Measuring the Impact of Ohio State's Departures Following the 2019 Season, NFL Draft Declarations

By Andrew Ellis on February 1, 2020 at 4:05 pm
The Ohio State defense has been hit with several big-time departures.
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Graduation and the NFL Draft have taken their usual hit on the Ohio State football roster.

Offseason departures are something that every program in the country has been dealing with since the 2019 campaign reached its conclusion. And while the transfer portal may still take its toll on some teams, we've now got a clear idea of what key contributors Ryan Day and the Buckeyes will be without in 2020. 

Ohio State is losing 10+ starters and several other players from last year's playoff run. We now know what the Class of 2020 will look like after next Wednesday's signing day, but it's never wise to expect true freshmen to make too big of an instant impact at the collegiate level. Today, we attempt to measure the magnitude of the Buckeyes' departures. 


Offensive Line • Branden Bowen, Jonah Jackson

Ohio State's 2019 offensive line was one of the better units in the country. Justin Fields certainly felt some pressure at times, but some of that can be attributed to his being a first-year starter at quarterback. Greg Studrawa got some big news when Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, and Thayer Munford made their decisions to return, but Jonah Jackson and Branden Bowen were also big-time components during their senior seasons. 

Most expect Harry Miller to slide into the left guard spot, but the Buckeyes have some other solid options including Matthew Jones and Enokk Vimahi. At right tackle, the biggest question is whether or not Nicholas Petit-Frere is ready to make his presence felt. Dawand Jones and heralded newcomer Paris Johnson Jr. are two other options to watch closely.

  • Departure Impact: 6.0

Linebacker • Malik Harrison

Al Washington helped Ohio State's linebackers take a big step in the right direction last year. Tuf Borland and Pete Werner were both better, and Baron Browning showed some promise as well. Malik Harrison was the Buckeyes' most active player at the position, and now he's slated to be a mid-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

The good news here is that Browning has seen plenty of action and seems destined to step into one of the starting slots. Additionally, Dallas Gant and K'Vaughan Pope have seen action on the outside and Teradja Mitchell should push for playing time at the middle linebacker spot. The likely return of Justin Hilliard could also provide a veteran boost.

  • Departure Impact: 7.0

Wide Receiver • K.J. Hill, Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor 

Brian Hartline loses plenty of talent, but the good news is that there's plenty more waiting in the wings. Chris Olave returns and should be one of the nation's top wideouts. Garrett Wilson made a splash as a true freshman and will be a starter in 2020. And Jameson Williams flashed his elite speed on a few occasions but does need to improve his hands. The 2020 signees are already on campus, and it's the most talented group of newcomers we've ever seen at Ohio State. 

Still, losing three veterans can always sting, and that's especially true with the departure of K.J. Hill. Ohio State's all-time receptions leader always seemed to be open and was a reliable presence for J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields. Finding that sort of reliable route-runner out of the slot will be tough to replicate

  • Departure Impact: 7.5
Jameson Williams will have a more prominent role as a sophomore in 2020.
Speedster Jameson Williams will have a more prominent role as a sophomore in 2020.

Defensive Line • Chase Young, DaVon Hamilton, Robert Landers, Jashon Cornell

Chase Young was the best player in America, but a solid argument can certainly be made that losing your three top players at tackle is more impactful. Larry Johnson has several edge rushers who will see action including Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Replacing Chase Young is an impossible task, but Harrison already looks like someone with all-world potential and there's some nice depth at the position. 

Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett, and Antwuan Jackson will all contribute at tackle, and Togiai actually took just about as many snaps as Robert Landers did in 2019 (253 vs. 250). I think the biggest question mark is Taron Vincent and his ability to bounce back from the torn labrum and finally flash his five-star potential.

  • Departure Impact: 8.5

Defensive Back • Jeff Okudah, Damon Arnette, Jordan Fuller

When looking at Ohio State's roster, cornerback is now a bit of a concern. The return of Shaun Wade was a huge bit of news as things actually could have been a lot worse here. Still, Okudah was the best cornerback in the country and Damon Arnette was very good as a junior and senior after some rough moments early on. Jordan Fuller didn't make a ton of superstar plays at safety, but he was a smart and reliable three-year starter and two-time captain.

With Wade now moving to the outside, Cam Brown, Sevyn Banks, Amir Riep, and Marcus Williamson will be fighting for playing time. Tyreke Johnson will also be in the mix as we look to see if he can finally breakthrough in the secondary. Josh Proctor is going to make his mistakes as a new starter, but he also has the look of more of a ballhawk than Fuller was over the years. 

  • Departure Impact: 9.5

Running Back • J.K. Dobbins

Tony Alford is losing just one player in the backfield, but J.K. Dobbins is coming off a 2,000-yard season and there's no one quite like him on the roster. Master Teague ran for nearly 800 yards and four touchdowns while serving as the backup, but he's more of a straight-line runner and lacks the lateral quickness that Dobbins brought to the table. 

While Teague is expected to be the starter in 2020, Marcus Crowley, Steele Chambers, and Demario McCall will also see the field. Crowley is the guy I'm most intrigued by, but the jury is still out as he's still recovering from a knee injury. Justin Fields' rushing ability will surely help out a bit, but the loss of Dobbins is going to be tough to overcome. Some recent recruiting struggles at the position aren't helping things either.

  • Departure Impact: 10.0
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