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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) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers is hit by Baron Browning #5 and Davon Hamilton #53 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers is hit by Baron Browning #5 and Davon Hamilton #53 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Linebackers

Weak-side linebacker: Baron Browning
Backup: K’Vaughn Pope

Baron Browning rotated with Tuf Borland at middle linebacker last year, but his elite athleticism should play extremely well outside, specifically on the weak-side where he is free to blitz or drop in coverage. Browning flashed this potential with five sacks as a non-starter in 2019. If there’s one player for Ohio State with the potential to have a breakout season and shoot up NFL draft board, it’s Browning.

K’Vaughn Pope should be in line to start next year, having played well in limited time in 2019 with 13 tackles and two interceptions.

Middle linebacker: Tuf Borland
Backup: Teradja Mitchell

Tuf Borland shared time with Browning in 2019 and this season he should share time with Teradja Mitchell. Borland is football smart, as a Mike linebacker should be, and defends the run well, but lacks the agility and speed to cover or chase down receivers. So expect Mitchell, the No. 2 middle linebacker in 2019 and a much better athlete, to play in obvious passing downs next year before assuming the starting role in 2021. Junior Dallas Gant will also contribute somewhere in the linebacking corps.

Strong-side linebacker: Pete Werner
Backup: Justin Hilliard

The Ohio State defense got an underrated boost when Justin Hilliard was granted a sixth-year of eligibility. Hilliard is a former five-star recruit whose OSU career seemed to have be derailed by injuries. But he contributed and played well last year. There is speculation that Hilliard might spend his sixth-year elsewhere, but if he returns to Ohio State he will certainly play a role behind the third-year starter Pete Werner.

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