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Ohio State football: Grading the depth chart ahead of the season-opener
By Joe Cox
Published:
Ohio State returns most of the essential components from the nation’s top offense a season ago. They also return plenty of defensive talent, but it’s much the same talent that saw them unable to stop Oregon or Michigan in the games that ultimately caused OSU to fall short of expectations last year.
A regular-season at 10-2 is the sort of thing that gets stadiums named after coaches at some schools. Ohio State isn’t some schools. A year after a disappointing 10-2, here’s how the Buckeyes depth chart stacks up heading into Week 1:
Quarterbacks: A
CJ Stroud is a Heisman favorite and a likely All-America pick at quarterback. The Buckeyes have to be delighted to have him back for another season. A year ago, Stroud inherited the starting spot with no prior collegiate pass attempts. He made up for lost time, throwing for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns. Stroud also managed to throw just 6 interceptions in 441 pass attempts. The only remaining accolades for him, aside from the Heisman, are team accolades, because he was superb in 2021.
Sophomore Kyle McCord would be the next man up, and he did start a game last year against Akron in which he wasn’t exactly chopped liver. McCord passed for 319 yards and 2 scores that day, and the OSU offense would still be highly capable if he had to play significant snaps.
The potential for losing Stroud to injury (always possible on any offensive snap) would be a shame for college football fans in general, but OSU has the position well-stocked with talent even beyond McCord. Freshman Devin Brown would be much less experienced, but in the Buckeyes’ offense, he’d still look pretty good.
Running backs: B+
TreVeyon Henderson showed a massive skillset in his true freshman campaign last year. Rushing for 1,255 yards and 15 touchdowns would make Henderson a Heisman candidate at many schools. He’s a capable receiver as well (27 catches, 312 yards, 4 TDs). And there’s still plenty of talent behind him.
Sophomore Miyam Williams didn’t have the hype that Henderson did. But the physical back showcased his own impressive abilities, rushing for 507 yards and 3 scores and actually gaining more yards per carry than Henderson (7.1 to 6.8). OSU likes Williams as a change-of-pace back, particularly in the 4th quarter.
Talented Evan Pryor is out for the season with an injury, and Master Teague went to the NFL. That’s the rub here. Behind Henderson and Williams is not much else. True frosh Dallas Hayden is probably the next man up, and that could be a problem. If the first two guys stay healthy, great. But depth is a concern.
Wide receivers: A-
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one outstanding returning target. The junior’s 95-catch, 1,606-yard explosion last season was historic. But now that Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are worried about playing on Sundays, Smith-Njigba has to go from a great threat among equals to the main man.
OSU has plenty of talent at the position. Marvin Harrison Jr. showed out in the Rose Bowl, grabbing 3 touchdowns in his first OSU start. Junior Julian Fleming has likewise impressed in the spring, and now that the path is clear to more playing time, he’ll likely shine. Sophomore Emeka Egbuka could be this year’s Smith-Njigba, as he showed signs of next-level speed returning kicks and catching a few passes last year. Freshman Jayden Ballard figures to contribute as well.
OSU doesn’t have 3 targets like Olave, Wilson, and Smith-Njibga. But they may replace the first 2 with 4-5 solid contributors who equal their production.
Offensive line/tight ends: A-
OSU returns 3 starters, Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones, who are expected to start at the tackle spots, and center Luke Wypler, who is getting some preseason all-America discussion as the anchor of the interior line. Senior Matt Jones is the likely right guard and sophomore Donovan Jackson is the likely left guard. Jackson has impressed onlookers as a potential standout, while Jones is more the wily veteran.
It’s hard to pick a second five, because OSU likes to think about the offensive line as a combination rather than just 5 individual guys. If OSU has some injuries, depth is a concern, but just because the backups don’t have a ton of game experience doesn’t mean they couldn’t contribute.
OSU basically uses the tight end as a blocker. Jeremy Ruckert caught 26 balls for 309 yards last season, and Gee Scott could equal those numbers this year. Cade Stover might be more of the standout blocker of the group. They’re fine, but they won’t steal many headlines.
Defensive line: B+
The talent is there for the defensive front, but will the production be? It’s a fair question for guys like senior Zach Harrison, who always seems poised to erupt. But his production (33 tackles, 3 sacks) was fairly modest. Major prospects JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer weren’t quite ready for prime time a year ago, but either or both could be now. On the other hand, tackle Tyleik Williams was a freshman surprise, racking up 5 sacks in part-time duty.
Senior Taron Vincent should be solid on the nose, and fellow seniors Jerron Cage (interior) and Javonte Jean-Baptiste (outside) could both see significant snaps. There are plenty of guys here who have shown flashes of all-world talent. But the Buckeyes need more than flashes.
Linebackers: B+
It’ll be a 4-2-5 look for the Buckeyes, so it’s a starting duo, and the junior pair of Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers are the likely starters here. Eichenberg grabbed a starting spot last year and wouldn’t let go, finishing 2nd on the Buckeyes in tackles (64) and racking up 6.5 tackles for loss. He figures to get one spot.
Chambers overtook Teradja Mitchell in midseason and remains the presumed starter at the other spot. Freshman CJ Hicks could well emerge as a “can’t keep him off the field” type guy. This group is more experienced than the defensive line, but has some of the same question marks about who can be counted on to consistently make plays.
Defensive backs: B+
Denzel Burke is one of the best corners in college football, and Ronnie Hickman nailed down a starting spot in 2021, racking up 98 tackles and seemingly being magnetized to the football. The rest of the group is a little more unsettled. Tanner McAlister is an import from defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and will rely on both talent and experience in the system to gain a significant role. Josh Proctor had his season ended by a leg injury in Week 2 a year ago, and if he’s right, he figures to start.
The fifth starter is probably senior Cameron Brown, but the Buckeyes have to have better production from Brown than they got a season ago. OSU’s secondary was the team’s Achilles heel. This year, with backups like freshmen Kye Stokes and Kourt Williams and junior Cameron Martinez, Coach Knowles will probably be a little quicker with a hook for the secondary. How it all works out will be telling for the 2022 OSU season.
Veteran college writer Joe Cox covers Ohio State and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.