Ohio State Football: Projecting Who Will Win Buckeyes' Open Starting Positions
Ohio State is set to return 15 starters for its national title defense this fall, but the departure of numerous veterans has Urban Meyer looking for replacements at wide receiver, defensive end and a pivotal cornerback spot.
There's also a pretty intriguing quarterback quandary you may have heard about.
A couple of the Buckeyes' openings were filled during spring practice. Raekwon McMillan secured the middle linebacker position that was vacated by Curtis Grant, and on offense, Nick Vannett stepped up as the lead tight end in place of Jeff Heuerman.
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But fall camp will be a proving ground for a handful of important position battles. Which Buckeyes will rise up and secure a starting spot this fall?
Quarterback
After leading Ohio State on an incredible postseason run through Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to close out the 2015 season, and as the only healthy quarterback among Ohio State's three elite options this spring, many pegged Cardale Jones as the favorite to win the unprecedented quarterback battle.
But if you ask Jones, he's not the one leading the race. The 6'5", 250-pound gunslinger told Austin Ward of ESPN.com that he still views himself as a third-stringer, and that he still has a ways to go before securing the starting spot.
"I’m working harder than ever," Jones said, via Ward. "I understand that I want to be the starting quarterback of this team, but I know I have two guys in front of me who are working just as hard."
That quote falls in line with a culture Meyer has built at Ohio State—that everything you get is earned, not given. Meyer also revealed during spring practice that he plans on naming the starter midway through fall camp.
Jones certainly won't be the third-stringer he views himself as now.
Winner: Cardale Jones
Right Tackle
With four starters returning to a unit that dominated down the stretch of the 2014 season, Ohio State's offensive line has the potential to be the best in the country this fall.
But that potential will only be reached if the Buckeyes can effectively replace the sole deflection of right tackle Darryl Baldwin.
The leader for that vacated spot coming out of spring is Chase Farris, a converted defensive lineman who backed Baldwin up during the 2014 season. He gained the edge over talented underclassman Jamarco Jones, who has bounced between right and left tackle as a Buckeye.
"Chase Farris will start if he continues to progress," Meyer said this spring, according to Ari Wasserman of the Plain Dealer.
Winner: Chase Farris
Wide Receiver
Perhaps the biggest loss the Buckeyes need to overcome is the departure of senior wideouts Devin Smith and Evan Spencer.
Smith spent the previous four seasons as Ohio State's elite deep threat, while Spencer emerged as the Buckeyes' best perimeter blocker (a hugely important role in Meyer's offense) and one of the team's unquestioned leaders.
In their absence, the two players who stepped up this spring were Corey Smith and Noah Brown.
Corey Smith played sparingly in 2014, ranking fifth on the team with 220 receiving yards. He flashed in the CFP National Championship against Oregon, though, leading the team with 76 receiving yards on two catches, and three months later in the spring game, he broke out for 176 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just six catches.
Brown, though, made a bigger impression throughout spring practice. At 6'2" and 222 pounds, he has the size to be an effective blocker on the perimeter, but he also adds legitimate playmaking ability to the field as well.
"Noah Brown has had probably as good of a spring as I could've wanted," receivers coach Zach Smith said, according to Bill Landis of the Plain Dealer. "He's at a different level than he was in the fall. He's come a long way and still has a lot to do, but he looks like a guy who's going to contribute in the fall."
And while the Buckeyes are loaded at receiver with players such as Curtis Samuel, Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Jeff Greene, Corey Smith and Brown should rise to the occasion.
Corey Smith, Noah Brown
Defensive End
One of the things Ohio State lacked in 2014 was an effective counterpunch along the defensive line to complement Joey Bosa.
Noah Spence was supposed to be that guy, but a year-long suspension left the Buckeyes shorthanded at weak-side defensive end. And while Rashad Frazier and Steve Miller formed a suitable pair at the position, they didn't possess the pass-rushing ability that would've made Ohio State's defense elite.
Tyquan Lewis is trying to change that.
The redshirt sophomore had a fantastic spring, edging ahead of redshirt freshman Sam Hubbard for the starting spot. The competition is still open, according to Meyer, but Lewis flashed the ability that Ohio State desperately needed last season.
“Tyquan is having a great spring, really great spring,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said, according to Tim Moody of the Lantern.
Winner: Tyquan Lewis
Nose Tackle
When defensive tackle Michael Bennett hit his stride last year, it changed the trajectory of Ohio State's season.
Bennett actually played the beginning of the season out of position, slotted as the nose tackle to allow Adolphus Washington to play the 3-technique. But when the two switched positions, Bennett dominated, finishing the final seven games with a team-high 11 tackles for loss.
His departure allowed Washington to slide back to his natural role at the 3-tech position, opening up a spot at nose tackle. And throughout spring practice, senior Tommy Schutt showed that he's ready for a starting role.
“(Schutt) has had a good spring, his best spring since he’s been here,” Meyer said, according to Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors. "As of right now, he’d be the — him and Adolphus starting inside. As of right now. I’m not ready to say he’s the guy yet.”
Schutt will have to hold off guys such as Donovan Munger and Joel Hale, but he's definitely in the driver's seat heading into fall camp.
Winner: Tommy Schutt
Cornerback
One of Ohio State's most heated position battles came in the secondary for the open cornerback spot.
The Buckeyes have good depth at the position, but for most of spring practice, it was a two-horse race between Gareon Conley and Damon Webb.
Conley, who struggled at times during the '14 season—most notably on the road against Michigan State—brought a renewed confidence to the field this spring.
“Last year, I’d go out there thinking about messing up,” Conley said, according to Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch. “Now it’s just going out there being confident that you won’t mess up. Not thinking about messing up, that’s what helps you be a good corner.”
That confidence gave him a lead over Webb and Marshon Lattimore, who surged as he got healthy during spring practice, but this will be a battle that wages well into fall camp.
But in the end, expect Conley to be on top.
Winner: Gareon Conley
David Regimbal covers Ohio State football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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