As Ohio State attempts to replace 16 starters next year, it was not all that surprising Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer opted to name three captains for the 2016 season almost immediately following the 2015 campaign.
Meyer wanted it to be known quarterback J.T. Barrett, middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan and center Pat Elflein would be the undisputed leaders of next season's team. There could not be a debate.
And as Ohio State is currently in the middle of its offseason conditioning program, things seem pretty cut and dry. Barrett, McMillan and Elflein are already fast at work.
"I talk to guys during workouts and say, 'Go get you a spot,'" Barrett said Wednesday. "In the spring, that's when you go win a job. Now having so many positions open, that's the mindset."
There are plenty of spots to be had, too. The three captains are pushing the overwhelming number of inexperienced guys to grab one.
Barrett and Elflein are two of the three returning offense starters; left guard Billy Price is the other. Ohio State must replace three additional guys on the offensive line, its three starting wide receivers from last year, its starting tight end and its starting running back. So far, both Barrett and Elflein have seen what they want from guys looking to move into those roles.
As far as pass catchers go, Barrett mentioned Terry McLaurin, Torrance Gibson, K.J. Hill and early enrollee Austin Mack out of the wide receiver group as guys who have impressed. He also added tight end Marcus Baugh is "going to be more of an asset for us this year." Additionally, Barrett pointed out Noah Brown, Corey Smith and Johnnie Dixon should work themselves back into the mix as they recover from injury. There are some options there.
Up front, Elflein said there are a number of guys who have caught his attention; Evan Lisle, Demetrius Knox, Matt Burrell and Jamarco Jones to name a few. All three running backs — Bri'onte Dunn, Mike Weber and early enrollee Antonio Williams — also earned praise from the Buckeye captains.
"Guys are hungry," Elflein said. "I remember my first time stepping on the field, how hungry I was. That hasn’t changed, but that mentality to go out there and play for my first time for Ohio State, it's insane.
"If we can get every guy on that page, this will be a hungry team and it’ll be fun to play with those guys that have that mentality.”
On the defensive side of the ball, McMillan was hesitant to speak on any position group other than his own — that's Meyer's power of the unit mantra in full effect — but lauded Chris Worley, Jerome Baker and early enrollee Tuf Borland, as well as Nick Conner and Justin Hilliard, who are both coming back from injury.
"It’s definitely fun because you know all the guys are coming in with a chip on their shoulder and you just want to see what guys can do in spring ball," McMillan said. "Once they get momentum going in spring ball they roll into camp and then roll it into the season.”
The vibe around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center certainly had a different feel to it than it did at this time one year ago at this time. That's OK, though. Every season is different; every team is different.
Next year's Ohio State team will be one of the more interesting ones of Meyer's tenure in Columbus simply because of the amount of unknown. Spring practice will be much more intriguing than it was a year ago. There is still so much uncertainty surrounding so many different things.
And all of that has Barrett and Co. asking one question to Ohio State's younger players.
"How bad do you really want it?" Barrett said. "If you really want it, this is when you're going to find out, in the offseason workouts, and it’s going to translate to spring ball."
