Position-by-Position Preview of Ohio State's 2015 Roster

Ohio State's roster is absolutely loaded with NFL talent.

Headlined by budding superstars such as Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott and a trio of dynamic quarterbacks you may have read about this offseason, head coach Urban Meyer's Buckeyes are set up for another championship run in 2015.

There's enough depth and playmaking ability in Columbus to justify Ohio State as the preseason No. 1 team, and that's before you factor in the fifth-ranked recruiting class that will be joining the ranks this fall.

Here's a position-by-position preview of the 2015 Buckeyes.

Quarterback

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Ohio State has a lot of good quarterbacks.

You've read about the three-headed monster of Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller, and the tough decision Meyer will have to make between the trio midway through fall camp.

Jones is the presumed favorite after going through spring as the only (fully) healthy signal-caller. He was the one to receive all the first-team reps with the Buckeyes' new-look wide receiver corps, building a chemistry with his pass-catchers while Barrett and Miller watched from the sideline.

Is Jones' lead too big to overcome? 

That will become evident in the first few practices of fall camp. Barrett can't be ignored, though, because he's only a year removed from blowing past Jones in the fall of 2014 to win the starting job after Miller was lost for the season.

It's too early to write off Miller as well. It will all come down to his health once fall camp starts.

If his shoulder is ready for a full workload and he can run the offense with short, intermediate and deep passes, the coaching staff will certainly reward his loyalty—sticking with the program despite a bevy of transfer rumors—by giving him a long look during camp.

But it doesn't stop there. The Buckeyes have depth beyond that with Stephen Collier, who gained valuable experience with Barrett and Miller sidelined this spring.

And if that weren't enough, 4-star dual threats Torrance Gibson and Joe Burrow will be joining the crowded quarterback room as true freshmen this fall.

Running Back

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As if Ohio State's backfield wasn't stacked enough, it'll also boast the nation's leading returning rusher in running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The former 4-star standout from St. Louis came on strong during the Buckeyes' postseason run last season, totaling 696 rushing yards and eight touchdowns against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. The latter two performances came in the College Football Playoff, earning Elliott MVP honors and launching an inevitable Heisman Trophy campaign for 2015.

But just how good is Elliott?

According to Bleacher Report's Dan Hope, Elliott is the top running back prospect for the 2016 NFL draft class. Matt Miller, Bleacher Report's NFL draft guru, projects him as the first running back off the board, going No. 4 overall to the Oakland Raiders.

If Elliott brings the same intensity and production to the field that he did during Ohio State's run through the playoff, he could post a historic season for the Buckeyes.

Elliott will be backed up by Bri'onte Dunn, who surged in a primary role this spring as Elliott recovered from minor wrist surgery.

Warren Ball provides depth, but a guy who could surprise this fall is Michael Weber, a former 4-star running back who will enroll at Ohio State this fall. The 5'9 ½", 219-pound bulldozer runs with a physicality that Meyer has gravitated toward since leaving Florida, and if Weber can pick up the playbook quickly, he could see meaningful playing time in a backup role.

Wide Receiver

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When Meyer first arrived at Ohio State, he described the team's passing game as a "clown show," according to Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors.

The leading receiver the season before—then-freshman Devin Smith—was coming off a 14-catch campaign. The Buckeyes didn't have a single pass-catcher break the 300-yard mark the previous season, and the most versatile playmaker the offense had was a sparsely used tight end in Jake Stoneburner.

Fast-forward three seasons, though, and the wide receiver group is a strength.

The Buckeyes do have to replace Smith and the unit's leader in Evan Spencer, but they return a dynamic group that's led by rising redshirt junior Michael Thomas.

The nephew of legendary receiver Keyshawn Johnson, Thomas was arguably Ohio State's most complete receiver last year, hauling in a team-high 54 passes for 799 yards and nine touchdowns (which ranked second behind Smith).

Thomas will lead the way for a group that boasts Corey Smith—Fox Sports Ohio's Marcus Hartman suggests he could replace Devin Smith as the offense's deep threat—Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown and Dontre Wilson.

The latter four all add a versatility to the receiver unit, and the coaching staff will likely use that to its advantage by moving them around the field—from the slot to the perimeter—to keep defenses off balance.

Beyond that core, the Buckeyes have young players such as Parris Campbell, James Clark and Johnnie Dixon who have the potential to earn some serious playing time this fall.

Tight End

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Most teams would struggle to replace a guy like tight end Jeff Heuerman, a versatile player who was just as effective as a blocker as he was a threat to stretch the defense down the middle of the field. The Denver Broncos loved his complete game, which is why they drafted him in the third round of the NFL draft.

But the Buckeyes were ready for his departure because they could plug in Nick Vannett, a complete player in his own right.

In fact, Vannett was relied on heavily last year as Heuerman struggled through a nagging ankle injury. Despite splitting time, Vannett hauled in 19 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers should spike significantly now that he's in a featured role.

Marcus Baugh is rising up as the No. 2 guy.

Baugh, a redshirt sophomore who battled through some concerning off-the-field issues early in his career, established himself in the rotation this spring, and Vannett knows how important that role is.

"He’s still a young guy and he’s still learning the ropes so he’s progressing each day," Vannett said of Baugh, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors. "It’s good to watch him and see him do that because he’s going to have to step up and be the No. 2 this year."

Offensive Line

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When J.T. Barrett broke his ankle against Michigan in the regular-season finale last November, Ohio State's playoff aspirations could've went down with him.

Instead, the Buckeyes rallied behind an offensive line that grew by leaps and bounds from a disastrous start to the year, and the unit paved the way for a ground game that averaged 292.7 yards per game in its final three contests.

Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism at Ohio State this year is that four of five starters are returning to Columbus in 2015.

Led by left tackle Taylor Decker, the Buckeyes should field one of the most dominant offensive fronts in college football. Billy Price (left guard), Jacoby Boren (center) and Pat Elflein (right guard) make up a formidable interior, and Chase Farris is shaping up as suitable replacement for Darryl Baldwin at right tackle.

There is concern, though, with the second unit.

"I think our biggest issue is our lack of depth, especially on the offensive line," Decker said, according to Bill Landis of Northeast Ohio Media Group. "When guys get tired, the level of play is not up there. It's good for those guys because I remember having to do that. It's just something we have to work through."

With the unit guided by Ed Warinner, the winner of Football Scoop's Offensive Line Coach of the Year in two of the last three seasons, expect the depth to evolve throughout the season.

Defensive Line

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Any unit that boasts one of the nation's strongest players is going to excel, and that was certainly the case last year with Ohio State's Joey Bosa.

The 6'6", 275-pound strong-side defensive end was an absolute nightmare coming off the edge last season, ranking fifth nationally with 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss, according to NCAA.com.

Bosa returns to anchor a strong defensive line for 2015, showcasing his unique blend of speed and power for another year.

"I think he should be the best D-lineman in America,” Urban Meyer said this spring, according to Bill Bender of Sporting News. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic. He and (defensive line coach Larry) Johnson have a tremendous chemistry right now; the way they are working. He's trying to take his game to the next level, which we all know is pretty high."

Working alongside Bosa will be two talented defensive tackles in Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt.

Washington could be in for a big year as he slides back into the 3-technique position that he forfeited to Michael Bennett last season. With his size (6'4", 290 lbs) and speed, it's a natural fit for him to play that role, and he could be even more disruptive in 2015.

That also allows Schutt to fill in at nose tackle, a position he's better suited for, which will create a formidable interior.

But possibly the most important storyline last spring was the emergence of Tyquan Lewis at weak-side defensive end. The Buckeyes lacked a dominant counterpunch to Bosa last season—thanks to Noah Spence's season-long suspension—but Landis wrote that Lewis emerged this offseason and could be an incredible complement to Bosa on the other edge.

Linebacker

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Much like the wide receivers, Ohio State's linebacker unit used to be a big worry for Urban Meyer.

In fact, as the Buckeyes defense crumbled throughout the course of the 2013 season, Meyer tabbed the linebackers as his top concern, according to Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors.

"The linebacker position is still my biggest concern on our team," Meyer said, via Rowland. "The depth is a major concern. When you think of the great linebackers here; arguably the last decade as good a linebackers as anywhere in the country played at Ohio State."

That wasn't the case during Meyer's first two years in Columbus, but that changed in a big way last season.

Part of the credit goes to the defensive staff, headlined by co-defensive coordinators Luke Fickell and Chris Ash. The Buckeyes coaches adjusted their scheme very effectively last season—simplifying things to allow their superior athletes to thrive.

That allowed freshmen such as Darron Lee (redshirt) and Raekwon McMillan to see the field early and make a big impact.

Lee emerged as a breakout star, ranking third on the team with 81 tackles and second with 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He was a force rushing the passer and proved to be the team's most instinctive player, tracking the ball with elite speed and finishing plays with his sure tackling.

Just a redshirt sophomore in 2015, Lee has all the tools to be one of the most dominant linebackers in the country.

Alongside Lee will be McMillan, who's ready to step into a primary role after splitting time with Curtis Grant at middle linebacker last year, and Joshua Perry, who was the team's leading tackler in 2014.

It doesn't stop there, though. Meyer has built the depth that his team lacked from 2012-13, signing players such as Justin Hilliard, Jerome Baker, Nick Conner, Dante Booker and Kyle Berger over the last two recruiting classes, all of whom rank as 4- or 5-star prospects.

Secondary

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Ohio State's secondary made huge strides last season, going from 112th nationally in defending the pass in 2013 to 29th a season ago.

And with the players returning this year, there are plenty of reasons to believe another big jump in the right direction is on the horizon.

Led by safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, the Buckeyes will boast a hard-hitting tandem that can cover a lot of ground this season.

Bell, who ranked second on the team with 92 tackles as a first-year starter last year, can creep into the box and support the run very effectively. Powell offers the same ability, giving Ohio State's defense an added physicality against run-heavy teams such as Wisconsin.

But the two excelled in coverage as well, combining for an incredible 10 interceptions and 20 passes defended during the 2014 season.

They'll be flanked by Eli Apple, who'll be replacing Doran Grant as the team's top cornerback. Apple came on strong at the end of last season, performing at his best in the College Football Playoff games against Alabama and Oregon. He feels ready to become Ohio State's No. 1 cornerback.

"It’s great to have everybody looking at you," Apple said, according to Tony Gerdeman of Theozone.net. "It’s great to be that guy that’s leading by example that everybody is looking up to to make a play. I’ve learned from great guys like Doran and Bradley Roby, so I’m ready to take that next step for sure in my game."

The Buckeyes have plenty of talented but unproven options for the other cornerback spot.

Gareon Conley was the one who emerged from a close position battle this spring, but the Buckeyes have depth with players such as Damon Webb and Marshon Lattimore, both of whom are underclassmen with loads of potential.

All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.

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