Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes reclaim top spot in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

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Buckeyes reclaim top spot in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Ohio State is back on top of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, and the Buckeyes didn’t even have to land another commit to their talented 2025 class to make it happen.

Instead, the Buckeyes vaulted back over Alabama for the top spot thanks to a decommitment from the Crimson Tide’s 2025 class. Four-star Saraland (Saraland, Ala.) defensive lineman Antonio Coleman flipped from Alabama to arch rival Auburn on Saturday, dropping Alabama down below Ohio State.

Hilariously, this is Coleman’s second time flipping from Alabama to Auburn. He initially committed to Alabama, then flipped to Auburn last year, then flipped back to Alabama in March. Now he’s back in the Tigers’ No. 12 ranked class on The Plains.

For the Buckeyes, they’re back on top thanks to Coleman’s indecisiveness. But for how long? Ohio State is in contention for numerous top-ranked uncommitted prospects, including five-star offensive tackle David Sanders.

As of now, the 24-man 2025 Ohio State class is the best in the country. It still has a chance to get better.

Which rushing attacks could give Buckeyes issues in 2024?

Ohio State has improved dramatically in each of Jim Knowles’ first two years as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, both through the air and on the ground.

In Knowles’ first season, the Buckeyes allowed 121.1 yards per game on the ground, 26th in the country, but struggled to stop the best rushing attacks on the schedule. Last year, this defense improved to allowing 119.5 yards per game on the ground, good for 29th nationally. Three spots lower, yes, but two yards fewer.

If Ohio State plans on having a historically good defense behind so many veterans returning, it has to be better against the run in Year Three under Knowles. The goal should be to allow fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. That won’t be easy, especially looking at the slate of rushing attacks this defense will face this upcoming season.

Lettermen Row is breaking down the five best rushing attacks Ohio State will take on this fall — and how hard it’ll be to stop each of them.

Note: This is not a ranked list. The teams are in chronological order of when Ohio State plays each team.

READ: Five best rushing attacks Buckeyes defense will face this season

Latest on Buckeyes punter battle

While the Ohio State position battle conversation is dominated by quarterback and offensive line headlines this offseason, there’s one unsettled job that has flown under the radar this offseason, and that’s the starting punter gig.

After starting three seasons for the Buckeyes, Jesse Mirco transferred to Vanderbilt this offseason. That left a void, and at least one big shoe, to be filled on special teams, a phase of the game Ohio State is trying to revamp this year.

Going into last season, Mirco ranked fourth in program history with a career punt average of 44.2 yards per boot. Of his 80 punts in a Buckeyes uniform, 37 had landed inside the opposing 20-yard line. He entered 2023 having posted 18 punts of 50-plus yards and just seven touchbacks.

Granted, Mirco didn’t have his best year at Ohio State last season — he was sixth in the Big Ten in punt average (43.5 yards) and 10th with 18 punts inside the opposing 20 — but the Fremantle, Australia, native had his best outing of the year in the Cotton Bowl versus Missouri and was a Ray Guy Award preseason watch list honoree for a reason.

Mirco started his first year at Ohio State. The same could be true for Nick McLarty, a 6-foot-7, 255-pound punter from Melbourne, Australia, who joined the Buckeyes this summer.

READ MORE: Buckeyes preparing for punter battle to carry late into preseason

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 34 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 125 days

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