Ohio State will need to replace some key contributors on defense in 2017. None loom larger than Raekwon McMillan's replacement at middle linebacker.
McMillan's ascent to middle linebacker since his arrival in 2014 was organic. He was a day-one contributor to the 2014 national championship squad as Curtis Grant's backup. Grant's departure after the season made McMillan the natural successor. He was arguably the focal point of the defense for the past two years.
The succession plan for 2017 is less obvious. There's no clear heir apparent like there was in 2015. McMillan's backup at the end of the 2016 season was Craig Fada, a walk-on and a graduated senior. McMillan's replacement will be one of the bigger stories of the off-season.
Dante Booker is the first pick that practically all observers put forward as McMillan's replacement even if his path to the position was less obvious than McMillan's path in 2015. Booker started 2016 as Ohio State's weakside linebacker before a knee injury suffered in the season-opener eventually sidelined him for the whole year. Ohio State hasn't broadcasted if he would get a redshirt from this injury, but he qualifies. Importantly, his return to the field will likely see him playing in the middle.
| Name | Class | HT/WT | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dante Booker | Rs. JR | 6-3/236 | Akron, OH |
| Tuf Borland | Rs. FR | 6-1/228 | Bolingbrook, IL |
| Baron Browning | FR | 6-2/229 | Kennedale, TX |
| Nick Conner | Rs. SO | 6-3/232 | Dublin, OH |
| Justin Hilliard | Rs. SO | 6-1/230 | Cincinnati, OH |
| Pete Werner | FR | 6-3/220 | Mount Vernon, IN |
This will be a change for Booker. He started at weakside linebacker as a testament to his speed on the edge. However, Jerome Baker capably substituted for him and is a sure starter in 2017. Chris Worley will assuredly start at the other spot. Booker is one of the top three linebackers on the roster, which means middle linebacker remains.
However, Booker's path to that position would require Booker to demonstrate something we had not seen from him in his three years on campus. Middle linebacker is a more physical position than the other outside linebacker positions. Booker is a capable tackler, but "physicality" is not necessarily his strong suit.
Justin Hilliard is always the second mention among the options at middle linebacker. He too will return from an injury suffered early last season that cost him the entire campaign.
He would also make a position switch inside. Hilliard was a backup weakside linebacker last season as a redshirt freshman.
We know less about Hilliard than we do about Booker even if Booker incurred his season-ending injury earlier into 2016 than Hilliard. Hilliard suffered a slew of injuries his first year on campus, prominently to his bicep, that ultimately led to an injury-induced redshirt in 2015. Most of what we saw from Hilliard last year came on special teams.
The safest projection about Hilliard's ascent to starting middle linebacker is it would be a mid-camp development. Hilliard is another option with a realistic path to the position even if Booker might enter camp ahead of him on the depth chart.
Names beyond those two amount to a wild guess about Raekwon McMillan's replacement, and all would be practically a new face Ohio State fans had not yet seen in earnest.
Nick Conner is the first name mentioned in this feature that is a true middle linebacker. Conner is a class of 2015 signee that enrolled early from Dublin Scioto. Ohio State fans may remember him having a solid debut in the 2015 spring game. He redshirted his first year on campus and was largely unnoticed as a redshirt freshman in 2016.
Tuf Borland followed a similar path as a 2016 signee. He enrolled early from Bolingbrook, Illinois but redshirted in 2016. His path to the field may start as a special teams contributor. He's a long shot at the moment to secure a starting linebacker spot.
Baron Browning enrolled as arguably Urban Meyer's best linebacker signee for his tenure at Ohio State.
Ohio State is on track to sign two freshmen in 2017 that could secure the starting middle linebacker spot. Baron Browning is the name most likely to excite. Browning is a five-star prospect from Kennedale, Texas and the the No. 11 overall recruit in the country regardless of position. He also happens to be the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the country. Browning is already on campus with the hopes of working toward a path to the field in the next nine months.
Pete Werner committed to Ohio State in December after a previous stint as a verbal pledge to Notre Dame. The No. 16 outside linebacker will work toward a starting spot as a true freshman, but will encounter several names ahead of him on the depth chart. A redshirt seems more likely.
Ohio State will need to replace a lot of playmakers on defense, but none may be a bigger question for the team than who replaces Raekwon McMillan. McMillan was arguably the focal point of the defense in 2015 and 2016 after the 2014 season made him the clear heir apparent to Curtis Grant.
The succession plan is less clear in 2017. Fans should hope it becomes clearer in the spring and summer.
