National Signing Day in early February was the most quiet OSU has ever enjoyed, thanks to the newly-implemented early signing period that saw all but two spots get snatched up for the Cowboys.
In the final signing opportunity in early February, the staff brought on Amadou Fofana and Samuela Tuihalamaka to max out the class. Fofana and Tuihalamaka, a DE/DT and DT, respectively, add to a talented, raw incoming defensive end bunch which signed in December.
Given the circumstances, defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements did a good job rebounding from a late-cycle stunner when Israel Antwine flipped to Colorado and left OSU hanging just a day before the signing period.
So as the dust settles on this group and the staff marches on towards 2019, as a collective group, where does this defensive line class rank? Let’s hand out grades to assess where things finished and pick up where we left off last week when we ranked the secondary.
Ability to produce right away
Of the five incoming defensive linemen, only two — Amadou Fofana and Michael Scott — are coming from the junior college ranks. So to me, I think, that pretty much rules out most of the incoming class. But if I had to put a number on it, I’d say the over/under on incoming defensive linemen to play in 2018 would be set at 1.5, and I’d take the over.
I think defensive end Michael Scott will be a day one depth piece, and Fofana could be a rotation guy, too, either at defensive tackle or on the edge if he can refine his game. As for the other signees — Tyler Lacy, Braden Cassity, and Samuela Tuihalamaka — I expect them to redshirt.
There’s always a chance one or two could surprise me and earn PT as rookies, like Brock Martin likely would have last season if not for injury. But OSU’s calling card with freshmen defensive linemen is almost always to send them to a redshirt before putting them on the field.
Grade: C+
Long-term potential
Here’s where this class shines. I’m all in on Tyler Lacy becoming a future pro (too soon?!), and I’m enamored with Braden Cassity’s upside. Factor in under-the-radar nose tackle Samuela Tuihalamaka and junior college star edge-rusher Michael Scott, and I think this bunch has a chance to put up some big numbers as Cowboys.
Grade: A-
Addressing needs
Ask me two months ago, and I say this is a pretty underwhelming crew — only because OSU didn’t have an incoming DT. But for OSU to pull in Amadou Fofana and Samuela Tuihalamaka in the final signing day was huge to fill out the depth for the class, particularly on the interior of the defensive line.
Additionally, OSU bringing in youth at the defensive end position to eventually help replace Jarrell Owens, Cole Walterscheid and Jordan Brailford was critical. It takes the pressure off OSU for 2019 and gives the staff the luxury to be a little more selective with the wealth of young talent incoming.
Grade: B
