Columbus, Ohio — There was always a chance that Ryan Day’s strategy of packing highly regarded quarterback prospects into each Ohio State football recruiting class would backfire.
Attrition to the transfer portal would inevitably happen on a frequent basis. One of those quarterbacks would eventually replace the overachieving Buckeyes as the starting quarterback for a Big Ten Conference opponent.
After this former starter for the Buckeyes submitted his name in the portal on Monday, Nebraska allegedly became one of the first clubs to visit with Kyle McCord on Tuesday. The Cornhuskers, who play at Ohio Stadium on October 26th, are in dire need of improvement after fielding what may be the worst passing attack in the Big Ten outside of Iowa.
Think about the output that each of the four incoming programs has generated over the last ten or so years:
• Oregon: the No. 2 overall pick and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, the 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year, and Bo Nix, a 2023 Heisman finalist
• UCLA: selected No. 10 overall in 2018. Josh Rosen, backup and 2023 Browns draft selection Dorian Robinson Thompson
• USC: No. 3 overall pick in 2018 Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman winner, and Sam Darnold
• Washington: Michael Penix Jr., a 2023 Heisman nominee; Jake Browning, the 2016 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, who currently starts in place of injured Bengals standout and former OSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
Yes, a few of those athletes have prior professional experience in different leagues. It’s true that three of those programs will send those elite players to the NFL following this season, but there’s no guarantee they can continue to produce at that caliber.
But each of those initiatives demonstrated that it is capable of spotting exceptional talent at the most crucial positions, signing it, and setting up the conditions for success.
Who was the best Big Ten quarterback in the last ten years that wasn’t from Ohio State before McCarthy arrived? Connor Cook of Michigan State? The Trace McSorley of Penn State? Aidan O’Connell, a walk-on at Purdue who became a rookie starter with the Raiders?
McCarthy demonstrated that Ohio State no longer automatically employs the top quarterback in the Big Ten. It arguably did not have one of the top five this season if you include the four incoming teams and your preferred productivity stats and metrics are taken into consideration.
Between his first and second seasons as a starter, McCord might have developed similarly to McCarthy. Perhaps. This adds even more meaning to Day’s decision to commit to McCord as the starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign. The procedure has to be completed to see if someone else could hold McCord at that level or even surpass him.
Being ruthless does not require being uncaring.
Once upon a time, only Ohio State could compete to attract the best quarterbacks in the country. Devin Brown, a potential starter, is one of four quarterbacks returned from the top 50 prospects, along with Drew Allar of Penn State, Ty Thompson of Oregon, and Malachi Nelson of USC.
Recently, UCLA dropped a sixth game to Dante Moore’s transfer portal. Among the most widely circulated potential landing destinations for the former five-star prospect? Michigan. The list rises if McCord finds a home in the Big Ten, and Nebraska is not the only “original 14” school in need of an improvement.
In anticipation of the upcoming West Coast wave, Day and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis seem to have strengthened their position.
At five stars and listed among the top 35 prospects, Ohio State’s Air Noland is the highest-ranked 2024 quarterback commit for any Big Ten team, present or future. Both Penn State (Ethan Grunkemeyer) and Michigan (Jadyn Davis) anticipate signing quarterbacks in the top 100. As of right now, the Pac-12 contingent is not expected to bring in any elite prospects in this class.
Of the eighteen potential Big Ten clubs, who is the best-ranked 2025 quarterback commit? Tavien St. Clair, a top-60 talent, committed to the Buckeyes as well.
