One of Urban Meyer’s goals by the end of every spring is to have some sort of depth chart nailed down. Heading out of spring ball, Ohio State’s head coach wants to have an idea of who will be running with the Buckeyes’ first team once fall camp rolls around in August.
This spring is a little different, though, as Ohio State has a number of players being limited or held out due to injuries. That’s made it a bit more difficult for Meyer to finalize a depth chart coming out of spring.
“This is uncharted waters for me,” Meyer said after the Buckeyes’ first practice of the spring. “You’d like to [establish a depth chart], but I don’t think so.
“With 11 guys out, that’s the thing that kicks you in the teeth. If everybody’s ready to go, I think you could do that. But we’re not.”
Meyer may not be able to do that; his job is to coach who is available to practice. He can’t predict the future.
But Ohio State has opened part of three practices this spring to the media, so we can try and do some projections ourselves. There won’t be another open viewing portion until the Buckeyes play their annual spring game, so based on what we’ve seen, here’s what Ohio State’s depth chart could look like next fall.
*Author's note: We’re including injured players even though they haven’t practiced this spring because all are expected to be ready to go by the time fall camp arrives. We're not yet including players who have not arrived at Ohio State.
Offense
Quarterback: J.T. Barrett (rJr); Joe Burrow (rFr); Stephen Collier (rSo)
Breakdown: The easiest position of them all to pick a starter; Barrett is set to enter his third season behind center for the Buckeyes. For the majority of spring, Burrow, a redshirt freshman has been commanding the second-team offense while Collier, a third-year sophomore, has been running with the third team. True freshman Dwayne Haskins arrives in June and is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot.
Running back: Mike Weber (rFr) OR Bri'onte Dunn (rSr); Antonio Williams (Fr)
Breakdown: Meyer says Weber and Dunn are "neck and neck" for the starting job and that he wants the fifth-year senior to take Ohio State's first carry of the season, but Weber is certainly making his push. The two shared reps with the first team during Saturday's open practice. Antonio Williams looked strong running with the second-team offense, but he'll be the third running back in the fall.
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| QB | J.T. BARRETT |
| RB | MIKE WEBER or BRI'ONTE DUNN |
| WR | NOAH BROWN |
| WR | COREY SMITH |
| WR | CURTIS SAMUEL or DONTRE WILSON |
| TE | MARCUS BAUGH |
| LT | JAMARCO JONES |
| LG |
MICHAEL JORDAN or DEMETRIUS KNOX or EVAN LISLE or MATT BURRELL |
| C | PAT ELFLEIN |
| RG | BILLY PRICE |
| RT | ISAIAH PRINCE |
H-receiver: Curtis Samuel (Jr) OR Dontre Wilson (Sr); Parris Campbell (rSo)
Breakdown: Wilson didn't go through any live action during the open portion of Saturday's practice and Samuel is sidelined due to offseason foot surgery, but those are the two primary H-receivers this offense — both will also line up in the backfield and carry the ball, Meyer says. Campbell ran with the first-team offense in the slot Saturday and K.J. Hill did, as well. Both of those guys can play multiple receiver positions.
X-receiver: Noah Brown (rSo); Austin Mack (Fr) OR Torrance Gibson (rFr)
Breakdown: Brown will be the starter here assuming he's healthy, but others are competing to get in the rotation. Mack ran almost exclusively with the first-team offense Saturday while Gibson was with the 2s, but both will likely see the field in the fall at the X spot behind Brown.
Z-receiver: Corey Smith (rSr); Johnnie Dixon (rSo) OR Terry McLaurin (rSo) OR James Clark (rJr); K.J. Hill (rFr)
Breakdown: Smith is probably the starter here when he, like Brown, returns in the fall. The other three, however, rotated quite often Saturday at the Z-spot as Ohio State looks to establish a deep threat it simply didn't have a year ago. Hill is probably in the mix here, as well, once he's fully recovered from an injury, as it seems he can play any of the receiver positions.
Tight End: Marcus Baugh (rJr); A.J. Alexander (rFr)
Breakdown: Baugh is the clear-cut starter here after spending last season backing up Nick Vannett. Alexander made some nice plays Saturday running with the second-team offense. Ohio State is bringing in three more options in June, as well, with Jake Hausmann, Luke Farrell and Kierre Hawkins.
Left tackle: Jamarco Jones (Jr); Kyle Trout (rSo) OR Kevin Feder (rFr)
Breakdown: Jones has worked exclusively as the first-team left tackle this spring. Trout was the second-team left tackle Saturday as Feder was seen in a walking boot. Malcolm Pridgeon will certainly be in the mix when he arrives, though it's unclear right now if he'll be a starter or a backup.
Left guard: Michael Jordan (Fr) OR Demetrius Knox (rSo) OR Evan Lisle (rJr) OR Matt Burrell (rFr)
Breakdown: The most intriguing spring battle is at this spot, where Jordan has been running with the first team for the last few open practices. With Billy Price not practicing Saturday, Knox was the first-team right guard while Lisle and Burrell ran with the second team offense. This probably won't be decided by the end of spring.
Center: Pat Elflein (rSr); Brady Taylor (rSo)
Breakdown: Elflein is the clear-cut starter and if something were to happen it's likely Price shifts over as Taylor may not be quite ready yet. Either way, the redshirt sophomore was running with the first-team offense Saturday as both Elflein and Price sat out to rest.
Right guard: Billy Price (rJr); Knox OR Lisle
Breakdown: Price's move to right guard is described as "experimental spring time stuff," but he's been there for the last couple of open practices. One of the four competing for the open guard slot will be the backup here.
Right tackle: Isaiah Prince (So); Branden Bowen (rFr)
Breakdown: Prince has been running with the first-team offense at right tackle all spring with Bowen as the backup. Again, Pridgeon could be in the mix here when he arrives.
Defense
Defensive end: Sam Hubbard (rSo); Rashod Berry (rFr) OR Jonathon Cooper (Fr)
Breakdown: Hubbard will the starter here while Berry and Cooper will also likely compete to get into the rotation. True freshman Nick Bosa will also be in the mix here — and potentially inside, as well — when he arrives in June.
Defensive tackle: Tracy Sprinkle (rJr); Jashon Cornell (rFr) OR Dre'Mont Jones (rFr)
Breakdown: Sprinkle has been with the first-team defense all spring at this spot, but don't be surprised if Cornell and Jones both play. Both have looked pretty solid in limited viewing time going against the second-team offense.
Nose tackle: Michael Hill (rJr); Robert Landers (rFr) OR DaVon Hamilton (rFr)
Breakdown: Hill has been the first-team starter all spring while Landers and Hamilton have also flashed. Donovan Munger, who hasn't practiced much due to a health issue, probably fits in the mix at one of the spots too when he returns.
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| DE | SAM HUBBARD |
| DT | TRACY SPRINKLE |
| DT | MICHAEL HILL |
| DE | TYQUAN LEWIS |
| WLB | DANTE BOOKER |
| MLB | RAEKWON MCMILLAN |
| SLB | CHRIS WORLEY |
| CB | GAREON CONLEY |
| S |
DAMON WEBB or CAM BURROWS or ERICK SMITH |
| S | MALIK HOOKER |
| CB | MARSHON LATTIMORE or DENZEL WARD |
Defensive end: Tyquan Lewis (rJr); Jalyn Holmes (Jr); Darius Slade (rSo)
Breakdown: Lewis isn't practicing this spring as he recovers from offseason surgery so Holmes is running with the first team. Holmes will see more playing time this fall in the rotation and it'll probably come in pass-rushing situations.
Will linebacker: Dante Booker (Jr); Justin Hilliard (rFr) OR Tuf Borland (Fr)
Breakdown: As expected, Booker is the replacement here for Joshua Perry. With Hilliard limited this spring, Borland has been getting some valuable reps with the second-team defense.
MIddle linebacker: Raekwon McMillan (Jr); Nick Conner (rFr) OR Joe Burger (rSr) OR Craig Fada (rSr)
Breakdown: No-brainer here with McMillan. Conner is rehabbing from an injury and Burger is hurt, as well, so Fada has been running with the second-team defense.
Sam linebacker: Chris Worley (rJr); Jerome Baker (So)
Breakdown: Worley seems to have a firm grip on the Sam spot as he's been getting all of the first-team defensive snaps there. Baker, right now, is clearly the No. 2 guy at that spot, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him on the field in some capacity.
Cornerback: Gareon Conley (rJr); Damon Arnette (rFr)
Breakdown: Conley's the clear-cut No. 1 corner on this team. Arnette is here as Conley's backup and he's probably the third guy competing for the other starting spot.
Safety: Damon Webb (Jr) OR Cam Burrows (rJr) OR Erick Smith (Jr)
Breakdown: Webb moved the safety recently and has spent a lot of time running with the first-team defense as Burrows recovered from injury. Burrows seems like he's pretty close to 100 percent so this battle should continue into the fall. Smith could play a role here, too, when he's fully healthy it just depends which safety position he is playing.
Safety: Malik Hooker (rSo); Eric Glover-Williams (So)
Breakdown: Hooker seems to be the team's No. 1 safety so it'd be surprising to not see him as a starter in the fall. Glover-Williams is also working with the safeties and is likely a back-up candidate here along with Smith.
Cornerback: Marshon Lattimore (rSo) OR Denzel Ward (So); Josh Norwood (rFr)
Breakdown: If he's healthy, Lattimore appears to be the frontrunner here. The staff is being cautious, though, and there's always that possibility Lattimore is hindered by an injury that's been lingering for the better part of two seasons. Ward has been impressive and if there's anybody that's going to beat out Lattimore, it's likely him. Arnette is probably third in the running for this job and Norwood "isn't ready yet," according to position coach Kerry Coombs.
