Ohio State Football: Buckeyes' Most Important Players at Each Position

Urban Meyer has placed a premium on leadership since taking over as Ohio State's head coach in 2012, and with new starters needed in every position group except quarterback this fall, the Buckeyes need a number of players to emerge before kicking off against Bowling Green in the season opener. 

The rebuild in Columbus, Ohio—which entails identifying eight new starters on each side of the ball—is already underway after winter conditioning and an eventful spring camp.

With the first fall practice less than two months away, these players will be most important for the Buckeyes because they'll either provide much-needed leadership or playmaking ability to a young and new-look unit.

Quarterback: J.T. Barrett

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

J.T. Barrett isn't just the most important player in the quarterback room—he's also one of the most important players on the team and the unquestioned leader of an offense that's replacing all of its top weapons.

That wasn't the case at this point last year, when Ohio State had three championship-caliber quarterbacks with Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller and Barrett on the roster. But Jones and Miller are gone, and Barrett, who took over the starting job late last year and orchestrated two blowout victories over Michigan and Notre Dame to end the season, is benefiting from his first offseason as the go-to guy in the offense.

Barrett talked about his new role with Austin Ward of ESPN.com:

"

That doesn’t really change anything, because I’m not going to relax or get comfortable. That’s when you stop getting better, and I want to be better. There are things I know I can work on.

But I’ll carry the weight on my shoulders to make plays, which I’m comfortable with. I have confidence in myself to do that.

"

If history is any indication, the Buckeyes will need a reliable backup in the event of an injury to Barrett. Joe Burrow looks like the surefire second-string quarterback, and with zero real-game experience, that puts much more pressure on Barrett to stay healthy in 2016. 

Running Back: Mike Weber

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

If Ohio State can identify a suitable replacement for running back Ezekiel Elliott, its potential road back to the College Football Playoff would be much smoother.

The Buckeyes have leaned heavily on their ball-carriers under Urban Meyer, as the starting running backs (Carlos Hyde, Elliott) have averaged 1,547.5 rushing yards per season since 2012. With Elliott gone, Meyer is searching for a new go-to guy to run his offense through.

And after a strong spring camp, Mike Weber looks like that guy.

The redshirt freshman was in line to back up Elliott a season ago after breaking out in fall practice, but a knee injury derailed his emergence. Now fully healthy, he's in a neck-and-neck battle with redshirt junior Bri'onte Dunn for the starting spot alongside Barrett in the backfield.

In the spring game last April, Weber looked every bit the part of an every-down back, carrying the ball eight times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide Receiver/Tight End: Noah Brown

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Ohio State's perimeter will be completely reworked in 2016 after losing its three starting wide receivers (Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller) and its tight end (Nick Vannett) to the NFL.

The Buckeyes will turn to a guy they were prepared to rely on last year in Noah Brown.

The big-bodied, sure-handed wideout was expected to fill the role of the departed Evan Spencer in 2015. Spencer set the tone for the running game on the perimeter, excelling in the blocking game while being a reliable outlet in the passing attack. 

Everything was in line for Brown to have an exceptional '15 season, but he broke his leg in fall camp and took a redshirt while he recovered and rehabbed. That rehab extended through this spring as he was held out of contact drills, but his teammates are excited to see him back in full swing.

“Personally, I feel like he was one of the best receivers, him and Mike [Thomas] were pretty much unguardable last camp,” teammate Terry McLaurin said this spring, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. “Seeing him go down was tough. But he’s been attacking his rehabilitation like I’ve seen no other."

Offensive Line: Jamarco Jones

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State's offensive line has been consistently great since Urban Meyer took over in 2012, but the unit is undergoing a transition with former offensive line coach Ed Warinner moving into a co-offensive coordinator role and new coach Greg Studrawa taking over the unit.

That transition is also extending to the field with the departures of tackles Taylor Decker and Chase Farris and center Jacoby Boren. There's movement with the returning starters as well, with former right guard Pat Elflein sliding to center and former left guard Billy Price moving to right guard.

That movement will secure the middle of Ohio State's line this fall, which puts the pressure and focus to the left side of the line and J.T. Barrett's blind side.

That's where Jamarco Jones comes in. The mountainous, athletic left tackle has been groomed to take over for Decker for two years, and it's finally his time to anchor the line. 

"It's been pretty tough, everybody wants to play but that just wasn't my path," Jones said, according to Bill Landis of Cleveland.com. "I had great players in front of me, and I just used that to learn from those guys and be prepared when I do get my chance."

He'll get his chance in 2016, and he'll need to be extra special for the Buckeyes this season if true freshman Michael Jordan wins the job for the starting left guard spot. 

Defensive Line: Sam Hubbard

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State has to replace the enormous impact and production of two-time All-American Joey Bosa, the ferocious defensive end who fueled Ohio State's front seven the last two years.

That task will fall on the shoulders of Sam Hubbard, Bosa's primary backup a season ago, but he's focusing on being the best version of himself—not the second coming of a superstar.

“I don’t want to be Joey Bosa," Hubbard said this spring, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "He’s a great player, but I’ve got to be the best Sam Hubbard.”

"The best Sam Hubbard" will still be a remarkable player for the Buckeyes, if last season was any indication. In a reserve role, Hubbard ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks and was at his best in Bosa's absence against Virginia Tech and after the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. 

The Buckeyes are replacing both defensive tackles with the graduation of Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt, so having Hubbard emerge to provide a one-two punch with the proven Tyquan Lewis on the edges would be a huge boost to the Buckeyes line.

Linebacker: Chris Worley

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Ohio State has benefited from a pair of freak linebackers in recent years.

First it was Ryan Shazier, an outside backer with 4.4 speed and a packed-punch strong enough to level the strongest of ball-carriers. He gave Ohio State's defense the edge it desperately needed in 2012-13.

Shazier passed the mantle to Darron Lee, a similarly speedy linebacker who completely changed Ohio State's defense. The safety-turned-linebacker brought an element to the Buckeyes defense that allowed them to guard both spread offenses and power attacks seamlessly, and he was good enough to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft this past May despite being just a redshirt sophomore.

With Lee gone, Ohio State needs a similar element of speed in its linebacker corps. That's where Chris Worley comes in.

The Buckeyes have a lot of faith in the 6'2", 225-pound speedster. That confidence was installed by Lee, who gave Worley high praise last November.

"There's really not much of a drop-off if I were to go down and Chris Worley were to come in. Really, not any type of drop-off," Lee said, according to Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com. "Chris Worley is really good. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were to go into a game he's going to make as many plays." 

With Raekwon McMillan holding the unit down at middle linebacker, Worley's ability to replace Lee will be a big storyline this fall. 

Secondary: Gareon Conley

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State is replacing both starting safeties in Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, in addition to leading cornerback Eli Apple, so Gareon Conley will need to have a huge season for the Buckeyes.

The lone returning starter in the secondary, Conley is coming off a breakout season in which he tallied 49 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions. There were games when he looked like the team's best defensive back, and the coaching staff is confident that he's ready to lead a new-look unit.

"Absolutely, Gareon is ready," cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said, 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."

The Buckeyes will need him to take another step forward and lead a young but equally talented group. If Ohio State can line Conley up against the opposing team's best wideout and leave him on an island, the rest of the secondary will be able to fill the gaps and get comfortable as the experience rolls in.