Ohio State Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Incoming Freshmen

Just four short months ago, Urban Meyer was putting the finishing touches on Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class, which surged on national signing day to finish No. 7 in the final recruiting rankings.

Over the weekend, that crop of freshmen reported to campus for the official start of their collegiate careers. 

With summer conditioning and fall camp fast approaching, these first-year players will have a limited opportunity to make an impression on the coaching staff.

Who will step up and prove they're ready to make an instant impact this fall?

Mike Weber Will Beat Out Bri'onte Dunn for the Backup RB Spot

Ezekiel Elliott will need the occasional breather this fall. 

After closing out the 2014 season by amassing 696 rushing yards and eight touchdowns during Ohio State's three postseason victories, Elliott established himself as the country's most explosive returning running back and a Heisman Trophy candidate for 2015.

The Buckeyes will need a reliable backup for Elliott, though, after moving last year's secondary ball-handler (Curtis Samuel) to wide receiver. 

Bri'onte Dunn emerged as a candidate to fill that role this spring, receiving a bulk of the carries in spring practice while Elliott recovered from minor wrist surgery. 

But by the midway point of the season, Mike Weber will surpass Dunn on the depth chart.

The 5'9.5", 219-pound wrecking ball of a runner was rated as a 4-star prospect and the No. 9 running back in the 2015 class. He has the vision to navigate through traffic, the strength to break through arm tackles and the speed to run away when he hits the second level. Those are all assets that will help him thrive in Ohio State's offense this fall and beyond. 

Nick Conner Will Earn More Playing Time than Justin Hilliard and Jerome Baker

Five-star linebacker Justin Hilliard and 4-star athlete/linebacker Jerome Baker were the highest-rated prospects in Ohio State's 2015 class, but they're already a step behind fellow freshmen Nick Conner.

The crown jewels of the Buckeyes' class reported to campus last weekend, but Conner has been at Ohio State since January after enrolling early. He took part in the Buckeyes' spring camp, and that time proved to be pivotal as he emerged as a legitimate playmaker on defense.

That much became clear during Ohio State's spring game. Conner was one of the bright spots defensively, registering a game-high seven tackles (four of which were solo) to complement a forced fumble, an interception and a pass breakup. 

"[Conner]’s going to be good,” offensive lineman Billy Price said after the spring game, according to Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch. “He’s tough … he’s raw, and to have the kind of guys he has in his unit (to bring him along), things are going to get good for him.”

Conner's head start should get him on the field before Hilliard and Baker, but Meyer set realistic expectations for the spring game star.

“We had high expectations for him," Meyer said, via May. "Hope he doesn’t redshirt and gets involved in the kicking game. He had a very good day (in the spring game). He’s a tough guy who plays hard; good qualities to have.”

K.J. Hill Will Contribute at Wide Receiver

Even though the Buckeyes lost two key contributors to their wide receiver corps with the departures of Devin Smith and Evan Spencer, Meyer will have plenty of talent on the perimeter this fall.

Ohio State returns key wideouts Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith, and young guys such as Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Samuel should factor in as well.

But that bevy of talent won't keep K.J. Hill off the field.

Rated as the No. 152 prospect overall for the '15 class, Hill was a signing-day surprise for Ohio State. He brought his 6'0", 188-pound frame and elite playmaking ability to Columbus last weekend, and it won't take him long to make an impression on the coaching staff.

He won't be a starter, and it may take him a while to find his footing, but Hill will be making plays for the Buckeyes offense by season's end. 

Two Offensive Linemen Will Crack the Two-Deep Rotation

Ohio State's biggest priority for the 2015 recruiting cycle was to secure as many offensive linemen as possible. 

Meyer came through, getting six linemen to join the ranks in Columbus on signing day. And by the end of the season, two of those freshmen will be listed on the two-deep depth chart. 

After giving the current backups a long look this spring, Meyer came out of spring camp disappointed with his depth up front.

“The area (of worry) is the offensive line. That’s the problem,” Meyer said, according to Ryan Cooper of The Lantern. “And once again, not the starters, because I feel good (about them) … I’m very alarmed by the second group of offensive linemen right now.”

His incoming freshmen will provide instant depth. Four-star standout Isaiah Prince will be backing up Chase Farris at right tackle, and 4-star guard Matthew Burrell will be right behind Pat Elflein at right guard.

Robert Landers Will Emerge as a Budding Star at Defensive Tackle

The Buckeyes have had steady play at the defensive tackle position over the last few years with the likes of Johnathan Hankins and Michael Bennett clogging the middle. 

Both are suiting up in the NFL, and now, Ohio State is looking for their next star defensive tackle.

The Buckeyes may already have that in Robert Landers.

The 6'2", 295-pound run-stuffer was only rated a 3-star prospect and the No. 476 prospect overall for the class of 2015. But the Buckeyes have made a habit of finding diamonds in the rough over the last few recruiting cycles—Darron Lee in 2013 and Elflein in 2012—and Landers could be next in line.

Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt will start and play a majority of the snaps inside, but Landers will factor into the rotation.

All recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports.

David Regimbal covers Ohio State football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.