Ohio State Football: 5 Storylines Heading into Spring Ball

The Buckeyes are looking to put a horrible season behind them as they return a total of 19 starters and have one of the greatest head coaches running their program in Urban Meyer.

With him now calling the shots, Ohio State should be in great shape moving forward and should compete for national championships in no time.

Although we still may be months away from college football kicking off, spring ball is right around the corner. The Buckeyes first spring practice is scheduled for March 28, and the spring game will take place on April 21.

As we get ready for everything spring has to offer, here are the top five storylines to pay attention to.

How Good Can This Defense Be?

The Buckeyes defense really helped keep this team in games last season as they only allowed three touchdowns a game on average. Now you add the fact that they return 10-of-11 starters and you have the recipe for possibly one of the best defenses in the country.

With leading tackler C.J. Barnett leading this young secondary, the Buckeyes could have one of the more impressive defenses in recent memory. This defense is very young and athletic, and with a ridiculously loaded recruiting class coming in, Buckeye fans could be in for a treat this season.

Make sure you keep an eye on the entire defense, because opposing Big Ten offenses sure will.

Who Will Become the Playmaker on the Offense?

With Meyer running the show, you know he likes speedsters, and he enjoys playmakers who really make his offense tick. With wide receiver DeVier Posey now out of the picture, some other wide receiver has to step up and help Braxton Miller out.

I like Corey Brown becoming that guy as he has great speed and even had the biggest catch of the year for the Buckeyes last season which was a 54-yard touchdown reception. He has game-changing ability and will have every opportunity to prove that he's the real deal this season.

The Buckeyes ranked 81st in the country last season in point scored, and things could change if the ball is in Browns hands early and often.

Another player that could step up is sophomore Devin Smith.

How Will the Spread Affect Quarterback Braxton Miller?

Miller had a solid freshman season completing 54 percent of his passes and throwing for 13 touchdowns after being thrown into the starting lineup. Now he'll have to adjust to a completely new offense that Urban Meyer is going to install.

Although it may be new territory for Miller, it will eventually benefit him the most as it will include more options and quarterback draws. This will put him in the best position to succeed as it will take advantage of his speed and make things that much more difficult on the opposing defense. 

Should be fun to see how quickly the young quarterback can adapt.

Jordan Hall, Please Stand Up

There isn't a lot of speed on this roster, but Jordan Hall has what it takes to thrive under Meyer's offense this season.

He's heading into his senior year, and it's about time he finally fulfilled his potential. Dan Herron is no longer on the team, and that opens the door for the senior running back.

Hall hasn't had a season were he's rushed for over 405 yards, and he only has nine combined touchdowns in three years. This is Hall's final opportunity to make an impact on this team, and he couldn't have asked for a better coach to help guide him to success. 

Hopefully for Buckeye fans, he'll finally be able to reach those expectations he had coming out of high school.

Can the Buckeyes Stay Motivated?

There's no question the Buckeyes are one of the more talented teams in the country and should be competing for a possible national championship. But the fact is they won't be regardless of what happens this season because of a one-year bowl ban that was put in place by the NCAA.

Of course, the players are going to play out the schedule and hopefully play hard, but at times, it will be hard to keep focus knowing that this season is all for not.

It's up to Meyer to keep his players motivated throughout the year, and it may be more difficult than it would seem.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].