Entering National Letter of Intent Day, the Ohio State football team had hopes of reeling in some of the top high school players.

While the Buckeyes missed out on all of the top prospects who waited until yesterday to make a decision, they put together a class which may be able to boost them to another championship.

Despite missing out on six highly-coveted blue chippers, the Buckeyes packed its 2003 recruiting class with speed and power.

Those who did not sign included: defensive end Shawn Crable, who opted to go to Michigan; versatile athlete Michael Bush , who decided to play at home in Louisville; offensive lineman James Lee, who fooled everyone and went with Georgia and wide receiver Denton Steans, who went to the University of California. Stanley McClover signed with Auburn after verbally committing to OSU a few days after the Fiesta Bowl.

“I don’t think winning the Fiesta Bowl hurt anything,” said OSU coach Jim Tressel. “I think what it did was make that bullseye even bigger, and you know, maybe it made it a little bit easier for someone to talk to recruits and say, ‘You don’t want to go there; they’ve got all these guys coming back; they’re the champions.’ But I’ll take the championship, and we’ll worry about all that other stuff later.”

A total of 15 players have signed up to play college ball at OSU. The class includes cornerbacks Donte Whitner and Ashton Youboty, who graduated early and enrolled last month, and transferring linebacker Anthony Schlegel, who comes from the Air Force Academy.

The class also includes offensive lineman Kirk Barton, defensive lineman Sian Cotton, defensive end/outside linebacker/tight end Marcel Frost, defensive back/wide receiver Tony Gonzalez, safety/running back Ira Guilford, defensive back/wide receiver Dareus Hiley, tight end Louis Irizarry, wide receiver Devin Jordan, free safety Curt Lukens, defensive lineman Brandon Maupin, defensive lineman David Patterson and linebacker Reggie Smith.

“I know most of the guys that are coming into this class,” Whitner said. “We have a lot of great players. They are great athletes and great people. David Patterson, Tony Gonzalez and I’ve worked out together and they do a lot of the same things that I did before I came here. A lot of them can help us win next year.”

Quarterback Todd Broekman of St. Henry, Ohio, committed last summer and decided to “gray shirt.” He will enter school next winter quarter and is not considered a member of this year’s class.

OSU ends the recruiting season with one open scholarship, which Tressel said is likely to go to long snapper Kyle Andrews.

Tressel said the members of the class fit into three categories: speed, big speed and power.

The major component to the class is its speed. With six players who could play defensive back or wide receiver, the competition looks to be fierce.

“I’m looking at the list right now and it’s pretty crazy,” said Youboty, who was born in Liberia. “(Defensive back) wise, I already knew there was going to be competition, I knew they were going after (defensive backs).”

With so many players with experience at defensive back, Tressel said the coaching staff will explore options to move players and get them on the field as quickly as possible.

Hiley is known for his speed, and the coach likened Guilford — who hits hard — to Buckeye legend Jack Tatum, while Gonzalez ran the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.25 seconds a few months ago.

Likens, who can play at defensive back or linebacker, is out of a versatile mold similar to former Buckeye Cie Grant.

Jordan, who caught 101 passes at wide receiver for Massillon Washington from Buckeye redshirt freshman Justin Zwick, will be restricted to offense. Tressel was impressed with Jordan’s leadership, as well as his ability to make big plays.

The other area Tressel put the recruits into was big speed, which is highlighted by Irizarry. Tressel said he will give OSU a force very similar to Miami tight end Kellan Winslow, Jr. Frost could even play linebacker or defensive end.

Schlegel joins this group with after being Air Force’s captain last season as a sophomore, but he will not be eligible until the 2004 season.

The power group will look to make noise up front, much like the Buckeyes did this season. Barton brings a combination of power and movement and will likely play tackle, Tressel said.

The staff feels Patterson is one of the top linemen in the country this season after seeing him in camp last summer.

Hiley could make an immediate impact as kick returner, adding speed to an already fast return unit.