5 2015 Recruits Who Will Make an Immediate Impact for Ohio State

National signing day is less than 24 hours away, and Ohio State is preparing to ink another top-10 class. And while there are obviously always exceptions, Urban Meyer has often stated that it's his preference not to redshirt players, and this year's class should be no different.

Currently standing as the nation's eighth-ranked class, the Buckeyes are slated to add 25 players to their roster tomorrow. Not all of those players will play right away, but it's a safe bet Meyer will do everything he can to get the best of the bench on the field.

Meyer isn't allowed to officially comment on specific players in his 2015 class until tomorrow, but it's not hard to see which players he is most excited about signing. As Ohio State looks to repeat following a national championship season, it will undoubtedly find itself having to rely on first-year players, just as it did this past year.

Here's a look at five new Buckeyes who should get the first cracks at making instant impacts in their college careers.

Justin Hilliard

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The lone 5-star prospect in Ohio State's 2015 class, Justin Hilliard serves as the headliner for this year's crop of new Buckeyes—and for good reason.

A 6'0", 225-pound prospect by way of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Hilliard measures in as the nation's second-ranked outside linebacker but also possesses the tools to play inside. Regardless of where he lines up, it's going to be hard for Meyer to keep Hilliard off the field this season, even with linebackers Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan and Darron Lee each returning from last season's title team.

A U.S. Army All-American, Hilliard's presence will likely be felt the most on special teams in his freshman season, but he could also be used as a situational rusher. In his senior season, Ohio's top-ranked prospect totaled 71 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

With Perry being a senior in 2015, Hilliard is a safe bet to be in the Buckeyes starting lineup by his sophomore season. And with an injury to a starter, he could very well be the "next man up" already, given his immense talent and physical ability.

Jashon Cornell

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Committing on the same day as Hilliard last July, Jashon Cornell considered himself to be a package deal with the 5-star linebacker. A 4-star prospect himself, Cornell ranks as the nation's No. 7 strong-side defensive end and the state of Minnesota's top player.

And while the 6'4", 260-pounder may not be as highly regarded as Cornell, he could have a leg up when it comes to making his presence felt early at Ohio State. As an early-enrollee, Cornell will benefit from participating in the Buckeyes' spring practice, as well as a head start in OSU's strength and conditioning program.

There should be playing time readily available for Cornell too, with Steve Miller having graduated and the starting spot opposite Joey Bosa open on the Buckeyes' defensive line. Sophomore Jalyn Holmes is the favorite to occupy that vacancy, but Cornell will have just as much time this offseason to prove he's deserving of reps.

From there, anything is possible, as we learned two years ago when Bosa improbably started as a freshman. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has shown a preference to rotate as many defensive linemen as possible, which should bode well for Cornell in his freshman campaign.

Alex Stump

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A 4-star prospect from St. Edward's in Lakewood, Ohio, Alex Stump is the only true wide receiver currently committed to Ohio State's 2015 class. That alone gives reason to believe he'll be capable of making an instant impact in his freshman season, as he'll have little-to-no competition from fellow classmates when it comes to playing time.

That doesn't mean Stump won't face any competition, however, as the Buckeyes have gone receiver-heavy in their two previous recruiting cycles. But with Johnnie Dixon recovering from injury and James Clark yet to have caught on with consistent playing time, Stump will enter 2015 every bit as proven (or unproven) as any non-returning starter.

Like Hilliard, Stump will likely see the majority of his playing time come on special teams, but the nation's 37th-ranked receiver could ultimately work his way into the receiver rotation. The Buckeyes will be replacing Devin Smith and Evan Spencer from last season's national title team, and only Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Corey Smith return at the position with significant playing time under their belts.

With his size (6'3.5", 195 lbs), Stump possesses the ability to play both on the perimeter and in the slot. That versatility should lend itself to early playing time, which could progress into more than that by season's end.

Jamel Dean

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Returning from a torn meniscus suffered during the final game of his high school career, it would be ideal for Jamel Dean to redshirt this season and start his college career in 2016 at full strength. But given the 4-star cornerback's ability, that just might not be possible.

The nation's 32nd-ranked corner, Dean committed to Ohio State in December 2013, becoming the Buckeyes' second verbal pledge for their 2015 class. He has also enrolled early in the school last month, giving him a head start on his college career.

With Doran Grant having graduated, playing time is available at corner in Columbus, with Damon Webb and Gareon Conley battling it out to start opposite Eli Apple. If he can recover in time, the speedy Dean could throw his name into the mix as well, with Ohio State's four other cornerback commits not arriving on campus until the summer.

Thus far, all indications have been that Dean will recover in time to take advantage of his early enrollment, as a torn meniscus alone shouldn't prevent him from sitting out the season. At 6'2", 195 pounds, Dean possesses ideal size and could at the very least become a mainstay in Ohio State's cornerback rotation this upcoming season.

Torrance Gibson

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Assuming he maintains his commitment to Ohio State—Auburn, LSU and Miami (Fla.) are still hot on his trail—it's hard to imagine Torrance Gibson not making a splash in his freshman season.

That likely wouldn't be at Gibson's preferred position of quarterback, especially considering the Buckeyes are slated to bring back Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller next season, but the 6'4", 204-pound Gibson is versatile. In fact, his ultimate future may be at wide receiver, where he could develop into one of the country's best.

With his size and ability with the ball in his hands (1,002 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns in his senior season), Gibson is a proven playmaker whose raw ability could make him a dynamic threat on the perimeter in his freshman season. Rather than redshirt as a quarterback, he may opt to start at wide receiver, before transitioning back to quarterback later down the road.

Of course, the key for the Buckeyes will be to first hang on to Gibson and get his national letter of intent tomorrow before figuring out exactly where he'll play. Passing for 1,953 yards and 21 touchdowns in his senior season, he certainly has the tools to be an elite quarterback in college, but his immediate impact could very well come at another position.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Ohio State Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.