Ohio State Football: 5 Starters on the Hot Seat in 2015 Spring Practice

With spring practice underway in Columbus, Ohio, the pressure is mounting for Cardale Jones, Dontre Wilson and a trio of Ohio State defenders.

The Buckeyes are gearing up for another run at the College Football Playoff, and a number of players are on the hot seat to either lock down a starting spot or emerge to replace the production—and leadership—that was lost from last year's team.

Who's feeling the most heat as the Buckeyes navigate through spring camp?

Cardale Jones

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It's special when a team is led by a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback.

It can get uncomfortable, though, when a team has three signal-callers of that caliber. 

That's the reality for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes, who are loaded at quarterback with Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett on the roster. All three have proven the ability to win at the highest level and have earned the right to lead.

But Meyer seems set on naming one starter in favor of running a multi-quarterback system.

"It's starting to eat away at me a little bit," Meyer said of Ohio State's quarterback quandary, according to Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors.

Jones is hoping to make Meyer's decision easy by showing out this spring.

The redshirt junior is the only fully healthy quarterback among the three elite options, but that doesn't mean he can rest easy.

According to Bill Landis of The Plain Dealer, Meyer reported on Tuesday that Barrett is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken ankle—and he's participating in more drills than expected. And while Barrett is improving, Meyer is pulling Miller back a bit as a precaution while he rehabs his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

That gives Jones a golden opportunity. While the other two recover, he'll be taking the lion's share of snaps this spring and building chemistry with Ohio State's new-look wide receiver corps. 

Can he end college football's most intriguing position battle before it even begins?

Dontre Wilson

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Last year was supposed to be Dontre Wilson's year.

After playing the role of decoy during his freshman campaign in 2013, the Buckeyes had big plans for their dangerous all-purpose back last season.

And against Navy in the season opener, that plan appeared to be on schedule. Wilson was Ohio State's most consistent playmaker against the Midshipmen, racking up 89 total yards on eight touches. 

But following his Week 1 performance, he only eclipsed the 50-yard output just one time, when he registered 92 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati in Week 5. His disappointing year took an even deeper nosedive when he suffered a season-ending foot injury against Michigan State.

That opened the door for Jalin Marshall, who made the most of his increased playing time. Marshall broke out against Indiana, helping Ohio State rally to a 42-27 victory with four second-half touchdowns. 

Marshall's play down the stretch opened up a debate about whether he was a better (and more productive) option for Ohio State's offense over Wilson. 

According to Bill Landis of The Plain Dealer, Meyer said that Wilson recently had the pins removed from his broken foot and is rehabbing his way back into shape. If he doesn't get back to full speed quickly, however, Marshall could solidify his spot as the starter.

Tommy Schutt

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Ohio State has to replace eight starters from last year's team, but finding Michael Bennett's successor will likely be Urban Meyer's stiffest challenge this spring. 

The Buckeyes are hoping Tommy Schutt can fill the void.

The 6'2", 295-pound defensive tackle has been a key reserve during his first three years in Columbus, but he's primed to take over a starting role in his senior season. Ohio State needs a run-stuffing presence in the middle to allow Adolphus Washington to slide over and line up in the 3-technique. 

The key for Schutt is to stay healthy.

The big space-eater lost half of his sophomore campaign as a result of an offseason foot surgery. The Buckeyes can't afford to lose him in 2015 because of a lack of experienced depth on the roster. And after Ohio State missed out on its top three defensive tackle prospects in last year's recruiting cycle—Terry Beckner Jr., Christian Wilkins and Neville Gallimore—there won't be any elite freshmen to fuel the interior.

That's why the Buckeyes need Schutt to not only stay healthy, but to produce at a high level. 

Raekwon McMillan

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Raekwon McMillan was the crown jewel of Ohio State's 2014 recruiting class, and as a freshman last season, the 6'2", 240-pound middle linebacker played a pivotal role as he split time with senior Curtis Grant. 

But that spot will be his alone in 2015, and the Buckeyes need him to anchor an improving defense.

"He's got some big shoes to fill," Meyer said of McMillan, according to Blake Williams of Buckeye Sports. "Curtis Grant maybe didn't have a stellar career but he had a stellar senior year."

The middle linebacker spot has been unsettled during Meyer's tenure in Columbus. In 2012, the Buckeyes had to move fullback Zach Boren to defense midway through the season because of a lack of production. A year later, the lack of proven linebacker depth was Meyer's top concern, according to Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors.

But pairing McMillan and Grant was a winning combination for the Buckeyes, who improved drastically as a defense from the previous year.

But there were still lapses. The defense gave up big plays in games against Virginia Tech, Cincinnati and Michigan State. The unit didn't hit its stride until it reached the postseason, when it blanked the Wisconsin Badgers in a 59-point rout in the Big Ten title game.

Meyer only needs to identify four new defensive starters this spring, but McMillan will have to step up for the Buckeyes to evolve into a dominant defense.

Eli Apple

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Eli Apple isn't at risk of losing his spot as Ohio State's top cornerback, but he's certainly under pressure to step up and fill the leadership role (and replace the production) of Doran Grant. 

The Buckeyes went through a complete overhaul of their pass defense in 2014. Urban Meyer brought in Chris Ash from Arkansas to be the co-defensive coordinator alongside Luke Fickell, and he made drastic improvements with the secondary after installing his aggressive 4-3 scheme.

But Grant was a big part of that. His ability to man up against the opposing team's best receiver was crucial to the Buckeyes' success, and now that he's gone, Apple will need to fill the void.

That won't be easy. Grant was the one who limited Alabama's Amari Cooper, the best receiver in the country, to his third-lowest yardage output of the year (71) in the Sugar Bowl. 

But Apple surged down the stretch of the season. Before Ohio State outlasted Indiana in a 42-27 victory, Meyer said that his redshirt freshman was "playing his best football since he's been here," according to Ari Wasserman of The Plain Dealer.

Apple has the physical tools to be successful. He had a team-high 10 pass breakups a season ago, which complemented 53 total tackles and three interceptions, according to Ohio State's official website.

But will he be that productive this year, when he has to line up against the opponent's best wideout?

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.