How Ohio State Replaced Seven NFL Starters and Got Better
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even if Ohio State fell short of its ultimate goal of playing for the national championship, Urban Meyer knew he had a pretty good team in 2013. But the Buckeyes head coach didn't realize just how talented his previous squad was until he examined the current landscape of the NFL.
It was there that Meyer saw that of the seven Ohio State rookies currently on active NFL rosters, all seven had started in games this season. It's not a matter of ex-Buckeyes getting opportunities on bad teams either, as six OSU rookies will have started in playoff games this season, with five starting in the upcoming weekend's divisional round.
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"I don't know if that's ever been done before," Meyer said. "Seven players left our program and are starting. Not playing, not backups, not practice squad; starting in the National Football League. In the history of college football, I'd like to know if that's ever been done."
While having seven rookies starting is impressive in and of itself—and a helluva recruiting tool for Meyer—what's even more impressive is that Ohio State lost a septet of talent capable of starting in the NFL and somehow managed to get even better in 2014. Unlike last year's team, which fell short with a loss in the Big Ten championship game to Michigan State, this year's Buckeyes will play for the national title, taking on Oregon in Monday's first-ever College Football Playoff championship.
How did this happen? Let's take a look.
Ryan Shazier, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
Racking up 144 total tackles, 23.5 of which came for a loss and seven sacks, Ryan Shazier figured to be the player who Ohio State would have the hardest time replacing from a season ago. In a linebacker corps that already struggled in its first two seasons under Meyer, Shazier was seemingly the lone bright spot, evidenced by the Steelers' decision to select him 15th overall in last May's draft.
But while Shazier was lighting up Big Ten backfields—and eventually, the NFL combine—the Buckeyes underclassmen were already eyeing the vacancy that they knew he'd be leaving. Redshirt freshman Darron Lee got the first crack at filling it in spring practice and hasn't let go since.
"I’ve gotten the comfort level down learning different offenses," Lee said. "I’m learning more about linebacking and the entire defense than I feel I would have learned somewhere else."
The smarts that Lee has picked up have been apparent in his play, as he ranks third on the team in tackles (73) and second in tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (7.5) heading into Monday's championship game. Those aren't Shazier-like numbers quite yet, but it's a more-than-promising start for a player who was tasked with replacing one of the most talented linebackers in Ohio State history.
"I love that kid," Meyer said of Lee.
Bradley Roby, cornerback, Denver Broncos
The second of Ohio State's two first-round picks last May, the Denver Broncos selected Bradley Roby with the 31st overall pick of the draft. A two-time All-Big Ten selection during his time in Columbus, Roby left a sizable void in the Buckeyes secondary, but there wasn't much guessing when it came to who would be filling it.
Moving from field to boundary corner, Doran Grant would take over the role of Ohio State's top corner after starting opposite Roby in 2013. And while he was inconsistent throughout the first three seasons of his college career, the Akron, Ohio, native went out with a bang, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014.
"I've been here four years and I'm a first-time Big Ten champion," Grant said following OSU's 59-0 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. "I'm happy, you know?"
But Grant's impact has gone beyond his five interceptions, nine pass breakups and 14 passes defended, as he played a major role in the Buckeyes shutting down Michigan State wideout Tony Lippett (five receptions, 64 yards) and keeping Alabama Heisman Trophy finalist Amari Cooper (nine receptions, 71 yards, two touchdowns) in check. It won't get any easier in his college finale either, as Grant will be tasked with slowing down another Heisman Trophy finalist—the winner of this year's award—in Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
But if Grant can do that, it won't be long before he joins seven of his former teammates as a starter in the NFL.
Carlos Hyde, running back, San Francisco 49ers
The Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2013, Carlos Hyde put together a monster season a year ago, rushing for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 11 games. Meyer's first 1,000-yard running back, Hyde became the third running back selected in last May's draft when the San Francisco 49ers took him with a second-round pick (57th overall).
Technically, Hyde never started a game in his rookie season but saw significant time while spelling Frank Gore. With the bruising 6'0", 235-pounder now in the NFL, Ohio State figured to move to a less run-based offense, as sophomore Ezekiel Elliott stepped into Hyde's shoes.
As it turned out, the Buckeyes offense was more balanced, but that didn't mean that Elliott's contributions have been any less than that of his predecessor. In fact, Elliott has rushed for 1,632 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games this season, while also proving to be a more reliable threat as a pass-catcher out of the backfield (27 receptions, 221 yards).
"We had big plans. We had a lot of confidence in him," Meyer said of Elliott. "He started kind of slow. His last two games are really productive."
And that might be a bit of an understatement.
Against Wisconsin's second-ranked defense in the Big Ten title game, Elliott totaled 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns, before torching Alabama's No. 1 rushing defense for 230 yards and two scores in a Sugar Bowl MVP performance. As Ohio State heads to the national title game, it does so on the back of its running back, who has already put together the fourth-best rushing season in Buckeyes history.
"I just think the line has really come on," Elliott said. "They're definitely opening up some great holes for me to run through."
Jack Mewhort, offensive lineman, Indianapolis Colts
Speaking of Ohio State's offensive line, that's the unit that figured to take the biggest hit this season, as it lost four multiyear starters from a season ago.
That started with the loss of left tackle Jack Mewhort, who started in 14 games this season after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the draft's second round (59th overall).
While Mewhort prepares to protect quarterback Andrew Luck at left guard in this weekend's divisional playoff game against Roby's Broncos, Taylor Decker is getting ready to cover the blind side of Cardale Jones in Monday's championship game. The Buckeyes' right tackle a season ago, Decker has played so well in his new role that some have projected the junior to be an early entrant in the upcoming draft.
Decker, however, put those rumors to rest on Tuesday, announcing that he will return to Ohio State for his senior season. That will be a big boost for the Buckeyes in 2015, as Meyer will get to wait another year before having to replace another NFL-caliber left tackle.
Corey Linsley, center, Green Bay Packers
After the Green Bay Packers selected him with a fifth-round pick (161 overall), it didn't take long for Corey Linsley to make NFL headlines. Forced into the Packers' starting lineup on the NFL's opening night, cameras captured Linsley being yelled at by Green Bay star quarterback Aaron Rodgers in his professional debut.
Linsley bounced back with a stellar rookie season, with Rodgers even campaigning for his new center to make this year's Pro Bowl. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes were left searching for a replacement for what Meyer calls "the apex" of his spread offense, which they seem to have found in junior center Jacoby Boren.
The youngest of the storied Boren family (brother Justin was an OSU offensive lineman from 2009-10, brother Zach was a fullback from 2009-12, father Mike was a linebacker at Michigan from 1980-83), Jacoby originally committed to former Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel, who each of his brothers played for. But when Meyer inherited the commitment of the 6'1", 285-pounder in 2012, he initially believed that he was too small to play center and saw a position change in his future.
"He walked through the door and, I was like, 'Uh‑oh, what's this now?'" Meyer said. "I actually started thinking maybe he could be a blocking fullback."
That switch never happened, as Boren went on to beat out Alabama transfer Chad Lindsay in fall camp for the right to succeed Linsley. The results of the OSU offense have spoken for themselves, as Jacoby has managed to continue the Boren legacy in Columbus.
"He's turned out to have a heck of a year," Meyer said. "He is a tribute to the family. Every Boren I've ever met is like that. I've had two of them, and if there's another one, I want him."
Philly Brown, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Despite going undrafted last May, Philly Brown has managed to make a mark in his rookie season, starting for the NFC South champion Panthers at punt returner and finishing sixth on the team with 21 receptions, 296 yards and two touchdowns. Having started three games at wide receiver this season, Brown is listed as second on the team's depth chart heading into this weekend's divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.
And while Brown could be considered a pleasant surprise for the Panthers this season, the same could be said of the Buckeyes' wide receiving corps, which was tasked with replacing the team's leading receiver for each of the past two seasons.
It's a job that's been accomplished by committee, with senior Devin Smith (32 receptions, 886 yards, 12 touchdowns) finding more consistency and redshirt sophomore Michael Thomas (50 receptions, 746 yards, nine touchdowns) emerging as J.T. Barrett's most reliable threat. Throw in the addition of redshirt freshman H-Back Jalin Marshall (589 total offensive yards, eight total touchdowns), as well as the advanced passing of Barrett and Jones, and it's not hard to see how the Ohio State throw game has taken a step forward in 2014.
"Who are we going to throw it to?" Meyer asked rhetorically in November while reflecting back on Ohio State's inconsistent passing game in his first two seasons in Columbus. "Now when I say who are you going to throw it to, three or four names pop in my mind."
Andrew Norwell, offensive lineman, Carolina Panthers
It isn't just Brown who has made an impact for the Panthers as an undrafted free agent this season, as Andrew Norwell has started nine games in his rookie season. Norwell will line up at left guard when the Panthers take on the Seattle Seahawks this Saturday, the same position he occupied for three seasons during his time at Ohio State.
With All-Big Ten performer Pat Elflein manning the right guard position, the Buckeyes have leaned on redshirt freshman Billy Price on the other side. A converted defensive lineman, Price had his struggles early but has since turned into one of Ohio State's most improved players this season.
"Mental toughness," Meyer said when mentioning that the turning point in Price's season came during a road win at Penn State. "Freshman lineman, freshman this, freshman that, and they toughened up and got it in there."
That mental toughness manifested itself recently, in the form of springing Elliott free for an 85-yard touchdown in the Buckeyes' Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. And like many other of Ohio State's group of key replacements, he has plenty of eligibility left, which certainly bodes well for the future of the Meyer's Buckeyes.
"I thought these young kids were pretty good coming up," Meyer said. "In my own heart, I said, 'This is, what is it. This '15 team, watch out.'
"And then they got better and better and better and better."
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Ohio State Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com and recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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