Analyzing impact of Kyle McCord committing to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has another quarterback in the fold. The Buckeyes have landed a commitment from 4-star prospect Kyle McCord.
Who is Kyle McCord? What makes the 2021 prospect special? What are the Buckeyes getting with this future Big Ten quarterback?
Lettermen Row is breaking down how this addition will impact the program moving forward under Ryan Day.
What Kyle McCord gives Ohio State on the field
Looking for another example of what Ryan Day prefers in a quarterback? Look no further than St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia) standout Kyle McCord.
The new prototype at Ohio State, McCord is a big-bodied, strong-armed quarterback. While able to move out of the pocket, he’s build to lead an offense from inside the pocket and with one goal in mind: Get the ball to one of the talented receivers as fast and as accurately as possible. That’s why he was the choice for the Buckeyes very early in the process when there were a host of other options that could’ve muddied the waters.
If Ohio State had been looking for a dual-threat quarterback, that’s not McCord. He’s just a sophomore in high school, but he already stands close to 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. In his championship-winning sophomore season, he set a school record for passing yards and tossed 38 touchdowns. He’s going to continue getting bigger and stronger, and that will make him quicker than he is now. But he’s never going to be the guy who outruns linebackers and defensive backs — and that’s totally OK, because he’s going to throw the football over their heads.
His mechanics are sound, his release is quick and can push the ball down the field. He has all the tools to a multiple-year starter in college and that’s what made him Ohio State’s early choice as its 2021 quarterback.
What Kyle McCord means to Ohio State 2021 recruiting class
There’s one major benefit to having a quarterback in the fold as early as McCord is committing: Class-building. McCord, the country’s eighth-ranked quarterback, intends to get to work immediately trying to recruit the guys he wants to play with.
“Being a quarterback is all about leadership,” McCord told Lettermen Row. “I want to lead the class and handpick the guys I want to play with in college.”
McCord won’t pick who he plays alongside at Ohio State, but he will get at least a voice in the process. And more than that, he’s going to impact the next wave of commitments, especially on offense. McCord’s teammate, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., is a top target for the Buckeyes. He’s already aware of how highly Ohio State values Harrison and another pair of receivers in Emeka Egbuka and Lorenzo Styles Jr.
With the addition of Kyle McCord, the Buckeyes pass Minnesota as the Big Ten’s top-ranked 2021 recruiting class. McCord joins 5-star defensive end Jack Sawyer as Ohio State’s early class representatives.
What makes Kyle McCord stand out
McCord’s father, Derek, played at Rutgers from 1988-92 and has been instrumental in his development, so there’s quarterbacking in his blood. That’s one of the reasons why he plays with a football IQ that seems higher than most high school prospects who’ve played only one year of varsity football.
McCord was named the quarterback MVP at The Opening regional camp in New Jersey. His recruitment blasted off early in the calendar year, earning offers from almost a dozen schools since January of 2019.
