked is the fact that the offensive line is probably the weakest unit in Ohio State’s recruiting class.

But don’t let the lack of depth in the unit fool you; the Buckeyes are getting at least one good offensive lineman.

Lisle is good enough that could he be battling for a starting spot as early as 2014.

Taivon Jacobs

Taivon Jacobs is a slender receiver out of Maryland who hasn't gotten much attention from recruiting services despite his speed and playmaking ability.

Jacobs has the speed to make an impact and is the type of athlete Urban Meyer is thinking of when he talks about playmakers.

Meyer showed at all his coaching stops before that if a player has the speed, then he will get touches.

Jacobs doesn't have the lofty recruiting rankings—a 3-star on Rivals, Scout and 247Sports, but a 4-star on ESPN—like the other skill-position recruits in the Buckeyes’ class, like Jalin Marshall and Ezekiel Elliott.

But with his speed and knack for big plays, he could become an important factor in the offense in the future.

Jayme Thompson

Jayme Thompson got a bump in his recruiting rankings after helping to lead his Toledo Central Catholic team to a state championship.

Thompson—a consensus 4-star to Rivals, Scout, 247Sports and ESPN—is a rangy athlete who can go up and high-point the ball or come up strong in run support.

Ohio State will rely on three seniors at safety and nickelback, so playing time in 2013 is unlikely for Thompson.

But going forward, Thompson, along with Ron Tanner, Devan Bogard and others, will have a chance to earn time at all three spots.

Tracy Sprinkle

As a consensus 3-star, Tracy Sprinkle is one of the lowest-rated recruits in Ohio State's 2013 class. He was also an early commit and has remained out of the recruiting spotlight.

However, Sprinkle's high school stats say that maybe he should be getting more attention.

Sprinkle, a 6'4'', 250-pound defensive lineman, is already enrolled at Ohio State and has a head start on many of the other recruits in this class.

Even though Ohio State has brought in several high-profile defensive line recruits since Meyer took over, don't be surprised if Sprinkle battles his way into the rotation and maybe finally grabs some of the spotlight.

Gareon Conley

Gareon Conley is a former Michigan commit, a participant in the Under Armour All-America Game and one of the top recruits in the state of Ohio.

All of that should add up to him being one of the most talked-about commits in the Buckeyes' class. 

But his presence in this class has been overlooked. 

That could have something to do with Eli Apple and Cameron Burrows already forming a formidable cornerback duo in the class.

Or it could be because his official visit and commitment came the same week as Mike Mitchell's visit.

Either way, this versatile athlete could play offense or defense when he gets to Columbus, which is valuable for a team with limited scholarships.

But more than just adding depth, Conley's combination of size and speed make him a threat to become an impact player early in his Buckeyes career.