Urban Meyer has assembled a number of incredible recruiting classes during his head coaching career, but the group he put together for Ohio State in 2013 has the potential to be historically great.
The 28-member class, which 247Sports rated No. 2 in the country on national signing day that year, could be even better than Meyer's 2006 haul at Florida—which included first-team All-Americans Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes—or the 2007 group that featured four first-round NFL draft picks in Cam Newton, Joe Haden and Maurkice and Mike Pouncey.
That potential is there because a number of third-year Buckeyes are already household names or on the verge of stardom.
It starts with Joey Bosa, the versatile pass-rushing defensive end who anchored Ohio State's defense as a true sophomore last season. Boasting a quick burst off the line and a bevy of moves to either beat blockers off the edge or on the inside, Bosa was a nightmare for opposing offenses, ranking fifth nationally with 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss, according to NCAA.com.
Comparisons have been made to J.J. Watt—the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year—but to Bosa's credit, he's not buying into that.
"When I watch [Watt], I really don't see myself as much," Bosa said, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "The style, the way I play, I feel like I get the comparisons because I'm a big white dude and he's a big white dude playing defensive line. He has a crazy motor, he's a physical freak and, I don't know, I guess I just look at myself different."
He may not be Watt, but he could end up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
At least, that's the argument ESPN.com draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is making, as he recently pegged Bosa as next year's top NFL prospect (h/t Doug Lesmerises of Northeast Ohio Media Group). And as teams in the league continue to scramble and find ways to stop the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck and a host of young, top-flight wide receivers, pass-rushers such as Bosa will be a valuable and desired asset.
But it's not just Bosa. Other potential first-round picks such as running back Ezekiel Elliott and linebacker Darron Lee fuel Ohio State's 2013 recruiting class.
Elliott, who rushed for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns, and Lee, who ranked third on the team with 81 tackles and second with 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, are coming off breakout 2014 campaigns. Elliott surged down the stretch, running for 696 yards and eight touchdowns during Ohio State's postseason run against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. Lee was the surprising enforcer on defense who thrived when the coaching staff turned him loose at the line of scrimmage.
That's why both are projected as first-round picks for next year's draft, according to Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout.
But it's not just this trio that makes Meyer's 2013 crop so special.
There's depth with players who project to the NFL as mid- to late-round picks in 2016 and beyond, such as defensive backs Vonn Bell and Eli Apple, receivers Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith and quarterback J.T. Barrett.
But before these players can move on to the next level, they need to continue validating themselves as Buckeyes. They've already helped Meyer win 26 of his last 29 games, and they were key in Ohio State beating Alabama and Oregon to win the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship.
And if Bosa and Co. keep up their winning ways, their path to the NFL will be clear and fast, and they could cement themselves as the best recruiting class Meyer ever signed.
All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.
David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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