After a slight, one-day delay, the first depth chart of the 2013 season is out and it's largely as we expected it to look. Oh, and 12 different true freshmen make appearances, led by burner Dontre Wilson.
OFFENSE
| Pos | No | Player | HT/WT | YR | No | Player | HT/WT | YR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT | 74 | Jack Mewhort | 6-6/308 | SR | 76 | Darryl Baldwin | 6-6/310 | JR |
| LG | 78 | Andrew Norwell | 6-6/316 | SR | 57 | Chase Farris | 6-4/308 | SO |
| C | 71 | Corey Linsley | 6-3/297 | SR | 50 | Jacoby Boren | 6-2/290 | SO |
| RG | 79 | Marcus Hall | 6-5/315 | SR | 65 | Pat Elflein | 6-3/295 | FR |
| RT | 68 | Taylor Decker | 6-7/315 | SO | Kyle Dodson OR Tommy Brown | |||
| TE | 86 | Jeff Heurman | 6-6/252 | JR | 81 | Nick Vannett | 6-6/255 | SO |
| WR-X | Corey Brown OR Devin Smith | 83 | Michael Thomas | 6-3/202 | SO | |||
| QB | 5 | Braxton Miller | 6-2/215 | JR | 13 | Kenny Guiton | 6-3/208 | SR |
| RB | 7 | Jordan Hall | 5-9/191 | SR | Br'onte Dunn OR Warren Ball | |||
| H-B | 80 | Chris Fields | 6-1/200 | SR | 1 | Dontre Wilson | 5-10/180 | FR |
| WR-Z | 6 | Evan Spencer | 6-2/206 | JR | 82 | James Clark | 5-9/185 | FR |
DEFENSE
| Pos | No | Player | HT/WT | YR | No | Player | HT/WT | YR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 92 | Adolphus Washington | 6-4/295 | SO | 97 | Joey Bosa | 6-6/275 | FR |
| NG | 51 | Joel Hale | 6-4/310 | JR | Tommy Schutt OR Chris Carter | |||
| DT | 63 | Michael Bennett | 6-3/295 | JR | 90 | Tommy Schutt OR Michael Hill | ||
| VIPER | 8 | Noah Spence | 6-3/252 | SO | Jamal Marcus OR Steve Miller | |||
| LB | 10 | Ryan Shazier | 6-2/230 | JR | 36 | Trey Johnson | 6-1/220 | FR |
| MLB | 14 | Curtis Grant | 6-3/243 | JR | Joe Burger OR Mike Mitchell | |||
| SLB | 37 | Joshua Perry | 6-4/246 | SO | 55 | Camren Williams | 6-1/231 | SO |
| CB | 26 | Armani Reeves | 5-10/198 | SO | Gareon Conley OR Cam Burrows | |||
| FS | 2 | Christian Bryant | 5-10/193 | SR | 20 | Ron Tanner | 6-0/200 | SO |
| SS | 4 | C.J. Barnett | 6-1/204 | SR | 3 | Corey Brown | 6-1/203 | SR |
| CB | 12 | Doran Grant | 5-11/191 | JR | 13 | Eli Apple | 6-1/194 | FR |
| N | 23 | Tyvis Powell | 6-3/207 | FR | 7 | Vonn Bell | 5-11/190 | FR |
SPECIALISTS
| Pos | No | Player | HT/WT | YR | No | Player | HT/WT | YR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 24 | Drew Basil | 62-212 | SR | 39 | Kyle Clinton | 6-1/220 | JR |
| P | 95 | Cameron Johnston | 5-11/190 | FR | 24 | Drew Basil | 6-2/212 | SR |
| LS | George Makridis OR Bryce Haynes | |||||||
| H | 13 | Kenny Guiton | 6-3/208 | SR | ||||
| PR | 10 | Corey Brown | 6-0/190 | SR | 7 | Jordan Hall | 5-9/191 | SR |
| KR | 7 | Jordan Hall | 5-9/191 | SR | 1 | Dontre Wilson | 5-10/180 | FR |
The surprises are few on the depth chart. The biggest change is Urban Meyer's faith in the backups, especially along the offensive line.
When camp started, Ohio State didn't even have a right tackle. It took a week before Taylor Decker earned the nod after a lackluster battle in the spring with Chase Farris. Now, Farris and others have solidified the line to the point Meyer said he's be comfortable if any of them have to step into the starting lineup.
“Offensive line, I feel very good about,” Meyer said. “We’re much deeper.”
Farris, Pat Elflein, Jacoby Boren, Kyle Dodson and Darryl Baldwin bolstered the second unit.
“Pat Elflein is a great story. What a worker, what a tremendous kid, tremendous family,” Meyer said. “Just tough. I love that group. He's a guy that has really come on. Kyle Dodson has come on. A guy named Darryl Baldwin has come on. Those are all players that a year ago, to think you would ever let them on the field in a situation where it counts, that's not going to happen.
“Darryl Baldwin, he's one of the most improved players on the team. I don't know if I've even mentioned him. What great kid, no maintenance, no nothing, other than just hard working guy that gets great grades and is a wonderful player. Great, great representative of Ohio State.”
Some might scoff at a national title contender having eight freshmen listed on the two-deep. But times have changed. First-year players are needed on even the deepest of teams. Not to mention, Meyer has made possessing freshmen impact players his hallmark.
“Our theory is you don't redshirt, you play,” Meyer said. “We’re not saving them. When we recruit, we tell you you’re going to play. If you don’t play, it’s because you’re not good enough.”
