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Ohio State Football: 2016 season preview and prediction

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 12, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) looks to pass the ball during the game against the Hawaii Warriors at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Hawaii Warriors by the score of 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) looks to pass the ball during the game against the Hawaii Warriors at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Hawaii Warriors by the score of 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) rushes in the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State won 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) rushes in the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State won 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Preview

Losing Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, Braxton Miller, Nick Vannett, Bri’onte Dunn and a whole host of offensive linemen, the Buckeyes know they have their work cut out for them if they want to match the production from 2015. Ohio State had the No. 28 scoring offense, No. 11 rushing offense and No. 41 total offense last season.

Related Story: 20 best NFL players from Big Ten schools

The only reason the offense wasn’t ranked higher overall is because of the passing game. Meyer had trouble settling on one quarterback and swapped Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett back and forth far too much given that the latter was a much more impressive overall player for the position.

Now that Jones is gone and Barrett will be trusted as the full-time starter, the offense should be much more relaxed. The quarterback position is most important and when it’s all figured out, the team runs like a well-oiled machine. Barrett had just 992 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air and 682 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground last season, but he led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season in 2014 while filling in for an injured Miller.

Elliott was selected in the top-10 of this year’s NFL draft and Bri’onte Dunn was dismissed, leaving a player with zero collegiate rushes to take the lead. Mike Weber is a redshirt freshman who has the talent to be the next big star in the backfield, but he needs to do work behind a mostly-new offensive line.

Noah Brown, Corey Smith, and Curtis Samuel look like the three starting receivers and they combined for 27 catches for 351 yards and two touchdowns last year. Brown didn’t play a season ago, but the expectations are high on him. Parris Campbell, Austin Mack, and Dontre Wilson also have high hopes at receiver. This is a young, talented and very unproven group.

Junior tight end Marcus Baugh will be replacing the aforementioned Vannett and he had just two catches for 32 yards last year. There are also a couple of solid incoming freshmen at the position.

Offensive guard Billy Price and center Pat Elflein are all-conference caliber players returning as starters while Jamarco Jones has the talent at left tackle and could be another solid left tackle for the Buckeyes, replacing Taylor Decker. Sophomore Isaiah Prince and freshman Matthew Burrell will start on the right side.

Next: Defensive Preview

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