Archives for March 2016

Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast Spring Ball

March 30, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Spring is in the air and Ohio State football is back, well sort of. Being cooped up for months in a mild winter we finally get to start talking about our favorite football team.

I get with my co-host Chip Minnich and our special guest Chuck Strawn of thebuckeyebattlecry.com fame to discuss Buckeye football.

We discuss the Harbaugh khaki pants in a bunch issue that recently happened along with the who and the what we are looking forward to for the upcoming Spring Game. Six practices in and we finally get to discuss what we feel will be the group or groups to keep an eye on for Spring Game. We also discuss our picks for possible impact true freshman for the upcoming season. 

As always its a fun time to get to talk Buckeye football with Chip and throw a little Chuck in there and major knowledge dropped with lots of humor.


Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football, Podcast

Ohio Stadium Upgrades Announced

March 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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The House that Harley built will be turning 94 years young this year. Built in 1922 the Horseshoe was widely criticized for having 66,000 seats (thought it would never be filled up). Thankfully for Buckeye Nation the leaders went ahead with the $1.3 million project. The most unique and recognized facility in all of sports will be undergoing another upgrade.

Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith announced a $42 million project improving C and B-Decks. The C-deck needs the concrete restored and re-coated. The B-deck will have improved lighting, larger televisions and an improved sound system with better scoreboards, this will improve the experience of fans that have any obstructed views. The power distribution system will also be upgraded. Last but not least there will be added lodges and suites wich will remove 2,600 seats.

This upgrading project is proposed to run from 2017-2020. The proposed plan is subject to approval by the university Board of Trustees.

“We are committed to providing our fans, players and coaches with one of the best facilities in the nation,” said Smith. “We knew we had to get some of this done in order to avoid future degradation of the cement on C-deck. At the same time, we have fans requesting upgraded seating options. We see this as a great opportunity to accomplish both projects. It’s an important investment in the stadium that is beloved by so many.”

Filed Under: College Football, Ohio State Football

2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – QB Preview

March 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ohio State began spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

4th – Quarterback

Players Lost – Cardale Jones. Yes, I know that Braxton Miller made far more plays at the quarterback position in his career at Ohio State than at wide receiver, but I listed Braxton Miller’s loss on the squad as a wide receiver in a previous post. Besides, Miller did play at wide receiver in 2015 for the Buckeyes, not at quarterback.

As for Cardale Jones, the hero of the 2014 run to the national championship gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. While Jones struggled at times for Ohio State in 2015, it was reassuring to know that there was a quarterback on the roster who could fill in, with experience, if needed.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – J.T. Barrett (Redshirt Junior), Stephen Collier (Redshirt Sophomore), Joe Burrow (Redshirt Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· It was not an oversight that led me to not list Torrance Gibson as a quarterback. While I am speculating that Gibson may get some opportunities in 2016 to play some quarterback in wildcat formations, or in the red zone, Gibson has been listed on the spring football preview as a wide receiver.

· For the first time in his career, J.T. Barrett enters the spring football season as the unquestioned starter at quarterback. Barrett has also already been named a team captain by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer. No more worries about if the offense will allow Cardale Jones or Braxton Miller to be involved as the quarterback – this is J.T. Barrett’s team, as 2016 commences.

· Joe Burrow is the leading favorite to be the backup quarterback. While Burrow was overshadowed by Gibson in the recruiting hoopla of last year, Burrow impressed the coaching staff throughout 2015. While Barrett is the leader of the offense, it is going to be imperative for Ohio State’s success on the field for Burrow to continue to grow as a possible quarterback.

· Stephen Collier may be in a now or never type mode as it relates to his Ohio State career. While Burrow may have the inside track to be the top backup quarterback, Collier needs to do whatever possible to impress the coaching staff. Highly-touted freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins will arrive this summer, and could leapfrog Burrow to become the third-string quarterback.

· My rationale for listing quarterback fourth on the list of concerns? Quite simply, it was only two short years ago that Ohio State’s improbable run to the national championship involved going down to the third-string quarterback that season. J.T. Barrett did have a suspension last season, and Cardale Jones was able to play during Barrett’s suspension – unlike last season, there are no backup quarterbacks with any appreciable game experience. Look for Burrow, and possibly Collier, to get playing time this season, early and often, in the event something happens to Barrett.

These questions, among others, have been on my mind, as Ohio State resumed spring practice on March 22nd.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Position by Position Recruiting Summary – Running Backs

March 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Last time I looked at the future of the Buckeyes’ quarterback position, and now I’ll turn my attention to the backfield and the running backs. Ezekiel Elliott has been our workhorse for the past two years, but now that he’s heading to the NFL, the Buckeyes need to find a comparable replacement.  Ohio State technically has six backs on the roster this fall, but Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson fill more of an H-back role, so it’s really down to four traditional every-down backs. I think the depth chart will probably look something like this come fall:

1.) Brionte Dunn – Senior (RS)

2.) Mike Weber – Freshman (RS)

3.) Antonio Williams – Freshman

4.) Demario McCall – Freshman

I put Dunn #1 because he is a senior and has been in the program for over four years. Weber’s going to push hard for that #1 spot this spring and fall, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him overtake Dunn at some point. I expect Dunn and Weber will both see a lot of touches this fall, and Samuel and Wilson will likely fill in as traditional backs as well. Urban Meyer says he wants to get quite a few freshman on the field this year, so we’ll probably see Antonio Williams too. He enrolled early so he can go through spring drills with the team, which will benefit him for the 2016 season. I don’t see Demario McCall playing this season however. He could play on special teams, but I would expect him to get a redshirt and compete for playing time in 2017. The running back position isn’t as deep as it usually is at Ohio State, so recruiting is going to have to address that.

Let’s look at potential recruiting classes for the next couple of years.

2017 recruiting has already gotten off to a fast start, and the Buckeyes hold commitments from Todd Sibley out of Akron and JK Dobbins, who was a surprise commitment from Texas. It would not surprise me, however, if one of these two committed backs is no longer a Buckeye come next February. Ohio State wants to add two backs in this class, and they’ve got that in Sibley and Dobbins, but the Buckeyes are still in it for current Alabama commit Najee Harris and former Alabama commit Cam Akers. Harris is scheduled to visit Ohio State in mid-April, and Akers had nothing but great things to say after his recent visit. Since scholarship positions are so tight, I think it’s safe to say the Buckeyes would ask Sibley or Dobbins to look elsewhere if either Harris or Akers decided to come to Ohio State. Watch for Trey Sermon out of Georgia and Adarius Lemons out of Florida as well. When all is said and done in February, I think the Buckeyes sign Sibley and Sermon. 

2017 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) Mike Weber – Sophomore (RS)

2.) Antonio Williams – Sophomore

3.) Demario McCall – Freshman (RS)

4.) Trey Sermon – Freshman

5.) Todd Sibley – Freshman

Even though the backfield will be loaded with young talent, I still expect Meyer & Co to find a couple more running backs for the 2018 class. Right now the Buckeyes have offers out to Zamir White, Jaelen Gill, T.J. Pledger, Ricky Slade, and Brian Snead. Gill is the clear front-runner to be in the class. Not only is he an Ohio boy out of Westerville South High School, but Meyer believes he has the material to be a future captain and has already made him a priority. He holds 16 offers from most of the Big Ten and a few other big-name programs like Virginia Tech and Tennessee. I think Gills ends up a Buckeye in 2018, and I can see him being one of the first members of the class to commit. If Ohio State decides to take two backs in the class – and it might – then I like Slade out of Woodbridge, VA. He’s a quick back, but he’ll probably need to put on some weight to bulk up before he gets to college. He currently has offers from Florida, North Carolina, Miami, and others. Right now he is crystal-balled to Ohio State, but we’re two years away from signing day for this class, so that designation doesn’t mean much yet. I think Gill is almost a guaranteed lock for 2018, but there could be more names that pop up between now and then.

2018 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) Mike Weber – Junior (RS)

2.) Antonio Williams – Junior

3.) Demario McCall – Sophomore (RS)

4.) Trey Sermon – Freshman (RS)

5.) Todd Sibley – Freshman (RS)

6.) Jaelen Gill – Freshman

The recruiting cycle is always changing, so all my predictions could change at a moment’s notice. I fully expect to see a lot of Mike Weber over the next few years, and with the young stable of backs following him, hopefully there is minimal drop off from the Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott era at Ohio State.

 

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2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – WR Preview

March 18, 2016 by 1 Comment

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ohio State began spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

5th – Wide Receiver

Players Lost – Braxton Miller, Michael Thomas, and Jalin Marshall. Braxton Miller exhausted his eligibility in 2015, and showed glimpses of brilliance along the way as he transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver. Somehow, this move will remain etched in my memory for years to come…

Michael Thomas had a year of eligibility, but gave it up to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Thomas displayed reliable hands and a physical style to the position that will be missed.

Jalin Marshall actually gave up two years of eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Of all the Buckeyes who entered the NFL Draft, Marshall seemed to be the player who could have benefited from another year in Columbus. Oh well – best of luck to Marshall as he prepares for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Corey Smith (Redshirt Senior), Noah Brown (Redshirt Sophomore), Parris Campbell (Redshirt Sophomore), Johnnie Dixon (Redshirt Sophomore), Terry McLaurin (Redshirt Sophomore), James Clark (Redshirt Junior), Alex Stump (Redshirt Freshman), K.J. Hill (Redshirt Freshman), Torrance Gibson (Redshirt Freshman), Austin Mack (Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· Corey Smith and Noah Brown are penciled in as starters at the wide receiver spots. Neither are expected to play much this spring, as both players are coming off injuries that ended both players’ 2015 seasons. Smith enters the 2016 college football season as the leading returning wide receiver, with 5 receptions. No, that is not a misprint. 5 receptions. Curtis Samuel had 22 receptions in 2015, and is listed as an H-Back on the roster. More importantly, Samuel is going to miss portions of spring practice, due to an offseason surgery.

· Johnnie Dixon has battled nagging injuries throughout his Ohio State career. With so many players hungry for playing time, this spring may be a now or never type of moment for Dixon to emerge.

· Parris Campbell has also been mentioned prominently by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer. Campbell may be able to make a move with the depth chart, with Smith and Brown sitting out throughout the spring practices.

· True freshman Austin Mack has been singled out by Coach Meyer after the first two practices. Mack will be a player to keep an eye out for during the upcoming spring game on April 16th.

· Other players who may be in the mix are Terry McLaurin, James Clark, Alex Stump, and K.J. Hill. Clark has played sparingly ever since his injury that took place in 2013. McLaurin played sparingly in 2015. Both Stump and Hill redshirted in 2015.

· The biggest wild card of the position group is Torrance Gibson. Gibson was one of the crown jewels of the 2015 recruiting class…at quarterback. Gibson redshirted last season, and is listed in the official program spring football guide as a wide receiver.

· Binjimen Victor is another highly-touted freshman, but will not be on campus until the summer. All of the players listed above will want to take advantage of the spring, as it seems that Mack will be in the mix for playing time in 2016. Victor could get a look this summer if the players do not take advantage of the spring practices.

These questions, among others, have been on my mind, as Ohio State will resume spring practice on March 22nd.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

2018 Prospect Interview – Phil Jurkovec

March 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The 2018 recruiting class is still almost two years away from signing their letters of intent, but it’s never too early for college programs to take a look at young players and make scholarship offers to top prospects. Ohio State will be without JT Barrett after the 2017 season, so the coaches will be looking to add another top notch signal caller in 2018. Phil Jurkovec from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania has already garnered the attention of the Ohio State Buckeyes and has received an offer from Coach Luke Fickell. He also speaks often with Urban Meyer and Tim Beck. In his sophomore season at Pine-Richland High School, Jurkovec passed for over 2,500 yards and ran for another 1,250, which led Coach Meyer to compare him to Alex Smith, the current quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and Urban’s former starter at Utah. Jurkovec analyzes the play of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and other NFL stars and tries to replicate their skills on the field.

It’s early in the recruiting process for 2018, and Jurkovec is in no hurry to commit. He says, “I’m not favoring any schools right now. I want to be able to visit as many schools as possibly before I commit” because “when I commit to a school, I want to be 100% committed.” Wherever he lands, Jurkovec expects to take on a leadership role immediately. “Ideally, as a quarterback, I would want to commit earlier than most so I could help develop that school’s recruiting class.” He currently holds offers from 11 schools, including Michigan State. The last Buckeye quarterback to come out of Pennsylvania was Terrell Pryor in 2008, and he certainly experienced pressure to play college ball in state. Jurkovec acknowledges the pressure, but he’s “willing to leave the state and [is] open to all schools no matter the distance.”

Most importantly, he is looking for a school with “a quality education and a competitive culture” that will help him develop into an elite athlete. Jurkovec writes, “It’s very impressive how many Ohio State players have gone on to play in the NFL. That just shows the Ohio State coaches’ ability to bring in top caliber players and develop them in college.” The threat of competing for a starting position doesn’t scare Jurkovec either; in fact, he embraces the challenge. “Most good programs have good depth at every position. I would not shy away from a school because of competition, but rather [I] welcome it.” Jurkovec knows he’ll get competition in spades if he joins the Buckeyes. “I love the Ohio State offense,” he says, “The playmakers [the team] has now and will have in the future [are] really impressive, and the coaches put them in the right places to succeed.”

The recruiting process is just beginning for Jurkovec and his fellow 2018 prospects. He has his first official visit to Notre Dame this weekend, and he plans to visit Ohio State soon. Jurkovec loves college football and watches a number of teams, but he doesn’t have a favorite. This makes the selection process both easier and harder since he won’t be focused on a childhood favorite program. Jurkovec admits his life is about to get more hectic as recruitment heats up, but he tries to find balance in basketball and reading. No matter what, he’s grateful for the experience. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to get a free education and play major college football at some great universities,” he tells me.

Phil’s junior year gets underway at the end of the summer, and I wish him luck in his last two seasons in high school. I expect he’ll get a lot more offers over the next two years, and I’m sure Ohio State’s coaches and fans are looking forward to showing him all the Buckeyes have to offer.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Position by Position Recruiting Summary – Quarterbacks

March 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Over the next few posts, I’m going to break down the Buckeyes’ current lineup position-by-position and discuss how the recruiting process could potentially change the picture. Today I’ll start with the leader on offense: the quarterback.

The QB position should be in good hands for the next one or two seasons if JT Barrett decides to complete his four years at Ohio State. If he comes back after his junior season, then we’ll have a senior quarterback in 2017, but if he doesn’t, then the Buckeyes will have to break in a new starter. Right now the depth chart would be:

1.) JT Barrett – Junior (RS)

2.) Joey Burrow – Freshman (RS)

3.) Stephen Collier – Sophomore (RS)

4.) Dwayne Haskins – Freshman

Haskins has the opportunity to move up when he gets on campus this summer if he does well in workouts and fall camp, but right now I’m leaving him at 4th on the depth chart. If he fails to pass Burrow for the back-up job I can see Haskins taking a red-shirt this season giving himself another year without Barrett at the helm. Burrow and Collier have both been in the program for at least a season, but neither has thrown a meaningful pass for the Buckeyes. Last season, Ohio State had an abundance of riches at the QB position, but Cardale Jones’ departure to the NFL leaves the Buckeyes with a lack of experience at the position. That’s concerning if Barrett were to go down with an injury, but here is where successful recruiting comes in to play.

Let’s look at potential recruiting classes for the next couple of years.

Danny Clark from Archbishop Hoban HS in Massillion, Ohio, has led the 2017 recruiting class since his commitment back in December of 2013. He’s been on campus dozens of times and has been a vocal recruiter for the Buckeyes for the 2017 class. Recently there’s been talk of possibly adding a second signal caller to this class. Scholarship numbers are tight this year, so it might be hard to squeeze another QB into this class, but if Urban & Co. decide there’s a need, they’ll find a way. Hypothetically speaking, if one of the current QBs on the roster decides to transfer before next season, then the Buckeyes would be able to take another quarterback in 2017. Right now, Ohio State doesn’t have any offers out to other quarterbacks in this class, but that could certainly change over the next 11 months. It’ll be interesting to see if the Buckeyes decide to take two in this class, but I still think they’ll stick with Clark and ride it out until 2018.

The 2017 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) JT Barrett – Senior (RS)

2.) Dwayne Haskins – Freshman (RS) 

3.) Joey Burrow – Sophomore (RS)

4.) Danny Clark – Freshman

5.) Stephen Collier – Junior (RS)

Most teams take at least one QB a year regardless of their depth, so the Buckeyes will certainly be on the lookout for a QB in 2018. As of now, Ohio State has extended offers to Phil Jurkovec out of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania and Jalen Mayden out of Sachse, Texas. Jurkovec currently holds 11 offers from the likes of Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State. He’s a dual-threat QB who passed for 2,560 yards and ran for 1,250 yards in his sophomore season at Pine-Richland. Mayden is a four-star recruit who holds offers from Houston, Mississippi State, and Oregon State among others. Mayden’s sophomore season ended with 2,496 passing yards and 513 rushing yards for a total of 36 touchdowns. Another one to watch is Tadas Tatarunas from Mentor, Ohio, who currently lists Ohio State as a school he has interest in, but he hasn’t received an offer yet.  

The 2018 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) Dwayne Haskins – Sophomore (RS)

2.) Danny Clark – Freshman (RS)

3.) Joey Burrow – Junior (RS)

4.) Stephen Collier – Senior (RS)

Urban Meyer always says the quarterback is “only as good as the players around him,” but the Buckeyes need a guy who can distribute the ball effectively and run the offense efficiently if they want to have any success on offense. Right now the future looks good with Barrett running the helm and preparing the younger kids to take over when he leaves. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of recruiting cycles though.

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2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – CB Preview

March 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ohio State began spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

6th – Cornerback

Player Lost – Eli Apple. Apple declared for the 2016 NFL Draft, giving up two years of eligibility. While Apple did not have as strong a season in 2015 as he did in 2014, Apple was well-regarded by the Ohio State coaching staff.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Gareon Conley (Redshirt Junior), Damon Webb (Junior), Marshon Lattimore (Redshirt Sophomore), Denzel Ward (Sophomore), Eric Glover-Williams (Sophomore), Damon Arnette (Redshirt Freshman), Joshua Norwood (Redshirt Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· Gareon Conley is a returning starter at one cornerback. Conley demonstrated throughout the course of the 2015 season that he was quite capable at handling the position – in 2014, at Michigan State, Conley struggled, requiring Apple to come off the bench and play, despite Apple battling an injury at the time. In many respects, Conley had a better 2015 season than Apple.

· The other cornerback position seems to be suiting up to be a battle between Damon Webb, Marshon Lattimore, Denzel Ward, and Eric Glover-Williams. Webb was suspended for part of 2015, but played in nickel coverage when the suspension was lifted. It is possible Webb could also get a look at one of the vacant safety spots. Lattimore has battled injuries in both 2014 and 2015 – will Lattimore’s hamstring injuries allow him to remain in the mix as a possible starter? Denzel Ward and Eric Glover-Williams both played as true freshmen in 2015, primarily on special teams. Ward has been mentioned by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer as a possible starter at the vacant cornerback spot. Glover-Williams was running at one of the safety spots, as spring practice began.

· Neither Damon Arnette nor Joshua Norwood have played so far as Buckeyes. Both players redshirted in 2015. Both Arnette and Norwood will want to use the spring practices to their advantage, as…

· Reinforcements are on the way, but will not arrive until the summer. Ohio State signed five defensive backs in the 2016 recruiting class (Rodjay Burns, Wayne Davis, Kareem Felder, Jordan Fuller, Jahsen Wint). Of these five, only Wint has been listed as a safety. It is entirely possible one of these players could get a look at the cornerback position, depending upon how the spring practices shake out.

These questions, among others, have been on my mind, as Ohio State spring practice began on March 8th.

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JK Dobbins makes for Surprise Commitment #13

March 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The Ohio State Buckeyes picked up commitment #13 yesterday in the form of RB/ATH JK Dobbins out of La Grange, Texas.  Dobbins commitment came despite that fact that he has never been to the Ohio State campus, and that he just received the offer on February 17th.  Dobbins had offers from all of the big schools in Texas, plus ones from Notre Dame, North Carolina, Oregon, Florida State and Stanford.  He was crystal balled to Texas at 58% which makes this commitment even more of a surprise.  Dobbins is rated as a 4-star recruit and the #4 running back in America.  The addition of Dobbins to the Ohio State recruiting class adds to what is already the top class in America so far. The Buckeyes currently have six of the top 100 players in America committed and 10 of the top 250 overall prospects.

Dobbins joins Todd Sibley out of Archbishop Hoban in Akron as the second back in this class.  The Buckeyes look to be done at running back in 2017, but with names like Cam Akers and Najee Murray out there, the door is never closed until signing day.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – TE Preview

March 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ohio State will begin spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

7th – Tight End

Player Lost – Nick Vannett. Vannett exhausted his eligibility, and is preparing for the 2016 NFL Draft. Even though Vannett did not have as strong a senior season as he would have liked, Vannett had 19 receptions for 162 yards. Compare and contrast that to Marcus Baugh, who had 2 receptions for 32 yards, with the longest reception (27 yards) coming in The 2016 Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Marcus Baugh (Redshirt Senior), A.J. Alexander (Redshirt Freshman), Rashod Berry (Redshirt Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· Marcus Baugh is the starter, almost by default. Baugh enters the 2016 season with a career total of 3 receptions for 34 yards, and one touchdown. That is three more receptions and one more touchdown than any other scholarship tight end on the Ohio State roster. Baugh has had numerous off the field issues in the past. The coaching staff has maintained their patience with Baugh, and Baugh seems poised to conclude his Ohio State career as a starter in 2016.

· Neither A.J. Alexander or Rashod Berry played in 2015. Considering Alexander was coming off an injury sustained during his senior year of high school, and how Berry split time at multiple positions in high school, it is no surprise why Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer was reluctant to play either player in 2015.

· Reinforcements are on the way, but will not arrive until the summer. Ohio State signed three tight ends in Luke Farrell, Jake Hausmann, and Kierre Hawkins, but none of these players will be in the mix during spring practice. For both Alexander and Berry, the spring practices will be essential. Alexander and Berry will want to secure their positions on the depth chart, before any of the freshmen tight ends arrive on campus.

These questions, among others, will be on my mind once Ohio State spring practice begins March 8th.

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