Ohio State Football: 5 Biggest Question Marks of Training Camp

I'm not sure last season could get any worse for the Ohio State Buckeyes, after fishing the year with a 6-7 record and losing a bowl game for the first time since 2008. However, there are much brighter days ahead for this football program. Despite not being eligible for a bowl game, the Buckeyes do return 16 starters from last year, including nine on the defensive side of the ball.

They also added some head coach named Urban Meyer to the coaching staff, who is a proven winner everywhere he has ever coached.

Even with all of the positives going for this team, there of course are question marks that must be answered as fall camp gets underway.

With just a few weeks before the season begins, here are the five biggest questions the Ohio State Buckeyes must answer.

How Healthy Will Nathan Williams Be?

While Ohio State had a great defense last season, they went most of the year without defensive end Nathan Williams. He only played one game before suffering a knee injury that required surgery. The injury was so severe that he was also held out of spring ball to continue his rehab.

Williams is a fifth-year senior who has 92 tackles and 11 sacks in three years of playing time. He is an extremely strong player that gets off the ball very quickly, and he can make plays in the backfield consistently.

Hopefully, he is close to 100 percent and can get back on the field sooner than later for this Buckeyes defense.

Difference-Makers on Defense?

Speaking of the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State must find playmakers to step up. This was a squad that was ranked 19th in the country in total defense last year, but it was seventh in the conference with only 20 turnovers forced and only had 23 sacks on the year.

A lot of the talk is about the offense, but the Buckeyes need more players to make game-changing plays on defense as well. John Simon was the only Buckeye to have more than three sacks last season. They also went seven of the 13 games forcing only one turnover, and one game where they didn't create one at all.

Returning nine starters on defense, including a deep secondary, the defense can improve in the big-play department just as much as the offense could.

Is Carlos Hyde Ready to Get Going?

Jordan Hall was the projected starter for this Ohio State team, but a cut foot will keep him out of fall practice and at least the first couple games of the season. That means that Carlos Hyde is next in line and better produce quickly for this team.

He is a former 4-star recruit from the 2009 class, but he hasn't quite lived up to expectations, rushing for just 566 yards throughout his career. The time is now for Hyde to step up, as there are no more excuses.

Via Austin Ward of ESPN:

"

The body type is Carlos Hyde. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said. The talent is Carlos Hyde. He has to stay healthy, and it’s time to go get it. It’s not the previous coaching staff’s fault, it’s not the offensive line’s fault, it’s not the dog ate his homework.

It’s time to go, it’s time. This is the defining moment of Carlos Hyde’s career. It’s either yes or no. 

"

Hyde is certainly going to get the ball a lot this season; only time will tell if he can finally live up to those expectations.

Where Are the Skill Position Players?

If there is anything we know about Urban Meyer, it is that he is an offensive genius who knows how to develop skill position players and create an unstoppable unit. But when he first stepped on campus, he was struggling to find players that fit the mold he was looking for.

There is potential on this offense, but there aren't many proven players that you can count on heading into the season. Although that does not seem to worry quarterback Braxton Miller (via Tony Gerdeman of the-ozone.net).

"I feel like we're good right now," Miller said of the skill players around him. "If we go out there and play against our defense, I think we'd win." 

We already know that Hyde must step up at running back and tight end Jake Stoneburner is an experienced player who will be involved in this offense quite a bit. Other players that could have a big impact include wide receivers Devin Smith, Corey Brown and Tyrone Williams.

Playmakers is what Meyer is looking for—somebody has to step up.

How Much Better Will Braxton Miller Be?

Braxton Miller was thrown into the fire last season. He was a freshman quarterback playing on an offense that had most of its key players suspended for long periods of time. Still, he managed to throw for over 1,100 yards, rush for 715 and score 20 total touchdowns, all while limiting his interceptions to just four.

Miller has tons of potential and is the type of quarterback that Urban Meyer loves to have running his spread offense. He is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm, and he seemed to be getting even better as spring practice continued to play out.

With Meyer on the staff, you know it is only a matter of time before Miller is competing for Heisman Trophies and leading the Buckeyes to a possible national championship. Just how soon will all of that come?