Ohio State Football: Strengths, Weaknesses and Secret Weapons

Ohio State entered last season as the runaway favorite to repeat as national champions and the first-ever unanimous No. 1 in preseason AP poll history. But after losing 16 starters to graduation and the NFL, there are a lot more questions than answers heading into the 2016 campaign.

Head coach Urban Meyer has his team ready to reload, however, as the Buckeyes have signed the Big Ten's top recruiting class in each of the last five seasons. 

With fall camp set to kick off next month, what are Ohio State's strengths, weaknesses and secret weapons?

Strengths

A Clear-Cut QB to Build Around

Ohio State's roster was absolutely loaded last season, primarily at quarterback with championship-caliber options such as Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett in the fold.

And oddly enough, that cluster of talent was actually the Buckeyes' biggest downfall in 2015.

When Miller transitioned to wide receiver, Jones and Barrett battled for the starting spot, and the coaching staff split reps between the two for most of fall camp. With each bringing a different style of play to the field—Jones had the cannon arm to get the ball down the field, and Barrett had the precision to spread the defense out and the speed to burn it on the ground—the Buckeyes were unable to establish an offensive identity and chemistry.

Andrew Weber/Getty Images

With Jones and Miller off to the NFL, though, that won't be the case this year. Barrett, the fourth-year junior who's seen just about everything during his time in Columbus, got to enjoy his first spring practice as the unquestioned leader of both the offense and the team. 

That fact alone gives Ohio State's 2016 team an edge over last year's squad, as Meyer will be able to build his offensive attack around Barrett throughout the entire offseason. 

An Anchor in Each Defensive Unit

The Buckeyes lost first-round draft picks at every defensive level last year with the early departures of defensive end Joey Bosa, linebacker Darron Lee and cornerback Eli Apple. The unit also lost five multiyear starters, so co-defensive coordinators Greg Schiano and Luke Fickell have a huge rebuilding project to finish before the season opener.

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the defense has an impact starter returning in each unit.

On the defensive line, Ohio State has weak-side defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who emerged as an excellent counterpunch to Bosa and led the team in sacks last year. At linebacker, All-Big Ten standout Raekwon McMillan is back, who led the team in total tackles last year and has already been voted a team captain. And in the secondary, Gareon Conley is primed to step into the lead cornerback role vacated by Apple.

No defensive coordinator in the country wants to replace eight starters, but having a potential superstar back at each level makes that challenge significantly easier. 

Weaknesses

Inexperience

Despite how well Ohio State has recruited in recent years, there's no hiding the devastating impact of losing eight starters on each side of the ball. It wasn't just starting production that was lost, though—the Buckeyes also lost a number of key reserves, as college football expert Phil Steele pointed out. 

In his breakdown of teams with the most game-time experience, the Buckeyes ranked dead last nationally heading into the '16 season.

"At the bottom of the list is Ohio [State]," Steele wrote on his website. "They were devastated by the NFL draft, losing 11 key players. "

Brett Deering/Getty Images

That lack of experience could cost the Buckeyes early, as they have one of the toughest nonconference matchups of the year with a road trip to College Football Playoff contender Oklahoma in Week 3. 

With one of the country's youngest rosters, Ohio State will have to overcome one of the best teams in college football on its own field.

Injuries

With so much roster attrition, Ohio State needed all of its returning firepower to be ready to go heading into a pivotal spring camp. That didn't happen, though, because a number of players who are expected to be key contributors this fall were rehabbing from injuries.

That was especially true at the wide receiver position, where Noah Brown, Corey Smith, Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson were all limited in spring practice. Defensive players such as Lewis, Marshon Lattimore, Erick Smith and Cam Burrows joined them.

The mass exodus of talent to the NFL paired with so many injuries this spring had Meyer searching for answers.

"This is uncharted waters for me too," Meyer said, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors. "With 11 guys out, that's the thing that kicks you in the teeth."

If those players aren't ready by the start of fall camp, Ohio State will miss pivotal time it needs to build chemistry ahead of the season opener. 

Secret Weapon

Torrance Gibson

Ohio State fans got used to seeing a star quarterback at wide receiver when Miller made his move to the perimeter. Torrance Gibson, the highly recruited 4-star quarterback who was a part of Ohio State's 2015 class, is looking to continue that tradition this fall.

Gibson made a similar transition as a true freshman last year in an effort to see the field, as opposed to sitting behind Jones, Barrett and third-stringer Stephen Collier at quarterback. But he was buried in the wide receiver unit as well and took a redshirt.

With a year under his belt, though, he looks primed to make an impact on the outside.

That was on display during Ohio State's spring game, when he hauled in a team-high six catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. It was one of his better days in an up-and-down spring camp.

"He shows some flashes," Barrett said of Gibson, according to Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod. "He's got hot and cold days. Some days he's hot and he's catching everything, and some days he can't catch a cold. Being that it's a new position, I think sometimes he lacks that confidence."

If Gibson comes along this summer and in fall camp, the Buckeyes can factor him into the wide receiver rotation. And as a decorated high school quarterback, they can dial up the lethal wide receiver pass that helped them beat Alabama in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

All recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports.

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.