The Ohio State Buckeyes added depth on both ends of the field for arguably the strongest recruiting class of 2022

The 2022 college football season is almost approaching. Ohio State has returning stars like CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to lead the way. Still, it's always exciting to speculate about the program's potential future.

Despite playing below-par defense last season, the Buckeyes still attracted a lot of talent on that end of the football pitch. They also acquired a number of offensive studs to end up with an elite recruiting class.

In 2022, Ohio State's supporters have a lot of reasons to be enthusiastic. The Buckeyes are expected to once again have one of the top offenses in the nation. Fans also hope that their defense will significantly improve to keep up. That combination might just make winning the national title this year a genuine possibility.

Let’s take a look at Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class.

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3 reasons Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2022 college football recruiting class is the best

Golden Brown

Ohio State just began to pursue Devin Brown after star prospect Quinn Ewers reclassified. Still, the Buckeyes convinced Brown to transfer. Consequently, they have made him the top quarterback for their 2022 class. He is one of the top prospects in the class, though he may not have the same hype as Ewers. Brown does have the potential to become an elite quarterback. He has a good combination of a strong arm and deep-ball throwing ability. Brown also has good mobility and a naturally charismatic personality. Quite possibly, this could be the biggest victory of the whole recruiting campaign for the Buckeyes. Devin Brown might just be a golden pickup for Ohio State.

Deadly Defensive Backs

This should be the strongest position group in terms of the Buckeyes' 2022 recruiting class. At the spearhead is none other than CJ Hicks. Often known as “Captain Buckeye,” Hicks is the face of Ohio State's 2022 recruiting class. He is actually the school's top prospect. In addition, he led efforts to recruit additional players to join. Hicks is a superb athlete. He brings safety speed to linebacker and plays with terrific instincts. He should challenge for playing time right away.

New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has complimented Hicks' quickness. He probably stands out from everyone else in the room because of it. If Hicks is prepared, the door feels open for him to make his impact quickly.

Gabe Powers, meanwhile, is an all-around outside linebacker. He actually played a variety of positions at nearby Marysville High School. Powers has the frame to play a hybrid defensive end and linebacker in Knowles' defensive scheme. He is agile and can drop back into coverage and make plays in space. In addition, he also possesses the length and strength to play near the line of scrimmage. That's great versatility for a freshman.

Jyaire Brown was the first Ohio State commit for the class of 2022. He completed his high school education at Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio. Brown is a confident cornerback who aspires to follow in Denzel Burke's footsteps and contend for early playing time. He is a fast, fluid athlete who isn't afraid to play with toughness.

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Wicked Wideouts

When the Buckeyes first made an offer to WR Kyion Grayes, he was an overlooked three-star recruit. Since then, Grayes has progressively ascended the 2022 class rankings. He has, in fact, become a top-100 talent nationally. Pundits have compared Grayes to Chris Olave because he is a fluid athlete and a smooth route runner.

To be honest, a few others are ahead of Grayes in the WR rotation. To gain some real playing time, he needs to get past that huge bottleneck. He does, however, have a quick first step, excellent ball tracking, and body control. Those might earn him significant playing time as the season progresses.

Caleb Burton, a Texas native, aims to become the Buckeyes' next standout wide receiver. He wants to follow in the footsteps of Garrett Wilson and Smith-Njigba. Scouts once considered Burton a five-star prospect for a reason. He possesses the speed, ball skills, and run-after-catch ability to develop into a vital weapon for the Buckeyes.

All these new faces should make the Buckeyes more dangerous this coming season.