When a team faces roster attrition whether it be due to early NFL Draft entrants, graduation or something else entirely, the attention usually shifts to the players directly listed next on the depth chart. This is not a story about them.
Yes, Ohio State lost 75 percent of its secondary to the NFL after an 11-2 season. It also lost the best center in the country, Pat Elflein, as his eligibility expired. Those are some of the obvious holes the Buckeyes must fill either on the recruiting trail or with guys already in the program. Fifth-year senior Billy Price plans to do what Elflein did a year ago and move from guard to center. Ohio State is set to sign six defensive backs in its 2017 class — four are already enrolled.
This post is to give a brief rundown of five players that are set to return to Urban Meyer's program for 2017 that must take steps forward in an effort to provide needed depth at areas the Buckeyes need more from. Like any elite football team, Ohio State needs multiple capable guys to perform at a high level in the event injuries happen or the expected starters are not up to standard. That is something that specifically hurt the Buckeyes on the offensive line in their 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.
Let's get to it.
Malik Harrison — Sophomore Linebacker
By all accounts, Harrison had a fine season as a true freshman a year ago. Playing primarily on special teams, Harrison appeared in 11 games and totaled 13 tackles and his first career sack in Ohio State's 62-3 thrashing of Maryland on Nov. 12.
A signing day addition to Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class, Harrison is an exceptional athlete and was a multi-sport star at nearby Walnut Ridge High School. Listed by recruiting services as an athlete as he entered college, Harrison transitioned nicely to linebacker under Luke Fickell's tutelage.
There is a bevy of options at linebacker for the Buckeyes, among them 2017 early enrollee and five-star Baron Browning. Jerome Baker stepped in brilliantly for an injured Dante Booker last season and locked down one starting job at outside linebacker with Chris Worley and Raekwon McMillan occupying the other two slots.
With McMillan onto the NFL, Booker looks like an early candidate to take over as the man in the middle. But as we saw last year, injuries happen and it is on the younger players to be ready to step in when necessary. Baker did that and was terrific. Harrison looks to be next in line to become a backup mostly due to what we saw in 2016 and the fact he has a clean bill of health. For example, Nick Conner and Justin Hilliard battled injuries in the early portions of their careers and the latter is still recovering from bicep surgery.
Keandre Jones — Sophomore Linebacker
Rinse and repeat for the only other linebacker currently in the program (outside of Baker) that didn't redshirt. It might seem like a cop-out to start this list with two players from the same position but Jones and Harrison are both in terrific spots to push for backup duties in 2017.
Jones made a huge splash with Dwayne Haskins when they flipped from their commitments from Maryland to the Buckeyes a little more than a year ago. Like Harrison, Jones played sparingly in 2016. He recorded four tackles in five games.
With Hilliard on the mend and Conner not making much noise last season after a terrific spring game in 2015, there appears to be an opportunity for the true sophomores to make some noise. With former walk-ons Joe Burger and Craig Fada both gone in addition to McMillan, someone needs to step up to create depth for new linebackers coach Billy Davis.
Nick Bosa — Sophomore Defensive End
OK, the fact that Bosa's name is on this list is probably a shock and you are going to tell me how wrong I am for it but give me a second to try and explain myself. If you disagree, I understand.
Bosa had an unbelievable 2016 campaign considering he came to Ohio State still in rehab mode from a knee injury that cost him some of his senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas. All he did was tie for 10th on the team in total tackles with 29, finish sixth in tackles for loss with 7.0 and second with 5.0 sacks. Not bad for a 19-year-old.
Bosa should be in line for more reps this fall, which is why he is on this list. They will be tough to come by with Jalyn Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard all returning at defensive end. With the development of Dre'Mont Jones and Mike Hill at defensive tackle and Tracy Sprinkle returning from injury, a more fearsome Bosa adds to an already terrifying defensive line that includes other names like Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton and many more.
And, as stated above with the linebackers, there is always the chance of an injury. Bosa needs to be ready for more snaps should someone go down. Larry Johnson is going to try and use him more regardless. Because as we saw last year, the guy is a monster. He needs to be ready for more.
Branden Bowen — Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman
What the Buckeyes did with Bowen toward the end of the regular season last year was rare. They used him as a third tight end because Meyer said nagging injuries to Marcus Baugh and A.J. Alexander forced their hand. But Bowen also "earned a little time" according to his head coach.
He needs to do more of that this spring. There is only one open spot on the offensive line available as we get closer to spring drills, at least in terms of returning starters. Could Bowen beat someone out for a job? Absolutely, though Jamarco Jones and Billy Price have their spots on lock. Michael Jordan should too but you never know.
That brings us to Isaiah Prince at right tackle. His issues were well documented last season but he did show improvement after a month of bowl practice. Malcolm Pridgeon is healthy and will compete for time up front. Bowen will too. So will Prince. Greg Studrawa will have his hands full deciding which five are the best five come opening night Aug. 31 at Indiana. But that group must improve overall and have better depth if Ohio State wants to do anything big next season. Bowen needs to be a part of that.
Warinner is gone, but the three redshirt freshmen are not.
Any Redshirt Freshmen Tight End
Marcus Baugh is back. A.J. Alexander is too. Each proved they were serviceable in 2016. But with Kevin Wilson now calling the shots on offense and coaching the tight ends in place of Ed Warinner, he has a clean slate with the group. Enter the three tight ends in Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class: Luke Farrell, Jake Hausmann and Kierre Hawkins.
Baugh is going to be the starter but can any of those three push Alexander for the backup spot? Meyer spoke about Hausmann a few times last season, saying he liked the Moeller product's progress, only to not play him. Hawkins is probably the most athletic out of all three but can he block well enough to contribute? He didn't dress for the Fiesta Bowl. Hausmann and Farrell did.
Ohio State needs more production out of that position in the running game. Having that with Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett allowed Ezekiel Elliott to carve up defenses on the ground at the end of 2014 and again the following year. Blocking on the edge is critical for turning a 6-yard gain into one that goes for 15 or more. That isn't one of Baugh's strengths, though he did get better at it. One of the three redshirt freshmen needs to push the envelope this spring.
