While Urban Meyer enjoys an embarrassment of riches at numerous position groups on both sides of the ball, the interior defensive line sticks out as a legit concern thanks to the departure of Michael Bennett.
During past spring camps, Meyer has made it a point to voice his displeasure with groups such as the wide receivers and linebackers. This year, the defensive line is squarely in his crosshairs.
Technically speaking, replacing Bennett has already occurred as Adolphus Washington will fill the three-technique spot meaning the real opening is at nose guard, a position Washington swapped with Bennett in the week leading up to Ohio State's convincing win at Michigan State.
With Washington set to get his chance as the primary playmaker on the interior, the Buckeyes must find a quality running mate who can chew up double teams for the betterment of not just Washington but the linebackers who count on a nose guard to often occupy multiple blockers so they can roam free.
No less than three or four guys have a legit chance to log the most snaps at nose guard so the competition for playing time should be fierce.
It's hard to pinpoint a true leading candidate for starting nose guard duties but the most mentioned names are Tommy Schutt and Donovan Munger with Joel Hale and Michael Hill also in the mix.
Schutt is a former five-star recruit, and at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, the senior has the size the staff is looking for. Unfortunately, Schutt has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. After his 2013 season got a late start due to a broken foot suffered near the end of fall camp, Schutt played in 12 games last year recording 10 stops. The word is that Schutt has the talent to emerge as the starter, but inconsistency has been a bit of a calling card during his career, leading to frustration among the staff. This spring, at least, Meyer seems to be feeling Schutt a little more as he recently touted the senior's weight loss and motor.
Munger's name is generating plenty of buzz and that's understandable when you consider he was the only reserve interior defensive lineman the staff trusted with playing time in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
That fact makes a pretty clear case Munger was the top backup toward the end of last season and if he can carry that momentum forward, the 6-foot-4, 306-pound redshirt sophomore could very well start when the Buckeyes take Virginia Tech behind the woodshed on Sept. 7.
The most interesting aspect of the nose guard battle is whether or not 6-foot-4, 310-pound senior Joel Hale can make a legit push for the starting nod. Last spring, Hale voluntarily switched to offensive line (eventually earning a medical redshirt) after starting 11 games at nose guard in 2013 and tallying 10 stops. Now, Hale is once again lining up on the defensive side and has the size for the position and certainly the experience. Whether or not he will be able to regain form and offer meaningful depth will be interesting to watch.
Hill, a redshirt sophomore, is a monster at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, but played in just four games last year at a time when the staff was begging for someone to step up. The South Carolina product might be more of a long shot but there's obviously talent to work with as schools like Alabama, Florida, LSU and the Gamecocks also vied for his services.
Meyer and company are focused on establishing more depth along the defensive front this season. The reality is that a clear-cut front runner isn't likely to emerge in spring drills, and it's very possible the battle to be the starting nose guard could last beyond fall camp and into the opening weeks of the season. While the nose guard position may not be a sexy one, there's no debating the importance of having someone who can act as an anchor taking on blockers to free up teammates to make stops.
How effectively one of these guys or a combo of them can fill the nose guard responsibilities will be a key factor as Ohio State looks to repeat as national champions.
