Ohio State is less than three weeks away from kicking off its long-awaited 2020 season, and head coach Ryan Day and his staff are in the thick of preseason camp and assembling the depth chart.
Getting that depth chart right will be a key component to the Buckeyes' success this fall. With COVID-19 cases still very much rising around the country — among evidence that teams are still being hit by the virus as the season already kicked off for other conferences — Ohio State needs to have contingency plans for their contingency plan if it expects to make a return trip to the college football playoff.
That could mean a heavier reliance on freshmen.
The Buckeyes hauled in the country's No. 5 recruiting class in 2020 looking to break out and help fuel a potential playoff run.
Many of those freshmen meet in the wide receiver room, as 5-stars Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and high 4-star Gee Scott Jr. are expected to see time and even contribute heavily this fall.
But here are the other freshmen who could make a big impact this year.
Quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Jack Miller
Ohio State fans don't need reminded about the importance of a backup quarterback.
The Buckeyes' undefeated 2012 season was saved by reserve quarterback Kenny Guiton, then the 2014 national title run was fueled by backups J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones.
Day and Ohio State need a security blanket behind starting quarterback Justin Fields, and returning backup Gunnar Hoak is likely the answer here.
But true freshmen CJ Stroud and Jack Miller could push Hoak for the key reserve spot.
Both were highly-touted recruits who signed with the Buckeyes in 2020. Stroud was the No. 42-ranked prospect nationally while Miller checked in at No. 334.
Both enrolled early to take part in spring practice, but each only participated in three practices before the pandemic shut things down. The offseason of uncertainty gained clarity for the two signal-callers when Ohio State's fall season was reinstated, and both will have to push Hoak to earn the backup spot to Fields in an unprecedented season.
Running Back Miyan Williams
Arguably the biggest hole left on the team was made by J.K. Dobbins' departure.
The junior running back became the only Buckeyes running back to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season last year, and the position group hit the panic button when Master Teague went down during the offseason and Steele Chambers was the only healthy scholarship running back on the team.
But former Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon transferred to the Buckeyes, and Teague made a surprisingly quick return from his injury.
Those two will likely be the featured backs in Ohio State's offense this fall, but Day and the Buckeyes will need a third back to rely on. That's where Williams comes into play. The former 3-star running back completely overhauled his body in his first offseason with the Buckeyes, and was one of the first true freshman to lose his black stripe.
Steele Chambers will also be a guy who vies for time after averaging 7.1 yards per carry last year, but Williams could see the field.
Safety Kourt Williams
Kourt WIlliams committed to an Ohio State team that played a unique position called the "bullet," which was a hybrid between safety and linebacker.
Williams could and would thrive in that role, but the bullet position that was expected to come with the new defensive coaching staff never came last season, as the Buckeyes played mostly with a traditional three-linebacker look and a secondary comprised of three corners and a single-high safety.
That changeup never deterred Williams, who has an opportunity to get onto the field after the Buckeyes lost three starters in their secondary from a season ago.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Williams said this offseason. “If I play safety, linebacker, it doesn't really matter. I just want to play. I just want to get on the field.”
His combination of coverage skills and his ability to step up and support the run give Ohio State's defense a lot of flexibility. He's an intriguing option as a reserve and has the skillset to step up if a starter goes down.
