Print and Go Back ESPN.com: OSU Buckeyes [Print without images]

Monday, February 4, 2013
 Ohio State: Five worst recruiting moments
By Brad Bournival

 If fans don’t have a seatbelt, they’ll likely fall out of the rollercoaster, especially when it comes to recruiting and following the ebb and flow of the wild ride.

One second it might look like Ohio State is onto something, and the next second it all falls apart.

There have been far more hits than misses for the Buckeyes in the recruiting class of 2013. That said, there have been some low points as well. Here’s a look back at five things Ohio State fans would rather forget from the past year.

David Dawson
ESPN 150 OG David Dawson scheduled, then canceled, an official visit to Ohio State.
1. Dawson dishes out devastation: The top-ranked offensive guard in the nation was scheduled for an official visit, and then he wasn’t. An original Michigan commitment, David Dawson re-committed to the school on Dec. 15 after an official visit to Ann Arbor, Mich. He then canceled a January visit to Columbus, Ohio.

2. Tackling and guarding a major need: With depth a problem on the offensive line, the Buckeyes made a late push for already-committed linemen in Kenny Lacy, Dan Skipper, Cameron Hunt and Matt Finnin after missing out on Dawson and former Penn State commit Dorian Johnson. They struck out on all fronts.

3. A knee to the knee: Dual-threat quarterback and recent Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider graduate J.T. Barrett tore his ACL and meniscus and had to be shut down for the season. The good news out of it is Barrett graduated early and is now under the care of Ohio State team doctors as a student. He wasn’t going to start next fall, with Braxton Miller at the helm, but knee injuries are never good news.

4. Lost that Tiger: Lewis Neal committed to Ohio State after the spring game. LSU came with an offer the following week, and just like that one of the fastest commitments in school history was lost. Neal kept the Buckeyes in the loop until the Fourth of July, but then picked the Tigers, leaving a hole at linebacker that took some time to fill.

5. Irish eyes smiled, then lost out as well: Before he decommitted from Notre Dame to go to Florida, Alex Anzalone decommitted from Ohio State. It happened on May 4 in a much-publicized story and once again left the Buckeyes searching at linebacker. Ohio State fans probably will say they won in the end, however, as it brought ESPN 150 linebackers Trey Johnson and Mike Mitchell.