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Ohio State's 200th All-American

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iowabuckeyes's picture
October 7, 2019 at 4:33pm
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During the Nebraska Game, ABC ran this graphic comparing the two programs and it got me to thinking who will get to plant Ohio State's 200th tree in Buckeye Grove?

That was two games ago. We're now halfway through the regular season and Chase Young appears to be a lock to be Ohio State's next All-American. But could anyone else also be named? Some thoughts:

  • QB: Justin Fields is setting the world on fire but QB is one of the most crowded positions with Tua, Lawrence, Hurts, Fromm, and Burrow also getting a lot of publicity. There's a very good chance whoever wins the Heisman and also first-team All-American will be one of these six players.
  • RB: Jonathan Taylor is a virtual lock--he's tied for third in total rushing yards after leading the country last year. J.K. Dobbins is second in the country in rushing behind Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard. Ohio State is clearly the better program but that could work against Dobbins. Often, RBs who are their team's offensive workhorse and rack up all-worldly stats get the nod at RB. That's how Hubbard and Boston College's AJ Dillon could pick up some votes.
  • WR: An embarrassment of riches, not just at the position but across the Buckeyes' offense, will keep any of OSU's WRs from being named an All-American. If anyone has a shot, it's K.J. Hill but he ranks 126th in receptions per game and that's not going to cut it.
  • OL: As a rebuilt unit with four new starters, they have exceeded everyone's expectations but first-year starters--which, obviously, Josh Jackson is not--rarely make All-American. That leaves Jackson and Thayer Munford as our best bets.
  • DL: It's Chase or bust. 
  • LB: Malik Harrison flirted with going to the NFL last year and is playing well. Baron Browning is growing up right before our eyes but part-time starters do not All-America lists make.
  • CB: Jeffrey Okudah projects as a first-round pick but does that translate to All-American? Like QB, cornerback is a crowded field--LSU's Kristian Fulton, Alabama's Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney, Florida's CJ Henderson, and UVA's Bryce Hall are projected as possible first round picks. Often, voters pick four DBs as if they're interchangeable and not necessarily two safeties and two cornerbacks. Cornerbacks are often chosen because of reputation, i.e., he's so good, no one throws on him, which explains why his stats are ho-hum, or because they put up great stats, and the gaudiest stats are interceptions and passes defended. Okudah is tied for leading the country in interceptions--with 13 other players--which is an encouraging metric but he's 45th in passes defended. Those two stats actually work well together--no one's throwing against him but when they do, he's making them pay.
  • Safety: LSU's Grant Delpit is almost guaranteed to get one spot based on his reputation alone, while Clemson's Jeffrey Simmons is projected as a first-round pick. It may be expecting too much to think Jordan Fuller can sneak in there.
  • Punter: Typically, this position goes to the guy with the best stats--it's hard to beat yards per punt. And often, it's an Aussie--currently, Kentucky's Max Duffy, a native of Perth, leads the country at 51.2 ypp. Drue Chrisman could be the best punter in the country but he might not get enough punts to qualify--he's 17th with 46.8 average yards per punt but has punted only 17 times, which is fewer than three times per game.

Curious as to everyone's thoughts on who else on this year's team besides Chase Young might get a tree in Buckeye Grove.

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