Ohio State Football Recruiting: Strong But Incomplete Class Heading Into National Signing Day

The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking unsurprisingly strong heading into 2011 National Signing Day, with a recruiting class that includes nine players ranked among Rivals' four-star prospects, but with less than 48 hours to go before faxes start rolling in, Jim Tressel is still crossing his fingers for a few blue-chippers.

Two of these big gets have already signed letters of intent and will presumably be full participants in fall camp. Braxton Miller, a quarterback from Huber Heights, Ohio, is the nation's top-ranked quarterback, and a dual-threat runner who'd be a logical eventual successor to Terrelle Pryor. Ryan Shazier, an outside linebacker out of Plantation, Florida, is ranked 14th nationally at his position.

The other seven four-stars are verbal commits, but have not yet signed. In alphabetical order:

• Michael Bennett, defensive tackle from Centerville, Ohio
• Brian Bobek, offensive lineman from Palatine, Illinois
• Chase Farris, defensive end from Elyria, Ohio
• Doran Grant, defensive back from Akron, Ohio
• Kenny Hayes, defensive end from Toledo, Ohio
• Steve Miller, defensive end from Canton, Ohio
• Nick Vannett, tight end from Westerville, Ohio

Still outside the fold but high on the wish lists of Buckeye country:

• Linebacker Curtis Grant (Richmond, Virginia), the nation's second-ranked prospect overall, and currently being fought over by Ohio State, Florida, UNC, and Virginia.
• Quarterback Cardale Jones (Cleveland, Ohio), who's more of a pro-style player, but who took an official visit to Columbus over the weekend and has a late-arriving offer from Jim Tressel as of Sunday.
• Wide receiver Ja'Juan Story (Brooksville, Florida) is a Florida commit, but visited the Buckeyes weekend before last. Plot thickening?
• Offensive lineman Aundrey Walker (Cleveland, Ohio), the nation's top-ranked prospect at the guard position. Has an offer from the Buckeyes ... and one from Florida State, Michigan State, and USC.

For more on the Buckeyes' college football recruiting class of 2011 and for all your Ohio State athletics news, visit SB Nation's Along The Olentangy.