OSU Buckeyes: Michael Hill
Vitals: Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) is 6-foot-5 and 274 pounds.
Status: He committed to Ohio State on March 23 during an unofficial visit.
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Few haven’t, as the 6-foot, 285-pound defensive tackle now counts over 15 offers with the latest coming from Ohio State on Wednesday.
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Ohio State practice floors Watch List DE 
In town for an unofficial visit, Wilkinson thought he knew the ins and outs of Ohio State. His former teammate Cam Burrows is now a cornerback for the Buckeyes, so it should have been the same old same old right?
Wrong.
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We’ll try to keep to five questions a week to give everyone a chance to get their answers.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
Here’s the latest installment.
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State of the Rivalry: Defensive line
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Eric Francis/Getty ImagesOhio State will have to find a way to replace Johnathan Hankins.DEFENSIVE TACKLES
- Who's back: The void in the middle of the defensive line is substantial, but that doesn't mean it's likely to become a black hole for Ohio State as it transitions to life without Johnathan Hankins and Garrett Goebel. Losing a talent like Hankins early to the NFL draft was a major blow to the defense even if it was expected, and Goebel's senior season was quietly productive and steady even if it wasn't flashy as the combination of the two big guys plugged gaps and often made rushing up the middle a fruitless proposition for opponents. But there are talented guys in reserve up front, even if there doesn't appear to be all that much depth heading into spring practice. Michael Bennett and his versatile set of skills will be put to use on the interior, and junior Joel Hale and sophomore Tommy Schutt both have the ability to handle the first-team load after filling in off the bench a year ago. Those three guys will be the focal point, charged with picking up where Hankins and Goebel left off.
- New face: The Buckeyes have two recent signees already on campus and ready to go to work in the spring, though both are listed as defensive ends and don't appear to have the size needed to battle at the interior spots. But either way, Tracy Sprinkle (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) and Tyquan Lewis (6-foot-3, 223) could potentially allow line coach Mike Vrabel to tinker with his rotation a bit, particularly with somebody like inside-outside guy Adolphus Washington who is capable of playing multiple positions. Natural tackles Michael Hill, Joey Bosa, Billy Price and Donovan Munger will bulk up the group in August.
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We can almost put a bow on the 2013 recruiting class -- punter Johnny Townsend has not signed his letter of intent and is apparently having second thoughts -- and it was one of the best recruiting classes in school history.
The Buckeyes signed 24 players and finished third in the ESPN class rankings behind SEC powers Alabama and Florida, with 19 of the 24 signees at four stars or more.
Here's a recap of how the day unfolded. Follow the live blog after the jump.
Meyer building defensive line foundation
One look at how Florida completely dismantled Ohio State from a defensive standpoint in the national championship game after the 2006 season shows the blueprint.
He piles up defensive linemen in recruiting and wears the competition into submission with a rotating front.
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OSU tops Michigan in final ESPN 150/300
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Ten OSU pledges highlight weekend events
The sixth annual Under Armour All-America Game leads things off Friday with some of the biggest names, as defensive tackle Joey Bosa (70 tackles, 9½ sacks), cornerback Cam Burrows (39 tackles, 14 pass breakups, fumble recovery), athlete Jalin Marshall (2,186 total yards, 25 Tds) and two-way star Gareon Conley (1,096 receiving yards, 16 Tds, 25 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, interception) headline the event.
Also joining the four ESPN 150 seniors will be ESPN 300 tight end Marcus Baugh (38 catches, 610 yards, 4 Tds). Baugh showed up big for the Buckeyes on Wednesday when he won the American Family Insurance Skills Challenge at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports for offensive and defensive linemen.
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Nothing offensive about Ohio State's D-line
Urban Meyer wins with a surplus of defensive linemen.
When he was coaching at Florida, Meyer rotated his men in the trenches more than a service station changes tires.
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Ohio State 2013 class: 5 things to know
There are 48 days, to be exact, as the Buckeyes diligently work on what they hope is a top five class in the country.
There are some things we know about the class of 2013 and certain things we don’t. Here’s what recruiting writers and fans alike have figured out about Urban Meyer’s second class as the head man for Ohio State:
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Hankins' exit puts young Buckeyes on deck
I believed Johnathan Hankins when he said last summer that he wanted to help Ohio State win a championship.
But some NFL draft decisions are made for you. And when you're a virtual lock in the top 15 of the draft, you make the jump, no questions asked.
Hankins surprised no one Monday in announcing he'll forgo his senior season and enter the 2013 NFL draft. The Ohio State junior defensive tackle boosted his stock this season, eating up space and ball-carriers in the middle of the Buckeyes' defensive line. Many NFL draft prognosticators, including our own Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, have Hankins as the first Big Ten player off the board in April.
Hankins won't help Ohio State try to win a national title in 2013, but he undoubtedly made the right call.
"I will always be grateful for the family I have gained here at Ohio State," Hankins said in a prepared statement. "I want to thank coach [Urban] Meyer, coach [Mike] Vrabel and strength coach [Mickey] Marotti for bringing the best out of me as a football player and person, and for their constant support. I also want to thank coach [Jim] Tressel and coach [Jim] Heacock for recruiting me and giving me an opportunity to be a part of this great school and great program."
Hankins added that he intends to finish his degree at Ohio State, which is great to hear. He started every game the past two seasons and finishes his career with 138 tackles (58 solo, 80 assists), including 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Although Ohio State expected Hankins to leave, his departure underscores some potential depth issues the team will have up front in 2013. Defensive end John Simon, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, moves on along with nose tackle Garrett Goebel and defensive end Nathan Williams.
The good news is Urban Meyer has recruited very well at defensive line, securing blue chippers Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington in his first class (both played this fall). Linemen like Michael Bennett, Steve Miller, Tommy Schutt and Joel Hale all should see increased roles in 2013. Ohio State also is bringing in several standout D-line recruits like ESPN 300 selections Joey Bosa and Michael Hill.
Ohio State has a lot of young talent along the defensive line, but the Buckeyes need those players to grow up in a hurry if they want to take another step forward on defense.
When Conley announced his decision, we mentioned that the Buckeyes' 2013 class is continuing to be defined by its strength among the ‘skilled’ positions, but there is still a noticeable push to strengthen the defensive trenches in Columbus, especially inside. With players like Joey Bosa (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) and Michael Hill (Pendleton, S.C./Pendleton) already on board, they now add Munger, a big man who can develop into a productive and steady presence inside.
Some time in the Buckeyes weight program should greatly benefit him and it would likely be ideal if they can redshirt Munger. However, the four-star uses his hands well and displays some headiness to aid his physical ability to help him be active and productive in the trenches. Best at this stage as a run defender, but shows some flashes as an interior pass rusher.
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ABOUT BUCKEYE NATION
Austin Ward
Austin Ward joined ESPN.com in 2012 after five years as a college football writer at the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune and the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel. The award-winning journalist lives with his wife in Columbus, Ohio. Email him at ajward.espn@gmail.com.
Brad Bournival
Brad Bournival, a lifetime Northeast Ohio resident, joined ESPN in 2012 and is the recruiting writer for BuckeyeNation. He has covered sports at the professional, college and high school level for 16 years. Recently, Bournival was a freelance writer for The Plain Dealer, The Medina Gazette and SportsInk.com. Email him at bradbournival.espn@gmail.com.