Ohio State Football: Predicting the Starters for Each Buckeyes Position in 2016
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff will have a lot of work to do this offseason, as the Buckeyes must identify 16 new starters for the 2016 season.
Key players such as Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Braxton Miller and Vonn Bell evolved into superstars in Columbus, and they highlight the biggest areas of need for the Buckeyes along the defensive line, at running back and on the perimeter.
Needing eight new starters on each side of the ball, who will be suiting up for Ohio State when it kicks off the season against Bowling Green next September?
Quarterback
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This one is pretty easy.
After a year of uncertainty at the quarterback position, the Buckeyes will enter the 2016 season knowing that redshirt junior J.T. Barrett is the centerpiece of the offense and their biggest hope for a playoff berth.
Barrett surged down the stretch of the 2015 campaign, using his dual-threat ability to boost Ohio State's anemic offense. After sputtering in the loss against Michigan State, Barrett was a driving force in outbursts against Michigan and Notre Dame, when the Buckeyes averaged 43 points and 489 yards of total offense.
Behind Barrett, the Buckeyes will have Stephen Collier and Joe Burrow to fill out the depth chart.
Quarterback: J.T. Barrett
Running Back
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Identifying Barrett's running mate in the backfield has to be one of Urban Meyer's top priorities this offseason, and in the end, Mike Weber will be the best fit.
The 5'10", 215-pound battering ram is more of a bruising runner, so he won't be able to replace the elusiveness and breakaway speed of Elliott. His running style more closely resembles that of Carlos Hyde, who became the first running back coached by Meyer to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in 2013.
Weber was primed to back up Elliott in 2015, but a lingering knee injury prevented him from seeing the field. He showed a lot of promise during fall camp before the setback, and he's ready to get back on track with the running back spot vacated, according to Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com:
"I started off really good. I kind of caught on to the college speed of the game really quick and was basically running the ball really good. The injury slowed me down a little bit. It kind of set me back this whole year and maybe pushed me toward a redshirt.
But if I had to do it again, I'd be a redshirt because I learned from Zeke and the guys in front of me. I just sat back and watched those guys. I am just going to let it all loose next year.
"
Running Back: Mike Weber
Wide Receiver/Tight End
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Ohio State's wide receiver corps has to replace three starters and its top three pass-catchers in Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Miller.
The unit should get a big lift with the return of Noah Brown, who was primed for a big 2015 season before a season-ending leg injury in fall camp. The H-back position will see some continuity with Curtis Samuel, who will stay on the perimeter to help bolster the depleted unit. And at tight end, Marcus Baugh should step right in and provide a big and reliable target down the field for Barrett.
The boldest prediction comes with the inclusion of Austin Mack, who will beat out Parris Campbell for a spot in the starting rotation. Mack—a true freshman and a 4-star standout from Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class, per 247Sports—enrolled early to take part in spring practice.
The rangy pass-catcher is a polished route-runner and has blazing speed, and that'll be on display during an impressive offseason that nets him a spot in the starting lineup.
Wide Receiver: Noah Brown
Wide Receiver: Austin Mack
H-Back: Curtis Samuel
Tight End: Marcus Baugh
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Offensive Line
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The offensive line will be a bigger question mark than it was at this point last season, when it had four starters returning to pave the way for Elliott.
Guards Billy Price and Pat Elflein—who should slide to center—will be back to anchor the middle. Both tackles and the entire right side, however, will be up for grabs.
Jamarco Jones has been groomed for years to take over at left tackle, and he should step in nicely for Taylor Decker. On the other side, Isaiah Prince will fill the role vacated by Chase Farris, who had his struggles at right tackle in 2015. Starting next to him at right guard will be Matthew Burrell, who was one of Ohio State's highest-rated recruits in the 2015 class, per 247Sports.
The new-look unit will have to jell under new offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, who was brought on by Meyer to keep Ed Warinner focused on his offensive coordinator duties.
Left Tackle: Jamarco Jones
Left Guard: Billy Price
Center: Pat Elflein
Right Guard: Matthew Burrell
Right Tackle: Isaiah Prince
Defensive Line
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The defensive line took a huge hit with the deflections of defensive end Bosa and defensive tackles Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt.
Oddly enough, Buckeyes fans got an unlikely preview of next year's unit in the Fiesta Bowl thanks to an injury to Schutt, a suspension to Washington and an ejection from Bosa.
"I looked out there and we were down another lineman," Meyer said after the Fiesta Bowl, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "We were playing with some cats out there I didn’t know were even going to play. But they played hard and did a fine job against a very good team."
With those unexpected openings, Sam Hubbard stepped up for Bosa, and defensive tackles Michael Hill and Donovan Munger anchored the interior. Those three should ride that momentum this offseason and join returning weak-side defensive end Tyquan Lewis up front.
Strong-Side Defensive End: Sam Hubbard
Nose Tackle: Michael Hill
Defensive Tackle: Donovan Munger
Weak-Side Defensive End: Tyquan Lewis
Linebacker
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Ohio State middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan was one of the most consistent linebackers in the country, leading the team and ranking 29th nationally in total tackles with 119 in 2015.
McMillan will be back to not only pace the linebacker unit, but to be the clear-cut leader of a young but talented defense. Meyer even went out of his way to name McMillan a team captain alongside Elflein and Barrett.
McMillan will need to elevate his play as the Buckeyes work to replace Darron Lee and Joshua Perry, two of the anchors of Ohio State's 2015 defense.
Lee was a fast athlete and converted defensive back who thrived as an attacking "Sam" linebacker, and Chris Worley Jr. is in the same mold. Perry will be succeeded by Dante Booker Jr., who was No. 2 on the depth chart in '15.
"Will" Linebacker: Dante Booker Jr.
Middle Linebacker: Raekwon McMillan
"Sam" Linebacker: Chris Worley Jr.
Secondary
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Just like receiver and defensive line, Ohio State will need to find three new starters in its secondary with safeties Tyvis Powell and Bell and cornerback Eli Apple all declaring for the NFL draft.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they return cornerback Gareon Conley, who played well last season and is ready to step into a lead role.
"Absolutely, Gareon is ready," cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said about Conley's leadership role, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors. "He and I have met several times already about his opportunity to lead in the back end and that will be his job. It is wonderful when it works out that way."
He'll be in charge of bringing safeties Erick Smith and Malik Hooker up to speed. Both were the primary backups to Bell and Powell in 2015, and they're primed to hold off safety Cam Burrows and secure a spot in the starting lineup.
At the other cornerback spot, Damon Webb should be ready for the limelight. The soon-to-be junior saw plenty of field in 2015 as the Buckeyes' nickel cornerback, but with Apple's deflection, he'll be upgraded to fill out the secondary.
Cornerback: Gareon Conley
Safety: Erick Smith
Safety: Malik Hooker
Cornerback: Damon Webb
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
