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Ohio State Football: 5 breakout freshmen to watch in 2018

By Patrick Mayhorn

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate with a team photo following the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate with a team photo following the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: Linebacker Dante Booker #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: Linebacker Dante Booker #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

4. Teradja Mitchell

Mitchell, much like Vincent, is a talented player stuck behind an extremely talented depth chart at his position. The Virginia linebacker was ranked 44th nationally, and second among inside linebackers, for good reason.

Mitchell is as natural as they come at inside linebacker. He’s smart, and knows how to play a position that takes a ton of football IQ. He’s well built at 6-foot-2, 232 pounds, and knows how to use all of his size to dominate.

Teradja is an extremely steady and consistent tackler, and will become even better once he gets into a college weight program. He had some athleticism questions after a bad camp performance last summer, but he all but erased those concerns on the field.

He’s got enough speed to cover anyone he needs to out of the middle linebacker spot, though he’s much better at stuffing the run and rushing the passer. He’s actually pretty similar to former Buckeye linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

He may not be the biggest athletic freak in this class, or even at his position, but with Justin Hilliard and Baron Browning battling for the starting MLB spot, there may be a chance for Mitchell to find the field. He’s a true middle linebacker, which Ohio State doesn’t have right now. That’ll be the key for him finding playing time.

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