Ohio State's 2010 Recruiting Class Designed for Future Gains

While Ohio State’s 2010 recruiting class may not have the flash or depth of previous classes, it is still a solid class nonetheless. Ohio State’s 2010 class, ranked No. 20 by Scout.com, is built for post-2010. It would be surprising if anyone of these players makes a significant impact next year.

The class is headlined by big Andrew Norwell, a 6'6", 290-pound five-star offensive tackle from Cincinnati. Norwell saw his senior year cut short by a leg injury, but he will be fully recovered by summer practice. Recruiting experts point to Norwell’s tenacity and mean streak as his major strengths, along with his above-average pass-blocking skills, something not normally seen in linemen just coming out of his school.

Another gem in OSU’s 2010 class is Cleveland St. Ignatius linebacker Scott McVey. Although he helped lead his school to a state title as a junior, McVey’s best year came as a senior, when he had 144 tackles, 18 sacks, 44 tackles for loss and two interceptions. McVey will likely have to wait until his junior year to see major playing time, which is standard procedure for most Buckeye ‘backers.

Speaking of making an impact, running back Roderick Smith’s combination of size and speed will have OSU fans drooling maybe as soon as the 2011 season. Smith, who stands 6'3" and weighs around 220 pounds, used his long stride running style to gallop for over 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior at Paul Harding High in Fort Wayne, IN.

Given the depth coach Tressel has at running back, Smith likely won’t see time until 2011, and will likely redshirt this upcoming season.

Ohio State also recruited a trio of receivers, each of whom specializes in a different area of the game.

Corey Brown, 6'0" out of Springfield, PA could be a future slot man in the Buckeye offense thanks to his “out of the block” speed and ability to make defenders miss after the catch.

Tyrone Williams, a 6'7" tall drink of water out of Cleveland, is a potential red zone nightmare for defensive coordinators.

Finally, 5'11" James Louis, who hails from Delray Beach, FL, looks like a carbon copy of former Buckeye Santonio Holmes. Louis’s combination of speed, hands, and athleticism scream future No. 1 receiver.

My personal favorite in the 2010 class is Cleveland Glenville cornerback Christian Bryant. When you watch video of this kid, you’ll quickly notice that he’s all over the field, making form tackles and picking off opposing quarterbacks.

While he doesn’t have great size at 5'11", Bryant makes up for God-given height with fearlessness and extremely physical play. I could see him maybe making an impact on special teams in 2010 and contending for a starting cornerback position in 2011.

The 19 players in OSU’s 2010 class are mostly built for the future. And that’s what top teams like the Buckeyes continue to do each season. Reload, not rebuild.