Ohio State Football: Week 1 Fall Camp Stock Report

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After months of hype, speculation and anticipation, Ohio State finally took the practice field for the start of fall camp last week.

But for a team that returns 15 combined starters from the first-ever winner of the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes still find themselves dealing with no shortage of questions with three weeks to go until the start of the season.

Aside from the obvious query of who will be playing quarterback for Urban Meyer's squad when it kicks off against Virginia Tech on Sept. 7, Ohio State also finds itself witnessing not one, but two former signal-callers making transitions to wide receiver. And with four key players suspended for the season opener, the Buckeyes must also find new targets in the passing game, as well as a one-game replacement for All-American defensive end Joey Bosa.

With two-a-days on the horizon, Meyer said that this coming week will be a crucial one for Ohio State's preparation for the upcoming season. But with the first week of fall camp in the books, let's take a look at where the Buckeyes stand.

Quarterback Conundrum

In the rare quarterback competition between two qualified candidates, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett currently find themselves dead-even, according to Meyer. That might not be the case for long, however, as the fourth-year Ohio State head coach said he is preparing to finally take a look at the data the two have accumulated through the first week of camp.

"We're going to meet today. I have not had the data," Meyer said on Sunday. "The gut feeling part and what I've watched, it is what it is. I think they're both right there, and you probably wouldn't expect me to say anything different, but that's what it is. They're both working their tails off, and it's one of the most refreshing competitions I've ever witnessed."

Don't expect Meyer to reveal much more about the most talked-about position battle in all of college football moving forward, especially with the Buckeyes offering limited media opportunities in the second week of camp. One interesting note from Ohio State media day on Sunday, though, was that both Barrett and Jones shared that they both wouldn't be in favor of a two-quarterback system.

"In a two-quarterback system, let's say I'm on the field for three plays and I'm off the field, and he runs a drive or something like that," Jones said. "I don't know how well that would work as far as rhythm and developing timing with the guys."

Added Barrett: "I don’t think it would be best as far as the quarterback position, being that we wouldn’t have the same rhythm or efficiency if we used a two-quarterback system."

While neither Meyer nor first-year quarterbacks coach Tim Beck have ruled out the possibility, it doesn't appear that the Buckeyes will be putting each of their top two signal-callers on the field this season. Then again, we won't know for sure until Sept. 7, as Meyer has made it clear he has no plans of revealing who his starting quarterback will be ahead of the season opener.

"We won't announce anything until the first guy who takes the field against Virginia Tech," Meyer said. "That won't happen."

Braxton's Back

While Ohio State's quarterback competition is now just between Jones and Barrett, neither signal-caller has garnered as much attention as the player who used to occupy their position. While he's yet to play an official down at the position, all eyes have been on Braxton Miller's transition to wide receiver, as evidenced by the sizable crowd the former QB drew at Buckeyes media day.

But while Miller's position switch has spawned plenty of headlines, his move to wideout remains a work in progress one week into camp. Meyer said as much on Sunday, when he revealed that the two-time Big Ten MVP was still getting used to all of the running his new position requires of him.

"As a receiver, you line up and you run for two hours," Meyer said. "As a quarterback, you don't run [in practice]. You run for maybe four or five minutes at practice, and you're doing other things.

"He went through some, just muscle tightness. He's fine. But we're being cautious. This is a big week for him."

And although Miller endured his share of struggles in his first week as a wideout—Jones said on the first day of camp that it was clear Miller was new to the position—the potential is still clear.

Especially with the versatility Miller possesses as a runner, which Meyer and his staff have been exploring. At last Friday's practice, the Buckeyes experimented moving the 6'2", 215-pounder into the backfield, creating a terrifying speed-option duo alongside the 6'5", 250-pound Jones.

"I'm going to be in the backfield, too," Miller said. "It's going to be fun, man. Like playing video games."

With three weeks to go until the start of the season, Miller has plenty of work to do to adjust to his new role. But he still remains a big part of Ohio State's plans, especially with H-backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson suspended for the Buckeyes opener.

"We introduced him [to wide receiver], he did very good, and I'm anxious, as he is, to get going and get a starting spot," Meyer said of Miller.

Gibson Gearing Up

Miller isn't the only ex-QB who's made a recent position change, but former 4-star prospect Torrance Gibson's move to wide receiver doesn't appear to be as permanent as the senior Miller's.

At least for now.

Having arrived in Columbus as a blue-chip signal-caller by way of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Gibson wanted to do all that he could to make an instant impact in his college career. But with the quarterback depth chart already crowded, the 6'4", 205-pounder would have to find a new spot, making the choice on his own to make the move from throwing passes to receiving them.

"He came to me," Meyer said of Gibson's switch. "He realizes it's going to take at least a year to play quarterback here, especially with what's in front of him. He said, 'I want to play.' I said, 'Well, here's your options: Wildcat quarterback, we'll see what your skill set is at receiver, catching the ball a little bit.' He's a very good athlete."

It's still too early to tell what kind of impact Gibson will have as a wideout, but Meyer said he's in the running to replace former Buckeyes wideout Devin Smith as Ohio State's downfield threat in the passing game. That would obviously provide a big boost to an already potent Buckeyes offense, especially if it's the strong-armed Jones who winds up behind center.

For all of the optimism that's surrounded Gibson's new position, both he and Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith insist he'll be back at quarterback when the 2016 season begins.

But if Gibson's blend of size and speed transforms him into the Buckeyes' next great wideout?

"We'll reevaluate it after the year," Smith said. "Essentially, it's going to be up to him."

The Fast And The Furious

While outside of quarterback there aren't many position battles going on in Columbus—Gareon Conley and Chase Farris have locked down starting cornerback and right tackle jobs, respectively—the suspension of four Buckeyes for the season opener has created some unexpected openings for Ohio State's showdown with the Hokies.

That rings especially true at defensive end, where Bosa leaves a gaping hole following a 2014 season that saw him total 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss.

With Tyquan Lewis occupying the other side, the battle to replace Bosa is now between a pair of second-year players in sophomore Jalyn Holmes and redshirt sophomore Sam Hubbard. And while the two are currently competing for playing time, Holmes insists that the two defensive ends remain the best of friends.

"We twin brothers. Can't you tell?" Holmes said with a laugh. "We're like The Fast and the Furious. [Hubbard's] Paul Walker and I'm Tyrese."

Meyer may ultimately opt to use both his fast and his furious options against Virginia Tech, as it's long been his preference to rotate defensive linemen throughout his coaching career. Just how the battle between Holmes and Hubbard will ultimately play out remains to be seen, but when replacing a player as talented as Bosa, it's good to have choices.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.