Scarlet Sunrise: How will Ohio State handle the versatile H-back role?

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How will the Buckeyes manage a loaded H-back position?

As if the H-back position in the Ohio State offense already wasn’t versatile enough, now coach Ryan Day has a roster loaded with enough dynamic athletes that he can seemingly do whatever he wants with that role. That’s the dream of any play-caller, with the only real issue creeping in when it’s time to make hard decisions about playing time when there are so many deserving candidates.

Do the Buckeyes want to primarily feature the pass-catching ability of K.J. Hill? Does the role lend itself more now to rushing ability, therefore providing a path for Demario McCall into the rotation? Maybe Jaelen Gill is ready to unleash his speed and become the next Parris Campbell for the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes might also consider that a potential spot where C.J. Saunders can carve out a niche as a slot receiver who can share some responsibilities with Hill as one of the veteran targets in the passing attack.

Clearly the Buckeyes have no shortage options, and that’s not a surprise given how productive that position has been for the last few years and how well the program annually recruits.

Names to know in the Buckeye State

Since taking over the reins of the Ohio State football program in December, Ryan Day has received commitments from four different in-state football players: Tommy Eichenberg, Zach Harrison, Jack Sawyer and Jakob James. The new coaching staff has indeed made the state of Ohio a focus in their early recruiting efforts, and it’s paid off with those future Buckeyes spread across three recruiting cycles.

The Class of 2019 is complete, and now Ohio State turns its focus entirely to the classes of 2020 and 2021. It appears Day and his staff want to ensure that Ohio-born prospects are the cornerstones of the future. Paris Johnson (2020) and Jack Sawyer (2021) are the state’s top prospects in their respective classes — and both are already committed to the Buckeyes. That pair may lead the way, but there are many good prospects in the state that will become familiar names over the next two years, some of which are already known.

There are some key players to watch in the next two recruiting classes from inside of Ohio, and Birm took a closer look at the list in Wednesday’s Recruiting Question of the Day.

Watch Reid Fragel break down Dawand Jones

Ohio State isn’t opposed to taking on a project or two when it sees potential, and it’s hard to ignore the upside packed inside the enormous frame of Dawand Jones.

Maybe it will take some time before the new signee becomes a contributor. Or perhaps his huge 6-foot-8, 360-pound frame will adjust to the rigors of the Big Ten faster than expected. But either way, the Buckeyes envision a bright future for Jones or it wouldn’t have used one of its coveted final spots in the 2019 recruiting class to land him out of Indianapolis as a potential building block for the future.

Former Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel was back in the Lettermen Row film lab for a BuckIQ breakdown of what Jones might provide for the program once he arrives and gets to work in the weight room and on the practice field.

WATCH: Reid Fragel analyzes Dawand Jones

Ohio State staying in touch with home-state product Talyn Parker

Ohio State is looking to add a pair of running backs in the Class of 2020, and though it’s working hard on some of the country’s elite talents, the program is not forgetting that some impressive young backs can be found close to home.

Portsmouth’s Talyn Parker told Lettermen Row months ago that he’d been in touch with Ohio State.

“They straight-up said I’m arguably one of the best backs in Ohio,” Parker said in November. “Just telling me to keep my grades and I’ll be getting offered.”

Parker added that he will be visiting Ohio State in March, but to this point, there’s been little change in the messaging from the Buckeyes and Parker has not really heard much of anything from Ryan Day. He hopes that will change in March, and he’s encouraged by a recent Ohio State request.

For more on Parker and more recruiting updates, check out Wednesday’s edition of Dotting the ‘Eyes.

Counting down

• Ohio State hoops vs. Illinois: Today
• Oho State spring game: 58 days

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