2018 Spring Practice

   

         

                           The 2018 Ohio State Buckeyes took to the field for the very first time as spring practice began Tuesday.  Coach Meyer and the coaching staff appear to be excited about the competition at several key positions even though there is an air of uncertainty at key positions. 

Ohio State doesn’t know who its starting quarterback will be this season and they don’t know which offensive lineman the starting quarterback will be taking snaps from, either. Even at other positions where the Buckeyes might have multiple players with proven ability to make a positive impact, there are still ongoing competitions this spring as players try to prove they belong in the starting lineup or at least deserve more playing time. That surrounds the Buckeyes with plenty of uncertainty as they begin spring practice, as there are many position battles that will be contested over the next six weeks and potentially extending into fall camp.   The major competition, of course, is who will replace J.T. Barrett as the starting quarterback.  To that end, the coaches are trying to give Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow equal snaps and also working in redshirt freshman Tate Martell.  The ideal scenario would be to have one of them a leg up on the others in August,  There is also the possibility that Burrow, a redshirt junior who is set to graduate this semester, could transfer if he does not win the starting job this spring.  Almost as vital is the competition to replace four-year starter Billy Price at center and it appears they will probably give to who would be a first-year starter as opposed to moving someone over from another position.  To this end, it appears that Brady Taylor and Josh Myers will be competing for that job.  Matthew Burrell and Joshua Alabi could also figure in the mix, at least early on.  Left tackle figured to be an area of competition, but it appears Isaiah Prince will move over from right tackle and Thayer Munford is penciled in to take Prince’s spot at RT.  Starters Michael Jordan and Demetrious Knox will be back and full go at both guard positions.  We’ll also be seeing opportunities for redshirt freshmen Watt Davis at guard and Kevin Woidke.  Competition should also be good at RB, where the Buckeyes have two proven stars with experience under their belt in J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, and a proven backup in Antonio Williams.  The Buckeyes are well stocked at receiver, with experienced big-play WRs Austin Mack and Johnnie Dixon.

As of now, the first-team defense consists of Nick Bosa and Jonathon Cooper at defensive end; Dre'Mont Jones and Robert Landers at defensive tackle; Keandre Jones, Tuf Borland and Malik Harrison at linebacker; Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette at cornerback; and Jordan Fuller and Isaiah Pryor at safety.  The second-team defensive ends are now Chase Young and Jashon Cornell, as Cornell appears set to move outside from defensive tackle to defensive end, where Bosa, Young and Cooper are the only returning scholarship players. Haskell Garrett and Davon Hamilton could be the second-team defensive tackles. Baron Browning, Justin Hilliard and Pete Werner lined up as the second-team linebackers. Jahsen Wint and Brendon White will get the second-team reps at safety, while Marcus Williamson and Shaun Wade took the second-team reps at cornerback.  Jeffrey Okudah, a major contributor on special teams and a fine backup last year is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and it is unclear what kind of practice time he will see this spring.

Special teams will be set with Sean Nurenberger and Drue Crisman returning and since K.J. Hill was out with an injury, Demario McCall, Johnnie Dixon and C.J. Saunders will carry the load in the return game until Hill gets healthy. 

The conclusion of spring practice will be the annual spring game at The ‘Shoe on Saturday April 14.

sources: 11W, ColumbusDispatch, OhioStateBuckeyes.com