In Ryan Day’s first five months as a head coach, Ohio State has landed just one commitment from a 2020 defensive prospect, and it came from four-star cornerback Lejond Cavazos, who had previously been committed to the Buckeyes but reopened his recruitment after Urban Meyer’s retirement.
Whether high school defenders have decided to slow-play the defensive coaching staff, which Day almost completely turned over when he was hired, or whether other factors have led to the Buckeyes not cleaning up in recruiting that side of the ball, the fact remains that they have only a single defender committed six months from the Early Signing Period.