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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 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillan (5) lines up against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillan (5) lines up against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Preview

Just like the offense, Ohio State’s defense only returns a couple of starters from last season. The Buckeyes had the second-best scoring defense in the entire country in 2015 while also boasting the ninth-best total defense, but it’s not rebuilding under Urban Meyer, it’s reloading.

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Gone are guys like Lee, Bosa, Apple, Adolphus Washington, Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, but the Buckeyes have plenty of talent to plug into those vacant positions to make another run at a national title.

The defensive line returns just one starter in end Tyquan Lewis who had 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2015. Bosa and Washington’s production will be missed from a team that recorded 38 sacks last season, but sophomore end Sam Hubbard and junior tackles Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill have what it takes to fill in.

Hubbard finished 2015 with eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but the tackles are fairly unproven with zero combined sacks last season. Freshmen like Nick Bosa, Robert Landers, and Jashon Cornell will be names to keep an eye on as well.

Lee and Joshua Perry were two of the leading tacklers last season, but the linebackers have been drafted and junior Raekwon McMillan has a chance to fill in as an All-Big Ten candidate. He finished with a team-high 119 tackles with four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He’ll be relied upon to guide the young, unproven group of Chris Worley and Dante Booker.

Meyer’s secondary was 16th in the country against the pass last season but returns just one starter in junior Gareon Conley. He was solid last season, but will need to put in serious work to make up for the loss of Apple. Lightly-used sophomore Marshon Lattimore will start at the other corner and a guy who could break out is junior safety Erick Smith.

Next: Win-Loss Prediction

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