COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State football program’s 2022 recruiting class has a singular offensive focus remaining for the next six months.
The Buckeyes located a potential generational quarterback, two tight ends, four receivers, and a running back before July hit, leaving them plenty of time for the class’ most important position. They need offensive linemen, several of them. In George Fitzpatrick of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, they’ve found their second.
Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere return for the 2021 season as perhaps the best tackle duo in the country. Petit-Frere’s a five-star in the 2018 class who is in his second year as a starter. Munford’s a four-year starter taking advantage of a sixth season granted by the NCAA, but the Buckeyes would’ve been fine even if that had not happened.
Paris Johnson Jr. — the top tackle in the 2020 class — would’ve just taken over left tackle duties instead of being a projected starting right guard in Year 2.
Fitzpatrick, rated as a four-star recruit, has some similarities to Munford. Both were rated in the low 200s but should be capable of outplaying that ranking. Munford did so as the No. 285 player and No. 28 offensive tackle in 2017, allowing Ohio State to breathe easy at a time when its offensive line recruiting may not have been up to par.
Fitzpatrick is the No. 292 player and No. 27 tackle in his class with a 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame that suggests he could be more. This was a battle the Buckeyes had to beat out Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma and Oregon to win.
Ohio State has a knack for throwing out the recruiting rankings in favor of their own evaluations. It worked out on the offensive line in 2017 with Munford. Fitzpatrick has the makeup of a player able to make history repeat itself.
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