Raekwon McMillan was a true freshman standout on the 2014 national championship squad. Last year, he was the middle linebacker and leading tackler on an experienced and championship-tested unit.
In 2016, he will be the last remnant of the 2014 season at the linebacker position. Position battles to replace the departed players in the unit should be the most interesting of any position battle this spring and summer.
New faces, many of them freshmen, will surround McMillan on the depth chart at this position. Those that are not freshmen will nevertheless be new faces on defense after starting their careers as regulars on special teams.
This feature explores the likely depth chart at linebacker and provides a preliminary glimpse to what fans can expect from these players in 2016.
| Name | Class | Height | Weight | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dante Booker | JR | 6-3 | 233 | 2015: 22 tackles, 1 TFL |
| Justin Hilliard | FR | 6-1 | 230 | Redshirt freshman |
| Raekwon McMillan | JR | 6-2 | 240 | 2015: 119 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks |
| Nick Conner | FR | 6-3 | 230 | Redshirt freshman |
| Chris Worley | JR | 6-2 | 225 | 2015: 17 tackles, 1.5 TFLs |
| Jerome Baker | SO | 6-1 | 215 | 2015: 3 tackles |
We start with Nick Conner, who will likely back up Raekwon McMillan this year.
Ohio State fans should already know of Nick Conner. He enrolled this time last year after graduating early from Dublin Scioto High School. He looked like an immediate contributor for his first few months on campus. He even led all players in the spring game with seven tackles. He had an interception and forced fumble as well.
Injuries cost Nick Conner a chance at playing as a true freshman. He made the travel roster for Indiana. He could've made his way to the field on special teams. However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first week of October.
All signs point to a good recovery and a No. 2 spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker.
Position battles at the two other linebacker positions will make for interesting discussion among Ohio State fans this spring and summer. They might be the most interesting of any of the position battles on the 2016 team.
Chris Worley is the preliminary favorite right now, but second-year player Jerome Baker will challenge him for a starting spot.
Worley will be in his fourth year in the program after redshirting the 2013 season. Fans may forget that he actually started his first career appearance (against Navy in 2014). He recorded five total tackles (four solo) and played 52 of Ohio State's defensive snaps in that contest.
However, his role transitioned to special teams through the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He'll aspire to earn a starting spot as a redshirt junior.
Jerome Baker will challenge him for that honor. Baker was one of just four true freshmen to play last season, a distinction which Baker hopes will propel him to a dedicated spot on the defense's starting 11. He finished 2015 with three solo tackles over the team's final seven games.
Baker and Worley have similar body types, though the 6-foot-2 and 225-pound Worley has an inch and 10 pounds on Baker, at least according to Ohio State's official roster. Both will aspire to serve in roles similar to what Darron Lee did for his two years as a starter.
Worley may be a preliminary favorite for the position, but Luke Fickell is optimistic about what Baker can do in his linebacker rotation. Fickell added he will also be demanding of Baker this spring. Fickell noted that Baker will probably get 1,000 reps at linebacker this spring. Basically, he wants Baker to make the most of his opportunity.
If he does, the position battle between Worley and Baker could be that much more interesting.
| Name | Class | Height | Weight | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Berger | SO | 6-2 | 230 | Rehabbing second ACL tear |
| Tuf Borland | FR | 6-2 | 225 | True freshman (early enrollee) |
| Joe Burger | SR | 6-2 | 230 | 2015: 1 tackle |
| Craig Fada | SR | 6-1 | 230 | 2015: 5 tackles |
| Keandre Jones | FR | 6-3 | 198 | True freshman |
The other position battle looks to pit another junior against another 2015 signee. Dante Booker, like Chris Worley, may be the tentative favorite to start alongside Raekwon McMillan. However, he'll have to hold off Justin Hilliard this spring and summer.
Booker, a true junior from Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary program, played mostly special teams a true freshman. He even totaled 21 plays against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Last season, he finished with 14 solo tackles (22 total) in 12 game appearances, though special teams constituted the lion's share of his participation.
The 6-foot-2 and 233-pound Booker has the frame to match the kind of linebacker play that Josh Perry delivered for the past few years in Columbus. Luke Fickell even added that Booker would be a starting linebacker if Ohio State had to play a game today.
Justin Hilliard will be his likely challenger for that spot. Hilliard redshirted last year. A bicep injury effectively cost Hilliard a chance to play as a true freshman. While fans may not have seen much film of Hilliard, Luke Fickell has the same level optimism for him as he does Jerome Baker.
The bicep injury may mean there is greater distance between Booker and Hilliard than there is Worley and Baker. Coaches and fans do not know of Hilliard's availability this spring while he recuperates.
Jerome Baker, Dante Booker, Nick Conner, Justin Hilliard, Raekwon McMillan, and Chris Worley constitute the set of names we expect to round out the depth chart at linebacker to start the 2016 season. Still others could factor into the linebacker picture this fall.
Fickell suggested Joe Burger and Craig Fada were two players that could provide depth at the position. At least, Fickell said he would have no qualms playing them if they beat their competition into the depth chart. Both seniors are walk-ons who were recently placed on scholarship.
Kyle Berger remains an option as well. Berger was a 2014 signee who has yet to see the field. He currently is recuperating from a second ACL tear.
True freshmen may round out the depth chart too provided at least one of the signees makes an impression this summer. Tuf Borland is already enrolled and is better positioned to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff. Keandre Jones is a well-regarded prospect from Maryland who was just added to this class. He could make an impression in the summer.
However, recent history suggests that Borland or Jones might play special teams exclusively if they see the field at all this coming season.
The names on the depth chart at linebacker are already set. The order may vary. We know Raekwon McMillan will start at middle linebacker and expect Nick Conner to provide depth behind him. The other two linebacker positions will feature interesting position battles between juniors and second-year players in what should be the most interesting camp battles before the season begins.
