It’s time for Ohio State to set its depth chart.
The Buckeyes haven’t yet released a depth chart this year, but with the season opener at Indiana being just one week away, Ohio State’s coaching staff should have a good idea of which players will start or otherwise see regular playing time at each position.
Even when the Buckeyes do release their depth chart for Week 1, which they typically do on the Tuesday before each game, we might not know exactly what the Buckeyes’ starting lineup will look like. The first depth chart of the year will likely include a plethora of “or” designations.
With that being said, it’s time for us to take for us to take our best guesses.
Based on what we’ve gathered from hearing from Ohio State coaches and players throughout fall camp, here’s my projection for how the Buckeyes’ two-deep will stack up this season.
QUARTERBACK
1. J.T. Barrett
2. Dwayne Haskins
The second spot on the quarterback depth chart remained to be determined until earlier this week, when Joe Burrow broke a bone in his right hand, solidifying Haskins as Barrett’s backup for at least the start of the season. True freshman Tate Martell will begin the season as the third-string quarterback, but he remains a candidate to redshirt this year.
RUNNING BACK
1. Mike Weber
2. J.K. Dobbins
Running backs coach Tony Alford said last week that Dobbins is “without question” the Buckeyes’ No. 2 running back entering the season. That could mean significant playing time right away for the true freshman if Weber, who missed most of fall camp with a hamstring injury, is limited in any way to start the year.
H-BACK
1. Parris Campbell
2. Demario McCall
Campbell moved to H-back this spring after starting nine games at wide receiver last year and is expected to be a key player for the Buckeyes offense this season. That said, he should get pushed for playing time by McCall, who recently moved to the position from running back and has the closest skill set to Curtis Samuel on this year’s roster. K.J. Hill, whose role in this year’s receiving corps is unclear, is also a candidate for playing time at H-back.
WIDE RECEIVER (X)
1. Austin Mack
2. Binjimen Victor
Victor has gotten more hype as a potential breakout player this offseason, but Mack has drawn nothing but praise from his coaches and teammates in fall camp and might well prove to be the most complete receiver on the roster. Like Michael Thomas, Mack could quickly go from being an afterthought to being an impact player on the Buckeyes offense. That said, both players should see regular playing time in the receiver rotation, so it might not really matter who starts.
WIDE RECEIVER (Z)
1. Terry McLaurin
2. Johnnie Dixon
McLaurin started four games last season and appears to be in line for an expanded role this season after being named a captain earlier this week. Dixon, whose career has been plagued by knee injuries, has been praised for his work ethic this summer and appears to also be in line for expanded playing time this year. Like Mack and Victor, McLaurin and Dixon are likely to rotate regardless of who starts.
TIGHT END
1. Marcus Baugh
2. Rashod Berry
Baugh, the only healthy tight end on the roster who has caught a pass at Ohio State, is back practicing and expected to start the season opener after missing the start of fall camp with inflammation in his toe. Berry, a converted defensive lineman, has drawn praise for his performance in camp and appears to be in line for real playing time, though redshirt freshmen Luke Farrell and Jake Hausmann have also made a push for playing time.
LEFT TACKLE
1. Jamarco Jones
2. Joshua Alabi
This position hasn’t been talked about much in fall camp because Jones is entrenched in the lineup as a solid returning starter. Branden Bowen could be the second option at left tackle, but if he ends up playing elsewhere on the line (spoiler alert), Alabi would likely be the next man up.
LEFT GUARD
1. Michael Jordan
2. Demetrius Knox
Urban Meyer said Monday that Jordan, who started all 13 of Ohio State’s games last season as a true freshman, is one of the Buckeyes’ most improved players this year. Knox, who struggled when he filled in for an injured Jordan in last season’s Fiesta Bowl, could lose his spot on the two-deep if true freshman Wyatt Davis, who lost his black stripe last weekend, proves he is ready to play.
CENTER
1. Billy Price
2. Brady Taylor
Price moved from guard to center this spring and is expected to be among college football’s best centers this season. Taylor is likely to retain his role as the backup center, though redshirt freshman Jack Wohlabaugh has competed with Taylor for that spot in fall camp.
RIGHT GUARD
1. Branden Bowen
2. Matt Burrell OR Malcolm Pridgeon
While Ohio State’s coaches have declined to announce a starter at the position, it appears likely the first-team right guard will be Bowen, who Meyer also dubbed as one of the Buckeyes’ most improved players in fall camp. Burrell and Pridgeon, who have also been in the right guard competition throughout fall camp, will likely be listed as co-backups, as there has been little indication whether one has stood out above the other.
Branden Bowen is the favorite to start at right guard.
RIGHT TACKLE
1. Isaiah Prince
2. Thayer Munford
Another offensive lineman who Meyer has placed in the “most improved” category, Prince has locked up the starting right tackle job despite his struggles last season. Munford has impressed coaches in camp and could make a real push for playing time. Kevin Feder could be the backup right tackle if the Buckeyes choose to redshirt Munford.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
1. Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard
2. Nick Bosa, Jalyn Holmes
While Lewis and Hubbard are likely to retain their starting spots, all of the Buckeyes’ top four defensive ends will play regularly as they rotate in and out with one another. True freshman Chase Young will be tough to keep off the field, but there’s simply not a place for him on the two-deep right now.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (3-TECH)
1. Dre’Mont Jones
2. Jashon Cornell
Jones is expected to be the star of Ohio State’s interior defensive line this year and has locked up a starting spot as the 3-technique defensive tackle. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson said Monday that Cornell holds the spot behind Jones on the depth chart, but true freshman Haskell Garrett is also pushing for playing time.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (NOSE)
1. Tracy Sprinkle
2. Robert Landers
With Michael Hill suspended indefinitely, Sprinkle will take his place as the starting nose tackle for at least the beginning of the season. Landers should see regular playing time as a rotational player off the bench, much like he did last season. Johnson also expects Davon Hamilton to see some playing time.
STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Dante Booker
2. Malik Harrison
Booker is expected to have a breakout year as the starting strongside linebacker after missing all but the first game of last season with a knee injury. Harrison is expected to be the first linebacker off the bench and could rotate in at multiple spots, but his primary role on the depth chart to at least start the season will be backing up Booker.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
1. Chris Worley
2. Justin Hilliard
Worley moved from the strong side to the middle this spring and is expected to be the leader of the Buckeyes’ linebacker corps. Hilliard, Tuf Borland and Baron Browning have competed in fall camp for the second-string spot in the middle. There hasn’t been much indication as to who’s winning that battle, but it could be now or never for Hilliard, a five-star recruit whose first two years at OSU have been plagued by injuries.
WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Jerome Baker
2. Keandre Jones
Baker took over the starting weakside linebacker job when Booker was injured last year and never looked back, emerging as one of the most talented linebackers in the country. Linebackers coach Bill Davis indicated earlier this month that Jones would be Baker’s primary backup.
CORNERBACK
1. Denzel Ward, Damon Arnette
2. Kendall Sheffield, Jeffrey Okudah
Ward, who was listed as a co-starter on the depth chart throughout last year despite never starting a game, will be the Buckeyes’ No. 1 cornerback entering this season. Arnette and Sheffield have competed for the other starting spot in fall camp, but cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs has indicated that the top three cornerbacks will all rotate with one another. Of the four true freshmen battling for the fourth cornerback spot, Okudah appears to be the favorite to earn a spot on the two-deep.
FREE SAFETY
1. Damon Webb
2. Isaiah Pryor
As the only returning starter in the secondary, Webb is expected to be a leader and a mainstay on the back end of the defense. Webb probably won’t come off the field much, but Pryor – the second freshman to lose his black stripe this year – could earn playing time if he does.
STRONG SAFETY
1. Erick Smith
2. Jordan Fuller
Smith and Fuller have competed throughout fall camp for the starting job next to Webb. Coaches have given no indication toward either player leading that battle, but Smith’s three years of playing experience could give him the edge. It’s likely both safeties will see regular playing time early in the season.
KICKER
1. Sean Nuernberger
2. Blake Haubeil
Meyer said Monday that Nuernberger is ahead of Haubeil but "not by a very far margin." It would be a surprise if Nuernberger doesn’t open the season as the starting kicker, but any early struggles by the veteran could open the door for Haubeil to see playing time as a true freshman.
PUNTER
1. Drue Chrisman
2. Jake Metzer
Chrisman is the clear-cut choice for this job as Ohio State’s only punter on scholarship. Metzer, a walk-on, is the only other punter on the roster.
LONG SNAPPER
1. Liam McCullough
McCullough is the only player on the roster listed as a long snapper, so he’s in no jeopardy of losing his job.
HOLDER
1. Drue Chrisman
2. Jake Metzer
Chrisman will likely be expected to handle holding duties after his punting predecessor, Cameron Johnston, assumed that role for the past three seasons.
KICKOFF RETURNER
1. Parris Campbell
2. K.J. Hill
Campbell should retain his role as the lead kickoff returner after leading Big Ten kick returners in yards per return last season. Hill is the favorite to be the second kickoff returner, but other potential candidates at that spot include Sheffield, Dobbins and Eric Glover-Williams.
PUNT RETURNER
1. K.J. Hill
2. Demario McCall
Hill and McCall are both expected to used as punt returners early in the season. McCall hinted last week that the Buckeyes could use dual punt returners with both he and Hill on the field at the same time.
| Offense | Defense | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT | 74 | JAMARCO JONES | 6-5 | 310 | SR | DE | 6 | SAM HUBBARD | 6-5 | 265 | JR | ||||
| 58 | JOSHUA ALABI | 6-5 | 300 | SO | 97 | NICK BOSA | 6-4 | 270 | SO | ||||||
| LG | 73 | MICHAEL JORDAN | 6-7 | 310 | SO | DT | 86 | DRE'MONT JONES | 6-3 | 295 | SO | ||||
| 78 | DEMETRIUS KNOX | 6-4 | 308 | JR | 9 | JASHON CORNELL | 6-3 | 280 | SO | ||||||
| C | 54 | BILLY PRICE | 6-4 | 312 | SR | DT | 93 | TRACY SPRINKLE | 6-3 | 293 | SR | ||||
| 79 | BRADY TAYLOR | 6-5 | 300 | JR | 67 | ROBERT LANDERS | 6-1 | 283 | SO | ||||||
| RG | 76 | BRANDEN BOWEN | 6-7 | 312 | SO | DE | 59 | TYQUAN LEWIS | 6-4 | 265 | SR | ||||
| 69 | MATT BURRELL | 6-3 | 300 | SO | 11 | JALYN HOLMES | 6-5 | 270 | SR | ||||||
| OR | 66 | MALCOLM PRIDGEON | 6-7 | 315 | JR | ||||||||||
| RT | 59 | ISAIAH PRINCE | 6-7 | 310 | JR | SLB | 33 | DANTE BOOKER | 6-3 | 240 | JR | ||||
| 75 | THAYER MUNFORD | 6-6 | 325 | FR | 39 | MALIK HARRISON | 6-3 | 235 | SO | ||||||
| TE | 85 | MARCUS BAUGH | 6-5 | 250 | SR | MLB | 35 | CHRIS WORLEY | 6-2 | 230 | SR | ||||
| 13 | RASHOD BERRY | 6-4 | 260 | SO | 47 | JUSTIN HILLIARD | 6-1 | 230 | SO | ||||||
| WR-X | 11 | AUSTIN MACK | 6-2 | 215 | SO | WLB | 17 | JEROME BAKER | 6-1 | 225 | JR | ||||
| 9 | BINJIMEN VICTOR | 6-4 | 195 | SO | 16 | KEANDRE JONES | 6-2 | 225 | SO | ||||||
| QB | 16 | J.T. BARRETT | 6-2 | 220 | SR | CB | 12 | DENZEL WARD | 5-10 | 191 | JR | ||||
| 7 | DWAYNE HASKINS | 6-3 | 214 | FR | 1 | JEFFREY OKUDAH | 6-1 | 193 | FR | ||||||
| RB | 25 | MIKE WEBER | 5-10 | 214 | SO | SAF | 7 | DAMON WEBB | 5-11 | 195 | SR | ||||
| 2 | J.K. DOBBINS | 5-10 | 208 | FR | 14 | ISAIAH PRYOR | 6-2 | 195 | FR | ||||||
| H-B | 21 | PARRIS CAMPBELL | 6-1 | 208 | JR | SAF | 34 | ERICK SMITH | 6-0 | 203 | SR | ||||
| 30 | DEMARIO McCALL | 5-9 | 195 | SO | 4 | JORDAN FULLER | 6-2 | 207 | SO | ||||||
| WR-Z | 83 | TERRY McLAURIN | 6-1 | 204 | JR | CB | 3 | DAMON ARNETTE | 6-0 | 195 | SO | ||||
| 1 | JOHNNIE DIXON | 5-11 | 195 | JR | 8 | KENDALL SHEFFIELD | 6-0 | 183 | SO | ||||||
| Special Teams | |||||||||||||||
| K | 96 | SEAN NUERNBERGER | 6-1 | 225 | JR | H | 91 | DRUE CHRISMAN | 6-3 | 212 | FR | ||||
| 95 | BLAKE HAUBEIL | 6-3 | 200 | FR | 19 | JAKE METZER | 6-3 | 220 | SO | ||||||
| P | 91 | DRUE CHRISMAN | 6-3 | 212 | FR | KR | 21 | PARRIS CAMPBELL | 6-1 | 208 | JR | ||||
| 19 | JAKE METZER | 6-3 | 220 | SO | 14 | K.J. HILL | 6-0 | 198 | SO | ||||||
| KO | 96 | SEAN NUERNBERGER | 6-1 | 225 | JR | PR | 14 | K.J. HILL | 6-0 | 198 | SO | ||||
| 95 | BLAKE HAUBEIL | 6-3 | 200 | FR | 30 | DEMARIO MCCALL | 5-9 | 195 | SO | ||||||
| LS | 49 | LIAM MCCULLOUGH | 6-2 | 228 | SO | ||||||||||
