Ryan Day must be questioning keeping vet assistant after yet another Ohio State recruiting target spurns Buckeyes

“They have a great plan for me at Ole Miss,” Barnes told Rivals. “They have recruited me hard, I see it as a perfect fit and the relationships I have with the coaches there are real.”

“I felt the love from the staff. They showed great love and a lot of energy toward me. The people [at Ole Miss] really got to know me well and it showed me a lot as a recruit. I was there for a spring practice, then for an official visit and the energy was always there. They showed me that they wanted me.”

Johnson's best asset for years was his ability to be more of a laid-back coach who was a father figure for his targets. Nearing retirement at 73, Johnson is clearly lacking something in his pitches. While Ohio State has embraced more aggressive recruiters across its roster, head coach Ryan Day has given Johnson the ability to hang up his cleats when he's ready.

While that's certainly respectable and good business, the results speak for themselves. Johnson is a skilled teacher, as evidenced by how the Buckeyes peaked during the 2024-25 College Football Playoff. But the program isn't bringing in the elite individual talents they once could.

Meanwhile, LaAllan Clark has been finding success at Texas after being promoted from Ohio State this past offseason. Was Ohio State right to keep its elder statesman and not push him out after finishing on top? It's hard to say with margins so tight.

The Buckeyes have several young talents that must develop this offseason and this fall for them to have the chance to repeat as champions. Underclassmen Eddrick Houston, Zion Grady, and Jason Moore must make some level of impact alongside Kenyatta Jackson, Caden Curry, and Kayden McDonald.

I'd argue Johnson is the better option than Clark for in-season growth for 2025, but the team's future along the unit has been hindered by underwhelming recruiting for far too long.