The Ohio State Buckeyes are in the midst of spring drills
which will culminate in the “Spring game” in Ohio Stadium on April 16. Of primary importance is replacing the 16
starters lost, such as offensive stalwarts Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren, Ezekiel
Elliott, Michael Thomas, and Braxton Miller and defensive standouts Joey Bosa,
Darron Lee, Joshua Perry, and Vonn Bell.
Only three starters return on offense, QB J.T. Barrett,
center Pat Elflein, and guard Bill Price.
Barrett and Price have been named captains by Coach Urban Meyer and he
seems confident these two can provide the necessary leadership for the
offensive unit. Elflein has moved from
guard to center and is poised to improve on last season, when he was a
second-team All American. J.T. Barrett
is 15-2 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback with a career completion
percentage of 64.2 percent and a career efficiency rating of 160.06. Averaging 220 yards per game passing and 82
yards per game rushing and accounting for 58 touchdowns (41 passing, 17
rushing) in just 17 starts, Barrett is easily the heart and soul on the
offensive side of the ball. Fourth-year
junior guard Billy Price has started for two years and, with Elflein, will give
the offensive line a solid foundation, while three new starters hope to emerge
from spring drills. Price has started 28
consecutive games.
Fortunately, the highly regarded offensive line coach Greg
Studrawa has joined the staff and he will be charged with developing the three
newcomers to the starting rotation.
Fortunately, there are a number of talented underclassmen vying for
these positions. Thus far in spring
drills, the coaches have liked what they have seen from tackles Jamarco Jones
and Isaiah Prince and guards Evan Lisle and Demetrius Knox. All of them played extensively in back up
roles in 2015 and on special teams.
Over 75 percent of the receptions from receivers have
departed so competition here has been fierce thus far. The Buckeyes appear to be in good hands as
junior Curtis Samuel returns from hauling in 22 receptions a year ago, as well
as senior Dontre Wilson after hauling in 50 catches last year and appears to be
bigger, faster, and stronger this year.
Third-year sophomore Noah Brown and sixth-year receiver Corey Smith are
slowly working their way back in after recovering from leg injuries and are
joined by speedy Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, James Clark, and Johnnie
Dixon. They are joined by brand-new
players KJ Hill, Torrence Gibson, Alex Stump, and Austin Mack, so the embarrassment
of riches at the wideout and H-back position continues. Marcus Baugh stepped into his role as a go-to
tight end with aplomb late last season and will lead a handful of newcomers,
including redshirt freshmen A.J. Alexander and Rashod Berry. Offensive Coordinator Ed Warinner will also
coach this position group.
Fifth-year senior Bri’onte Dunn is the only running back
with game experience, but redshirt freshman Mike Weber appears to be having a
breakout performance in spring ball and true freshman Antonio Williams, who
graduated from high school early and enrolled in classes in January, has also
impressed coaches.
The aforementioned Barrett is the only quarterback on the
roster with game experience with Stephen Collier and redshirt freshman Joe
Burrow, the 2014 Ohio Mr. Football vying to be Barrett’s backup. Meyer seems to give the edge to Burrow as the
second-team QB for now.
There is good news on the defensive line for Ohio
State. In fact, the Fiesta Bowl against
Notre Dame showed the depth of the defensive line will not be a big
concern. After Joey Bosa was ejected for
targeting and starters Tommy Schutt and Adolphus Washington were already out,
we saw Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Jalyn Holmes handled the wide side. Michael Hill, Tracy Sprinkle, and Donovan
Munger were doing the same on the inside.
All of them return and joining them will be redshirt freshman Darius
Slade.
At linebacker, juniors Chris Worley and Dante Booker have
had good practices thus far and appear to be the early favorites to lock up the
outside LB positions alongside MLB Raekwon McMillan. Also figuring to step up are sophomore Jerome
Baker and fifth-year seniors Joe Burger and Craig Fada. The secondary will be looking to replace
three starters with CB Gareon Conley the lone starter returning. But, the corner position has sophomores
Marshon Lattimore, Damon Webb, and Denzel Ward, all of whom logged significant
playing time last year, vying for playing time.
Junior safeties Cam Burrows and Erick Smith are back from season-ending
injuries a year ago and haven’t had much action in the spring as of yet, but
fellow classmate Malik Hooker has had a good spring thus far and assistant Greg
Schiano is now working with the safeties.
Chris Worley
One of the best punters in the country, senior Cameron
Johnston, is back. Ohio State has led
the B1G Conference in punting in each of the last two seasons and was fifth
nationally last year. Junior kicker Sean
Nuernberger is 16 of 24 on field goal attempts and hasn’t missed on 106 extras
point attempts and Liam McCullough will apparently be the new long
snapper. Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson
each averaged over 23 yards per kickoff return in 2015 and one of them will
take over for the departed Jalin Marshall on punt returns.
We’ll get a first glimpse of the youth on the Ohio State
squad on April 16 and my next post will be at the conclusion of the spring
game.
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