There's no denying it.
Losing offensive tackle JC Latham to Alabama on Friday was a blow to Ohio State's recruiting efforts in the 2021 cycle. He could have been top offensive line commit in the class, a potential future starting left tackle and the fifth five-star rising senior to join the Buckeyes.
As much as anything else, it proved Ohio State isn't invulnerable. For so long this cycle, Ryan Day reeled in seemingly everyone he and his assistant coaches wanted. Latham also would have greatly aided in the Buckeyes' ongoing effort to secure the best class both of the 2021 cycle and, even more impressively, of the modern recruiting era, which dates back to 1999.