Five Incoming 2020 Recruits Most Likely to Play Big Roles for OSU This Season

It feels discriminatory to say that the oldest incoming OSU recruits have the best chance to produce earliest in their OSU careers. But I set out to make a list of five players most likely to play big roles this upcoming season, and alas, age-discriminate I did. What I landed on was four multi-year college players — either via the junior college ranks or Division I ranks — and one high school prospect with some upside.

To defend myself, age isn’t the deciding factor here as much as experience and need. Each of the four elder statesman I named has real experience outside high school and joins position groups in need of depth. So that played a factor.

1. Josh Sills | OL | 6-6, 326

A 6-foot-6, 326-pound offensive guard with starting level experience in the Big 12? Yeah, that should work. OSU needs some help up front if only to provide depth — and West Virginia grad transfer Josh Sills should, at the very least, provide that. If healthy I think he’s a plug-and-play starter. The chances of a burly lineman with a mullet sitting on Mike Gundy’s bench are next to zero.

2. Christian Holmes | CB | 6-2, 182

Like Sills, Holmes fits a need and has experience as a grad transfer from Missouri. He played in 22 games for the Tigers the last two seasons where he made 66 tackles, notched 16 pass deflections and recorded four pass interceptions. With A.J. Green off to the NFL and a starting spot open opposite Rodarius Williams, he should be given every opportunity to be CB1 right away.

The marathon continues ?#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/RWGCjdprsI

— Christian Holmes (@Qream_Team) May 2, 2020

3. Lamont Bishop | LB | 6-3, 225

Funny enough, Lamont Bishop was the lowest-ranked signee of the 2020 class per 247Sports, but one recruit I’m particularly high on. For starters, the frame should translate immediately: he stands at a stout 6-3, 225. Plus, he moves really well for his size and can really apply pressure from the middle. Having experienced some college action at the junior college level, I think he’s a candidate to play early and often.

4. Quinton Stewart | TE | 6-4, 230

Quinton Stewart was an early enrollee for OSU who somewhat flew under the radar. But he plays the Cowboy back position — which could use depth — and has the frame and run-blocking to potentially make an impact early. Logan Carter and Jelani Woods are set as the clear-cut top options at the positions going into the fall, but I can see him getting reps behind those two in some situations — or even playing a role on special teams. Physically he’s much better prepared to contribute than most tight ends his age.

5. Tyren Irby | DE | 6-3, 235

Another unheralded recruit — (Irby committed to OSU over Liberty and UAB) — but one I think was pretty painfully overlooked. He had six sacks, 40 tackles, two forced fumbles and six QB hurries last season for Northwest Mississippi C.C. — where he was a two-year starter — and I expect those disruptive habits will continue on at OSU. Another agile off-the-edge defender who OSU could potentially use in the same way they used Trace Ford.

I took the hardaway ?? pic.twitter.com/yANx79pKN6

— Tyren Irby (@TyrenIrby9) October 2, 2019