Urban Meyer has stressed since day one as Ohio State’s head coach that the plan is not to redshirt players once they step foot on campus.  Obviously that plan does not work out for every freshman, but Urban has shown a willingness to let his youngest players perform early and often in their inaugural college football season.  Today we will take a look at some young Bucks who have excelled under Urban Meyer as true freshman and project who could make a similar impact in this years class.

Impact Freshman during Urban Era

• Joey Bosa – 44 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and 1 TD
  • Biggest impact freshman under Urban Meyer at Ohio State.  Garnered Freshman All-America honors from multiple outlets at the conclusion of his stellar freshman season.  Ranked sixth in all of the B1G Ten conference in sacks while earning All B1G Ten Honorable mention.
• Curtis Samuel – 478 total yards from scrimmage (6.9 avg) 6 TDs
  • Samuel received more touches last season than any other true freshman under Urban Meyer.  69 touches in total for over 700 all purpose yards for the Buckeyes.  Became not only the main kick-off return man by seasons end, but also the #2 running back behind Elliot.  Samuel was electric with the ball in his hands and was a surprisingly physical blocker which led to his influx in playing time.  Samuel was the most well rounded offensive Freshman we have seen during Urban’s tenure.
• Raekwon McMillan – 54 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks
  • Split time with fellow five-star MLB Curtis Grant, who was unselfishly McMillan’s mentor and partner in crime.  Raekwon played up to his billing while appearing in all 15 games for the Buckeyes during the Title run.  Named a Freshman All-American by numerous publications and has already assumed the starting middle linebacker spot for the Buckeyes this fall.
• Dontre Wilson – 460 yards from scrimmage (8.7 avg) 3 TDs
  • Wilson played in every game his freshman season including two starts during B1G Ten play.  He totaled nearly 1,000 all purpose yards as he was a main threat for the Buckeyes in the return game.  Dontre was slim coming out of high school and relied on his agility and speed to get by defenders.  Coach Meyer admitted to using Wilson primarily as a “decoy” and a “hood ornament” during his freshman campaign due to his inability to block downfield and beat press coverage.
• Ezekiel Elliot – 33 touches 285 yards (8.6 avg) 3 TDs
  • Behind El Guapo on the depth chart, EzE played heavily on special teams  during his freshman campaign.  We all remember his hit on kick-off coverage against Purdue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt99HRQx3Xo), but Elliot was also able to shine offensively during mop up duty early in the season.  His breakout performance came against Florida A&M where he amassed 162 yards on only 14 carries in little over a quarter of action.  It was surely a sign of things to come for the Heisman Trophy candidate.

Projected Impact Freshman for 2015 Season

Urban places a huge emphasis on special teams and there is no better way to force yourself onto the field than excelling on special teams.  Every player listed below plays on the offensive side of the ball.  As of this writing, three of the four have already had their black stripes removed.  I personally love the linebacker class of Hilliard, Baker and Connor, but there is so much young talent in front of them (Dante Booker is going to shock some people) that I don’t believe they will play enough impactful minutes this year.

• Torrance Gibson
  • During the recruiting process, one analyst said that if TG classified as a WR he would have him at the top of his individual player rankings.  Has the size and speed to be an AJ Green type of receiver for the Buckeyes.  With the suspensions and recent injury to Noah Brown, the offense will be in need of a spark at the wide receiver position week one against Virginia Tech.  Gibson has the ability to stretch the field vertically and he has received glowing praise during camp.  I am excited to see how he develops now as a full-time WR for the first time in his life.
• Mike Weber (2nd player to lose black stripe)
  • Was already taking second team reps during camp behind Elliot before injuring his knee.  Prognosis says he wont be 100% for a couple more weeks but should be able to return early in the season.  This is a three year player at Ohio State – he is that good.  Nicknamed Baby Los (after Carlos Hyde) by his teammates, he said he broke off several long touchdown runs during the Buckeyes first scrimmage in camp.
• KJ Hill (3rd player to lose black stripe)
  • Was impressing coaches and teammates early in camp, and like I stated earlier, the Buckeyes have plenty of reps to go around at the wide receiver position week one.  I believe Hill will make the most of his opportunity and continue to steal reps away from his older teammates as the season progresses.  Already one of the better route runners on the team, Hill will continue to mold into a prototype receiver under the guidance (or torture) of coach Marotti.
• Isaiah Prince (1st player to lose black stripe)
  •  It is exceptionally difficult for lineman to shine while playing on either side of the ball (Joey Bosa is a freak) during their freshman season, so I will just say this regarding Isaiah Prince:  He is going to be really really really good.  You will see him quite a bit during mop-up duty early in the season, and he is already in the two-deep at RT behind Senior Chase Farris.

Which incoming freshman do you think might make a splash this season?

The 2015 recruiting class was one of the best in the country and is arguably the strongest unit within that class is the offensive line. Ohio State has a history of producing NFL caliber lineman throughout the years. With that being said, it was well- known that the Buckeyes really needed to bring in a nice o-line class to re-stock the cupboard, and that is exactly what they did. So let’s take a look at a few of these guys!

The first was probably the most high profile of all the o-lineman coming in this year. The 6’3″ 300 lbs Mathew Burrell of Woodbridge, Virginia was an absolute stud coming out of high school. His film was like watching a grown adult playing against the local 4th grade Pop Warner team. But it wasn’t just his on field play that made Mathew so attractive to every big time program in the country. It was also his big time personality. Mathew has no problem talking in a crowd, and is a guy that just seemed to have that leadership quality. So far in camp we have not heard a lot about Matt, but I would bet he is making an impact. As far as playing time goes it’s highly doubtful that Mathew will see any PT this year because the first team is so impressive, but as seen last year with Braxton things can change in a blink of an eye.

The next guy has been making a big splash so far in camp, but for a lot of buckeye fans he is a bit of a unknown because of the way his recruitment went. The 6’7″ 305 lbs Isaiah Prince was a big time recruit from Greenbelt, MD and was coveted by all the big time programs. At the end of the recruiting season it came down to the Buckeyes, Alabama, and (his hometown school) Maryland. Most people thought  he was going to end up staying home and going to Maryland, but Urban ,doing what he does best, was able to turn Price and get him to come to the buckeye state.  Ever since arriving in Columbus Prince has made an impact. In fact, he was the first freshman to lose his ” black stripe” and right now is on the two deep at the right tackle position. Prince has the potential to be a big time player if he keeps up the good work!

The next tower of a man the Buckeyes brought in this year is 6’7″ 320lbs Brandon Bowen. When you talk about a guy that looks like he should be playing on Sunday’s,this is the guy! Oh yeah… AND he is only a freshman. Brandon comes to Ohio from Draper, UT and brings the mountain landscape with him in the form of his size. It’s easy to get caught up in his size, but Brandon is also extremely athletic. Just like Mathew we have not heard a lot about Brandon from camp but hopefully he is putting in the work needed because his potential is through the roof.

Believe it or not there is another guy that is even bigger than both Brandon and Prince. 6’9″ 305 lbs Kevin Feder is a guy that you bring to every game just to let him get off of the bus first; simply for an intimidation factor. Don’t get me wrong Feder has a lot of upside. He is just a little rough around the edges, but let’s not forget that the Buckeyes have probably the best o-line coach in the counrty so give him a year or two and Feder could be a beast at the tackle position.

Finally the last guy in this class that has big time upside is 6’6″ 310 lbs,  Grant Schmidt.  Grant comes to Columbus from Sioux Falls, SD and was the only lineman able to enroll early in the spring to get a head start on the playbook and getting to know his teammates. Grant looks to be the guy to play the guard position opposite of Mathew in the future .

It looks like the Urban recruiting train has landed another great group of potential stars for the Buckeyes. Can’t wait to see how these guys develop.

Here we are, just over a week before the start of the brand new College Football season. After all the hype during the offseason, we as a team, as a unit, must prepare for the unexpected. We must prepare for tragedy to strike at any moment. Whether it is during the offseason, early on in the season, mid-season or during the late stages in the season. We always have to be ready. Although I hate to talk about a players untimely injury, it is needed. The Buckeyes and their “next man up” mentality will ultimately cultivate and develop another starting caliber/secret weapon type of player or players during this upcoming season.

Lets cut to the chase shall we?

#3 Michael Thomas, WR:

Michael Thomas is the most experienced player at his position on the team.  The Redshirt Junior has constantly improved year after year and I don’t expect him to stop growing as a player.  He will be asked to become a more vocal leader in the locker room or on the sidelines because Jeff Heuerman has graduated and is chasing his NFL dreams as we speak.  So Thomas will have to fill the leadership void for Zone 6.  After his redshirt year, Thomas has showed the knack for making big play after big play on the field.  He has showed that he can be consistent and a valuable player for the Buckeyes.  He showed improvement as a blocker downfield.  He sometimes shows the consistency as a blocker that Coach Meyer wants to see.  Thomas also has the ability to beat you in so many ways.  He can catch in traffic, he can get yards after the catch.  He can even burn you with his top end speed going on a “Go” route toward the endzone.  Thomas is a complete WR.  That is why Thomas is one of the WMD’s on this years offense.  I feel like when he has this huge year, we can pretty much count him as gone.  He will leave for the NFL.

#17 Jalin Marshall, WR/H-Back:

Jalin Marshall will have to play catch up after his one game suspension.  He is the second most experienced player on the roster and that will lead to some high expectations for his role on offense.  Marshall has added value on the roster due to his ability to return punts.  At any given moment he can take one back to the house for additional points.  He can also catch passes in all sorts of ways too.  Whether it is in traffic or whether its on a screen pass.  Heck, here’s a little tidbit, Marshall played QB in high school.  He is also capable of slinging the rock!  Like we saw during the season, Marshall is another WMD that Coach Meyer can utilize this season.  He has the speed that he covets and he is definitely hungry for an expanded role this season.  I think after the suspension, he will assume his role and start opposite of Thomas.

#1 Braxton Miller, WR/H-Back:

The 2 year BIG Offensive Player of the Year is now a WR/H-Back!  This is a year of new for Miller, who is also sporting a brand new number.  He is also going to have a new role.  Miller obviously has the speed to burn DB’s and I think that he will be used as the deep threat this season.  Meet the new Devin Smith!  Although Miller isn’t as polished as Smith was, I think Miller will make the necessary adjustments to make an impact during his last season as a Buckeye.  I look for Meyer to get all he can get from the unsung and selfless hero, Miller.  He wants Miller to start this year.  Whether it at WR or H-Back, he will start either spot.  Miller has the speed and let’s not forget that he used to sling the ball around too.  He still has the ability to make people miss.  Whether he is running the wildcat, coming in on a sweep or if he’s going out wide, he will find a way to make plays.  Miller is a playmaker people!  Don’t sleep on him.  Miller has been seen having “secret practices” lead by J.T. Barrett and he has caught a few balls from King Dolodale himself.  With the QB battle still raging on, I expect Miller to go out with a bang.  Regardless of which QB starts.  He will assert himself as the last starting WMD.  Meyer will release the Kraken this season!

#84 Corey Smith, WR:

If not for the one game suspension, I would have Smith as the fourth WR off of the bench.  Smith flashed at the critical moments of games.  He comes up with timely (AND BRUTAL!) blocks like what we say from him in the Michigan and BIG Conference Championship games.  He made a key catch on 3rd down against Oregon in the Playoff Championship game.  He isn’t a big play waiting to happen like his peers, but he flashes when the team needs it the most.  Once the suspension is lifted, I expect him to re-assume his role on the team.

#2 Dontre Wilson, WR/H-Back:

Wilson will assume his punt returning duties when he returns into the fold.  That is assuming that someone on the roster doesn’t take his job.  Wilson is suspended for the season opener and that is completely okay because we have potential high impact players waiting in the wings.  Wilson is too fast to have rot on the bench and I think the coaching staff knows that as well.  With that big time catch at East Lansing, he just oozes with potential.  Sure he had lofty ratings coming out of high school, but like Curtis Grant on the Defense, he will find his niche and he will live up to the hype.

#82 James Clark, WR:

I will be honest, I completely forgot about Clark in my previous article.  And that is no slight to him or his ability and what he can bring to this offense.  I simply check marked his name on my notebook and that is all.  Anyways, he is another “burner” on the Ohio State roster.  He has had a rough couple of years, battling various injuries, but he should be a good one.  Whether it is during this upcoming season or later down the road, he will live up to the hype.  With Corey Smith serving his one game suspension, it opens up the doors for not only Clark, but the rest of the WR corps.  I haven’t seen much tape on Clark, but I am confident in his potential.  He has the tools needed to become a big time WR, he just needs to want it more than everyone behind him.  And with Smith out for the first game of the season, make an everlasting impression young man!

#5 Johnnie Dixon, WR:

Another highly touted recruit out of high school who suffered untimely and unfortunate injuries early on in his Ohio State career.  Like Clark, he is another speedster out of Florida looking to make an impact.  Dixon is too good to sit on the bench (I can honestly say that with every WR on the team)!  With Smith being absent from the trip to Blacksburg, he has a good shot at getting some playing time.  Dixon will look to rebound from his injury plagued past.  He may not have a role just yet, but I have a feeling that he is another sleeper on the team that is just waiting for his shot at playing time.

#89 Jeff Greene, WR:

Greene transferred to Ohio State from Georgia Tech and he has yet to find his niche in the offense.  He is 6’5″ and I want to see him succeed.  He would be a match-up nightmare for smaller DB’s and I would love to see that.  We haven’t had a WR taller than 6’3″ for a little bit the last receiver I can think of is Michael Jenkins (6’4″).  If Greene can improve on his craft, I would enjoy seeing him line up across from Thomas, but Meyer loves having speed demons all over the field so I just don’t know.  He showed the willingness to block during his time at Georgia Tech and I think if he shows that to the coaching staff, he will earn some time.  I would love for Greene to succeed, but he has to show the coaching staff that he is worthy for additional playing time.

#21 Parris Campbell, WR:

I have Campbell as a WR, for now.  He is a weapon like Marshall and he is just as fast.  Like the QB situation, there is a log jam at the WR position.  Everyone is vying for playing time.  Campbell is a bigger WR at 6’1″, 205.  He is another burner, with little to no experience.  Campbell can fill the Devin Smith roll too if he is called upon.  There is no shortage of Devin Smith like players on the roster too.  It is just a matter of time until his shoes will be filled once again.  He will look to contribute on Special Teams and during the occasional blowout.

#83 Terry McLaurin, WR:

Like Campbell, but weighing 5 pounds less, McLaurin is another beast of a player.  Another player who is capable of becoming the next Devin Smith.  McLaurin has the speed to burn helpless DB’s routinely, but he just needs to be afforded the opportunity.  Look for McLaurin to contribute on Special Teams as well as during mop up duty.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he makes a surprise start or two either.

#6 Torrance Gibson, WR:

Here is another QB turned WR!  In practice, Gibson made a Randy Moss like catch against a starting Defensive Back.  I hate to say it, but I will!  I am excited to see if he will earn playing time this season as a True Freshman.  It isn’t like Gibson is a slouch after switching positions either.  Like Miller, he will be a weapon.  I hope Gibson can turn some heads this season.  It will be an amazing sight to see.

#14 K.J. Hill, WR:

Hill is the third newcomer to get his blackstripe removed.  That says a lot of this talented WR out of Arkansas.  He has the tools to succeed.  He has been doing well enough to earn his status as a Buckeye by shedding his black stripe.  Now the sky is the limit for the Freshman.  He can run routes for days.  He can catch.  Let’s see if he can turn more heads and take some playing time away from the upperclassmen.

#87 Alex Stump, WR:

Stump flipped to Ohio State late last year.  He, like all Ohio kids want to stay close to home for the support.  Stump made his decision to join Ohio State.  He is coming off of an injury that he sustained from high school, but I am not worried about him at all.  He looks to be a good one, but I’m afraid that he is set for a redshirt as he recovers from surgery.  I may be wrong, but the WR depth is too much at the moment and I think he sits out this season.  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing because he can study the playbook more.  Win-win for both sides of the equation.

On December 23, 1963, James Joseph Harbaugh was born at Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Just 201 days later, Urban Frank Meyer III took his first breath in the same building. Today, they are the head coaches in The Greatest Rivalry in All of Sport, the opposite sides of a coin. Equal, but not the same.

Urban Meyer played defensive back for the University of Cincinnati, although I use the word “played” in the loosest sense. Barely seeing the field as a walk on, Meyer’s entire playing career is contained in a small paragraph in the 1985 Cincy media guide: “A reserve at safety … holder for PAT and FG attempts.” His time on the team wasn’t wasted, however; he used it to observe coaching techniques. (SPOILER ALERT: That comes in handy.)

Jim Harbaugh’s path was different to say the least. A star quarterback at Michigan, he was 24-5-1 as a starter. He finished second in the nation in pass efficiency and third in Heisman trophy voting in 1986. That season, he famously guaranteed a victory over Ohio State and a Rose Bowl appearance, a promise he delivered with a 26-24 win in Columbus.

On the other sideline that day was a young graduate assistant just starting out a coaching career that would take him from Earle Bruce’s Buckeye staff to Illinois State, Colorado State and Notre Dame before landing his first head coaching gig at Bowling Green in 2001.

That year also marked the end of Jim Harbaugh’s NFL career in which he started 140 games for four different teams and threw for 26,288 yards and 129 touchdowns. During the last eight years of that run, he worked as an unpaid assistant for his father, Jack Harbaugh, at Western Kentucky, where he helped recruit 17 of the players on WKU’s 2002 Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship team. After a couple of years coaching QBs for the Oakland Raiders, Harbaugh snagged the head coaching job at the University of San Diego, where he compiled a three-year record of 29-6.

In the meantime, Urban Meyer had translated his success at Bowling Green and Utah into a top-tier job at Florida. In his second year at the helm, he defied conventional wisdom and destroyed his former employer Ohio State in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game. Two years later, he would add another title to his résumé.

In 2007, Jim Harbaugh took over at Stanford, a program that, despite making some gains under Ty Willingham, had fallen off under the guidance of Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris. Steadily improving each season, Harbaugh delivered a 12-1 campaign in 2010 with the lone loss coming against an Oregon team that would appear in the national championship game.

2010 would be Urban Meyer’s last at Florida. After taking a leave of absence for health-related issues following the 2009 season, Meyer returned to the team at the request of athletic director Jeremy Foley. The Gators went 7-5, and Meyer resigned for good on December 8, 2010.

A month later, Jim Harbaugh became the head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and led the team to a 13-3 regular season record and an appearance in the NFC championship game. This success also revitalized the stalled career of quarterback Alex Smith, who had played for Urban Meyer at Utah. The next two years were just as successful, with the team reaching at least the NFC championship game each season, and facing off against the Baltimore Ravens—coached by Jim’s brother John—in Super Bowl XLVII, a game the Niners lost by 3 points.

By then, Meyer had taken over at Ohio State, stabilizing a program reeling from disappointment after an impermissible benefits scandal led to the sudden resignation of coach Jim Tressel and a rocky season under interim coach Luke Fickell, who was nevertheless retained as a defensive coordinator and expert recruiter. Meyer delivered on his reputation as a master motivator by coaxing a 12-0 season out of a team that wasn’t allowed to participate in the post-season. He followed that up with another perfect regular season, before losing both the Big Ten championship game and the Orange Bowl. Last year, Meyer’s Buckeyes overcame long odds and more than their share of adversity to win the first ever College Football Playoff, despite being underdogs in their final three games.

Harbaugh’s Niners went 8-8 last year as his relationship with the team’s front office deteriorated beyond repair. In December, he and the team parted ways, although the amicability of that split depends on who you ask. At the end of the month, after much speculation about his future plans, Harbaugh was introduced as the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

The two coaches now head up opposing armies in a war that predates either of them, a sports rivalry that began in the shadows of an actual dispute between the two states over a 468-square-mile strip of land that, yes, included the future site of the very hospital where both men were born. The Great State of Ohio won the land dispute. The winner of the Meyer-Harbaugh War remains to be seen.

Heading into the fourth year under head coach Urban Meyer’s direction, things could not be looking brighter for Ohio State football. Virtually every media outlet has predicted Ohio State to be the favorite to win the 2015 national championship.

The roster is heavily stocked with talented players at every position; a case in point is that Ohio State has players at quarterback in J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones who could start for essentially any other college football program in the country. The aforementioned players, along with returning junior running back Ezekiel Elliott, are mentioned as leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy this season.

Yet I have a painful, and somewhat embarrassing admission to make regarding the present Ohio State offense…

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