Ohio State football has lofty expectations heading into the 2017 season and here’s what the depth chart looks like.
After a lousy finish to the 2016 season with a blowout against Clemson in the College Football Playoff, Ohio State football has to be looking ahead to bigger and better things in 2017. The Buckeyes are losing plenty of talent, but the expectations are still at a reasonably high level.
Urban Meyer has been fantastic in Columbus since taking over as head coach, going 61-6 over five years — an almost unbelievable record. He’s been one of the best coaches in college football both on the field and in the recruiting circuit.
In fact, he’s reeled in some of the best recruits over the past few years, rivaling Nick Saban over at Alabama. You want proof? The Buckeyes just lost a four-star recruit and their overall composite rating for the 2018 class went up. That’s wild. For about 99.9 percent of programs, losing a four-star would drastically improve the class’ overall rating. Not Ohio State.
Those recruits have been blossoming into solid players for the Buckeyes and even though the team is losing a number of crucial starters to the NFL, there’s plenty of talent returning.
Take a look at the protected two-deep for the fall.
Offensive Line
Starting tackles: Jamarco Jones (LT), Isaiah Prince (RT)
Backups: Brandon Bowen (LT), Kevin Feder (RT)
The offensive line is returning plenty from last year’s team, including starting senior left tackle Jamarco Jones and junior right tackle Isaiah Prince. The former is expected to be an All-Big Ten offensive tackle before the season is over and Prince looks to be a solid starter. Brandon Bowen and Kevin Feder look to be too capable backups who are just waiting for their opportunities, but don’t sleep on freshman Josh Myers, either.
Starting guards: Michael Jordan (LG), Matthew Burrell (RG)
Backups: Josh Myers (LG), Demetrius Knox (RG)
When you see the name “Michael Jordan” your mind instantly shifts to the hardwood, but not so fast. Ohio State’s Michael Jordan is one of the top young linemen in the conference who was part of the Buckeyes’ 2016 class. He will be back as a starting left guard for his sophomore year. Fellow sophomore Matthew Burrell will likely get the nod on the other side, but Demetrius Knox will be pushing for snaps. Myers is a nice tackle/guard combo backup.
Starting center: Billy Price
Backup: Brady Taylor
Billy Price is another All-Big Ten caliber offensive linemen, anchoring the group in the middle. The senior returning starter has high hopes for the season and is likely to garner some interest from the NFL as well. He will be backed up by junior Brady Taylor who is likely to take over the position next season,
Defensive Line
Starting ends: Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard
Backups: Nick Bosa, Jalyn Holmes
The Buckeyes play more of a classing 4-3 look and they are absolutely loaded up front. In fact, defensive end might be the strongest group on the team. Tyquan Lewis is returning for his senior year after posting 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2016. On the other side of the line is Sam Hubbard who had 46 total tackles, 8.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Just dominating up front.
While the starters are likely to get All-Big Ten recognition by season’s end, the backups are more than capable. Nick Bosa might be one of the best defensive ends in the country by the end of the year. The sophomore, and younger brother of All-American Joey Bosa, had seven tackles for loss and five sacks as a true freshman. Jalyn Holmes had nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
Starting tackles: Tracy Sprinkle, Dre’Mont Jones
Backups: Robert Landers, Michael Hill
Can the interior defensive linemen challenge the ends for line supremacy in 2017? Senior Tracy Sprinkle and sophomore Dre’Mont Jones will likely lead the way. The former is back from an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2016 season, so he’ll be hungry to get back to 2015 form. Jones was a freshman sensation, finishing with 51 tackles and four for loss.
Robert Landers was also a freshman last season, finishing with eight tackles for loss and a sack in rotational play. Michael hill is the other senior who happens to have some starting experience as well. He can be plugged in as a starter, if need be. He finished with 21 total tackles and 3.5 for loss last season.
Linebackers
Starting middle linebacker: Chris Worley
Backup: Justin Hilliard
Remember when I said the defensive line was likely the best unit on the team? Well, the linebackers aren’t too far behind. The middle linebacker position is anchored by one of the best at this level in senior Chris Worley. He’s back with starting experience under his belt after ranking fourth on the team with 69 tackles in 2016. He also had 4.5 for loss.
How do you back up a potential All-Big Ten candidate at middle linebacker? Sophomore Justin Hilliard is talented enough to do so adequately. He played sparingly as a freshman, finishing with just four tackles, but he’s patiently awaiting his turn in the middle.
Starting outside linebackers: Jerome Baker, Dante Booker
Backups: Baron Browning, Malik Harrison
Junior Jerome Baker will retake his spot as a starting outside linebacker and he will be joined by first-year starter, and senior, Dante Booker. Baker was second on the team in tackles, 83, last season while finishing with 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions — one he returned for a touchdown. Booker, on the other hand, was injured in the first game of the season last year and missed the final three months.
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Baron Browning is a name to remember. The freshman linebacker was a five-star recruit in the Buckeyes’ 2017 class and projects to be the next big star on the defensive side of the ball. He can play middle linebacker, but his quickest road to the field is on the outside. Sophomore Malik Harrison will also be in that rotation along with Keandre Jones.
Defensive Backs
Starting cornerbacks: Denzel Ward, Damon Arnette
Backups: Kendall Sheffield, Jeffrey Okudah
The defensive backfield is forced to replace departing starters at three of the four positions. The Buckeyes were lucky in this area last year seeing as the young guys all seemed to break out at the same time, but at the end of the year, everyone took the NFL leap.
Back is junior Denzel Ward who could be a top cornerback in the conference along with sophomore Damon Arnette. While those are my protected starters at the beginning of the season, I’d be shocked if Kendall Sheffield didn’t break out and steal some time from the No. 1s. He’s a former five-star prospect who originally committed to Alabama but went the JUCO route before picking Ohio State. Freshman Jeffrey Okudah is also a talented backup. This unit is uber-talented but extremely unproven.
Starting safeties: Jordan Fuller, Damon Webb
Backups: Erick Smith, Isaiah Pryor
At safety, gone is Malik Hooker who was one of the top safeties chosen in the 2017 NFL Draft, but he will have solid replacements as well. Jordan Fuller is an impressive sophomore who was an “athlete” out of high school but molded into a safety. He’s the biggest starting defensive back for the Buckeyes in 2017.
Damon Webb is the lone returning starter in the entire secondary. He finished the 2016 season with 57 tackles, an interception and three pass deflections. Expect his numbers to take another step forward as the leader of the group. Erick Smith and Isaiah Pryor will play the backup roles.
Wide Receivers
Starting receivers: Binjimen Victor, K.J. Hill
Backups: Terry McLauren, Austin Mack
The receiving corps are relatively unproven as the Buckeyes lost Curtis Samuel (who was more of an H-back), Noah Brown and Dontre Wilson from the 2016 squad. Sophomore K.J. Hill and Binjimen Victor are the favorites to start. They combined for just 22 catches for 326 yards and two touchdowns last season, though — most of that production coming from Hill.
Terry McLauren is the “veteran” of the group who had 11 catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns last season and Austin Mack had his redshirt burned in 2016 after being a highly-touted recruit in that class for just two catches and 15 yards. Expect big seasons out of both as rotational receivers.
Starting H-Back: Parris Campbell
Backup: Demario McCall
Parris Campbell is a guy who I truly think will have a monster season for the Buckeyes. The starting H-back is expected to be the go-to weapon on offense and one who I feel could be a mammoth contributor. As more of a slot-type receiver/back, Campbell had just 175 yards from scrimmage last season, but that will be triple, if not quadrupled, this year. Sophomore Demario McCall had high expectations for himself as well.
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Starting tight end: Marcus Baugh
Backup: A.J. Alexander
Ohio State sometimes gets blasted for not using elite-level tight ends enough, but that could change this year with Macus Baugh back as a senior starter. He caught 24 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in 2016, but those numbers are likely to go up with a young receiving corps for J.T. Barrett. Luckily, he also has talented sophomore A.J. Alexander at the position.
Running Back
Starting running back: Mike Weber
Backup: Demario McCall
Replacing Ezekiel Elliott was a major concern for the Ohio State coaching staff heading into the 2016 season. The All-American forwent his senior season with the Buckeyes and bolted for the NFL where he had a breakout rookie season for the Dallas Cowboys.
Elliott’s backup, however, was Curtis Samuel, who morphed into more of a slot guy in 2016 to make room for Mike Weber as the No. 1 back. He filled in quite nicely, rushing for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns on 6.0 yards per carry as a redshirt freshman. He’s back to reclaim that starting spot and he could push the 1,500-yard mark as a sophomore.
Remember when I tabbed McCall as a capable No. 2 H-back? Well, he’s going to play a major role like Samuel did last season, catching passes from the slot as well as backing up Weber. He was one of the prized recruits in the Buckeyes’ 2016 class and in order to get him on the field and utilize his talent, he’s going to have to play multiple positions.
In 2016, he rushed for 270 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per touch. He also caught four passes for 84 yards and another score. He’s an electrifying player who can become a secret weapon for the Buckeyes. He won’t be a secret for too much longer.
Quarterback
Starting quarterback: J.T. Barrett
Backup: Joe Burrow
There have been doubts surrounding J.T. Barrett throughout his collegiate career. Coming in as a true freshman in 2014, Barrett assumed his role as backup to both Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones, or so it seemed. However, when Miller went down with a season-ending injury in fall camp, Meyer chose Barrett as the replacement.
The dual-threat freshman impressed right away and helped lead the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular season record before getting injured himself. He gave way to Jones who won the team’s last three games (Big Ten Championship and two College Football Playoff contests). The Buckeyes were national champs and Jones got most of the recognition.
In fact, he began the next season as the starter despite many believing that Barrett was the more complete quarterback. He gave way in the middle of the season to Barrett and the then-sophomore led the way.
Entering the 2016 season, he was undoubtedly the starter and some even thought a top Heisman contender. He struggled to really regain that confidence he had as a freshman but still passed for 2,555 yards and 24 scores with seven picks. He added 845 rushing yards and nine more touchdowns.
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Barrett returns as the team’s starting quarterback as a senior and he’s expecting a bounce-back season. He will be backed up by sophomore Joe Burrow, but Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell have brought extra hype to the backup race.