Bold Projections: A Look at Potential Production from Ohio State's Tight Ends in 2015

By Eric Seger on July 5, 2015 at 9:15 am
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Ezekiel Elliott deservedly gets plenty of attention for his performance in Ohio State's 42-20 downing of Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game, but Nick Vannett was the guy that put the Buckeyes head for good that night in North Texas.

Elliott scourged the Ducks for 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns on his way to Most Valuable Player honors Jan. 12 — a performance deserving of the shine that came along with it.

Lest we forget Vannett, who even though only made two grabs in the game, snagged a bullet from Cardale Jones late in the first quarter and fell into the end zone at the one-yard line to give Ohio State a lead they'd never relinquish.

Departed senior Jeff Heuerman didn't record a reception against the Ducks that night, but the duo's blocking on the edge helped spring Elliott for the biggest rushing total of his career on the biggest stage imaginable.

Such is life as a tight end.

In an already dynamic and prolific Buckeye offense, Vannett and incumbent backup Marcus Baugh could get lost in the shuffle in 2015 with only one football to go around.

Urban Meyer loves having playmakers at every offensive position with more available on the bench, a distinction the Baugh-Vannett duo certainly has heading into fall camp.


Vannett was a better receiver than Heuerman during their three seasons together in Columbus, but the latter was listed as the starter when healthy because of his stout blocking skills.

Vannett improved that aspect of his game, though, resulting in a No. 1 and No. 1A situation at the position by the end of last season.

OSU TE Production Under Meyer
Year PlayerS Catches Yards TD
2014 Heuerman, Vannett, Baugh 37 429 8
2013 Heuerman, Vannett 34 546 5
2012 Stoneburner, Heuerman, Vannett 33 486 5

"Nick has some really good strengths in the pass game and what he does in the pass game," tight ends coach Tim Hinton said this spring. "He's really tremendous at perimeter blocking."

Tight ends under Meyer have seen their production slightly increase in all aspects except yardage (2013 is the outlier) since the coach took over before the 2012 season.

The position was hardly ever used as much more than a blocker under Jim Tressel. Meyer hasn't been shy about making it a priority that those who occupy it be good enough that he can ill afford to take them out of the lineup.

"(Vannett's) a guy that we keep trying to force ourselves to get him in the game," Meyer said last year.

With the job solely his now, Vannett knows what's in front him heading into fall camp.

"It's more just I have to step up right away," Vannett said this spring. "That's the one thing — when a guy leaves, you can't miss a beat on offense."

The Buckeye power rushing attack more times than not demands two formidable candidates at tight end, so Baugh's development must continue for that to happen in 2015. Now two seasons removed from his legal troubles and bout with immaturity, the Riverside, Calif., native has a shot to make his presence felt this year.

"He’s still a young guy and he’s still learning the ropes so he’s progressing each day," Vannett said of Baugh. "It’s good to watch him and see him do that because he’s going to have to step up and be the No. 2 this year."

Added Hinton: "We just gotta make sure he doesn't have a 'kid's lapse.' No mistakes."

Baugh
It's on Baugh to stay out of trouble and produce as Ohio State's No. 2 tight end in 2015.

If that happens and he earns Meyer's trust, expect Baugh to be involved similarly to the way Vannett was last season. The latter will still be the guy at the position, but Baugh's athleticism and sure hands could be another weapon for whoever plays quarterback this fall for the Buckeyes when Vannett needs a break.

It's reasonable to expect the two to combine for roughly 40 catches and flirt with the 500-yard mark, but with their large frames — Vannett is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds while Baugh is 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds — they could be more of a factor in the red zone. Recording a double digit touchdown total is an entirely plausible expectation between the two of them, as long as they stay healthy and Meyer keeps the pedal to the floor offensively (he will).

“We have a saying: When one guy drops the rifle, someone’s gotta be there to pick it back up,” Vannett said of replacing Heuerman this spring. "I've always embraced that and I always try to compete at the same level that Jeff has and that's really been my motivation."

It's up to him and Baugh to continue that in order to get the ball more in the offense in 2015.

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