Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Way-too-early 2-deep depth chart projection for 2020

By Will Koger

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes waits with his team to take the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes waits with his team to take the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 10
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 7: Garrett Wilson #5 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a 9-yard touchdown pass over the defense of Coby Bryant #7 of the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 7: Garrett Wilson #5 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a 9-yard touchdown pass over the defense of Coby Bryant #7 of the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Receivers/Tight Ends

X receiver: Garrett Wilson
Backup: Julian Fleming

Garrett Wilson lived up to expectations during his freshman season in 2019, catching 30 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns, a couple of which were jaw-dropping grabs with defenders draped all over him. He put an exclamation point on the campaign with this floating reception in the Fiesta Bowl. Expect Wilson to be one of the top receivers in the country next season.

But for as much hype as Wilson got coming out of high school and in spring, the incoming freshman Fleming is a better prospect, according to 247Sports’ composite rating. Big at 6-foot-2, 199 pounds and fast with a 4.45 forty-yard dash time, Fleming has all the tools that a No. 1 receiver should have.

Expect Fleming to have an even greater impact on the Buckeyes next year as Wilson did in 2019, as he won’t have to battle with veterans like Austin Mack or Binjimen Victor for targets.

More from Ohio State Buckeyes

Z receiver: Chris Olave
Backup: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Ohio State’s NFL tree seems to have widened its roots from pass rusher to pass catcher. It’s not farfetched to guess that the Buckeyes might have a top-three wide receiver in each of the next three drafts, beginning next year with Chris Olave. His breakout 2019 season ended tragically in a miscommunication with Justin Fields which cost the Buckeyes a national title berth. This mistake should not overshadow a season in which Olave caught 49 passes for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is back in 2020, undoubtedly with a rather large chip on his shoulder.

The other two receivers in Ohio State’s 2020 class are No. 6 receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and No. 14 Gee Scott Jr. These two will have to compete with veterans yet seldom contributors Jaylen Harris and Ellijah Gardiner for receptions (or Williams if he remains an outside receiver). Since there is no proof that Scott, Harris or Gardiner can make catches like this, Smith-Njigba should be able to contribute as a freshman. Look for Scott Jr. to be firmly in the mix as well.

Tight End

Starter: Luke Farrell
Backup: Jeremy Ruckert

Ohio State’s tight ends should be a strength of this team. Jeremy Ruckert and redshirt senior Jake Hausmann create a good combination of receiving and blocking skills, and Luke Farrell can do a bit of everything.

After game one of 2019, it looked like tight end production would skyrocket at OSU, but that game proved to be a one-hit-wonder and it’s hard to imagine the role increasing in 2020 with the talent at receiver.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes