Chew on this for a moment: Ohio State could have eight starters this fall who are redshirt seniors on scholarship. That many players — that many contributors — in that specific demographic are relatively rare during the Urban Meyer era in Columbus.
The eight members of the 2013 recruiting class expected to return to school for a fifth season to lead the Buckeyes in their pursuit of a Big Ten and national championship:
- QUARTERBACK J.T. BARRETT
- WIDE RECEIVER JAMES CLARK
- TIGHT END MARCUS BAUGH
- CENTER BILLY PRICE
- DEFENSIVE END TYQUAN LEWIS
- DEFENSIVE TACKLE TRACY SPRINKLE
- DEFENSIVE TACKLE MIKE HILL
- LINEBACKER CHRIS WORLEY
All eight played considerable snaps in Ohio State's 2016 season when the Buckeyes went 11-2 and made the College Football Playoff, save for Sprinkle, who suffered a patella injury against Bowling Green in the opener that knocked him out for the year. A medical redshirt has him back for 2016 for his fifth year, though he has two years of eligibility left. We list him here because he must apply for a sixth year to be part of the 2018 Buckeyes at the end of next season.
Barrett, Baugh, Hill, Lewis, Price and Worley started all 13 games last season. The chances for that to happen again this fall are extremely high, barring an unforeseen injury. Sprinkle would have probably done the same had he stayed healthy, though he will have his hands full to take the starting job back from Dre'Mont Jones. However, Larry Johnson loves to rotate a bevy of performers on his defensive line, something Sprinkle assuredly will be a part of this fall.
Clark only managed six catches for 47 yards in 2016 but played in all 13 games. He has one year of eligibility remaining, the lone scholarship senior wide receiver on the roster.
The high number of fifth-year seniors on scholarship in line to be integral parts to what Ohio State does in 2017 is the same number of the last two years combined, provided you do not count wide receiver Corey Smith twice. Smith returned for a fifth season two years ago, then was awarded a medical redshirt and played this past season after he broke his leg against Indiana on Oct. 3, 2015.
This makes some sense, however, considering the recent high number of early entrants to the NFL Draft from Ohio State. Nine guys left after the 2015 season, while another six did this winter. The 15 combined players are more than any other program the last two years.
Each guy would not have been a fifth-year senior had they elected to return to school — but you get the point. Those that would have from the last two years: Tyvis Powell, Michael Thomas, Cardale Jones and Gareon Conley.
Below is a rundown of the players on scholarship that came back to Ohio State for a fifth year during Meyer's first five seasons. These are guys that were offered scholarships in high school either by Meyer or a prior regime and played as fifth-year seniors. Corey Smith transferred in from East Mississippi Community College ahead of the 2013 season:
| SEASON | PLAYERS |
|---|---|
| 2012 |
LB Etienne Sabino, DB Travis Howard, TE/WR Jake Stoneburner, DB Zach Domicone, P/K Ben Buchanan DB Orhian Johnson, DE Nathan Williams, DT Garrett Goebel |
| 2013 | DB Corey "Pitt" Brown, DB C.J. Barnett, RB Jordan Hall, QB Kenny Guiton, DB Jamie Wood, C Corey Linsley, OL Jack Mewhort, OL Marcus Hall, WR Chris Fields |
| 2014 | RB Rod Smith, TE J.T. Moore, OL Darryl Baldwin |
| 2015 | H-Back Braxton Miller, OL/DL Joel Hale, OL Chase Farris, TE Nick Vannett, WR Corey Smith* |
| 2016 | RB Bri'onte Dunn, C Pat Elflein, WR Corey Smith* |
| 2017 |
TE Marcus Baugh, QB J.T. Barrett, C Billy Price, DT Mike Hill, DT Tracy Sprinkle*, WR James Clark, DE Tyquan Lewis, LB Chris Worley |
A bevy of players from the chart did not finish or even start their fifth-year senior seasons for a variety of reasons. Some were medically disqualified, like Jamie Wood (shoulder) from the 2013 team, J.T. Moore (knee) from 2014 and Devan Bogard (knee) from this past season. They remained involved with the program in some capacity as they earned their degrees through their fifth years.
Meyer kicked running backs Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith off the team either before or during their respective final seasons. As stated above, Corey Smith received a sixth year of eligibility after he broke his leg at Indiana in October 2015. That is why he is listed twice.
There are a few players that walked onto the team and were eventually awarded a scholarship not on the chart. Linebackers Joe Burger and Craig Fada did that and just completed their fifth seasons, while longsnapper George Makridis was a redshirt senior and on scholarship in 2013.
Jarrod Barnes transferred to Ohio State from Louisville ahead of the 2015 season. Now a Ph.D. candidate, Barnes was a reserve safety in 2016.
With all of that in mind, it is clear the 2017 fifth-year seniors are really only rivaled in terms of on-field production by the 2013 group. All nine players in 2013 started at some point during their careers and played considerable minutes as redshirt seniors.
What is different with the 2017 group is how many guys we already know will be penciled in as starters when spring practice opens next month. Of the eight, only Clark and Sprinkle probably won't be, though the latter will certainly be in the discussion.
Some players choose to return for a fifth year because they are not looked at as draft picks and intend to try and improve their stock. Some just don't want to leave college yet. Others, like in 2012, could have wanted to be part of the new regime after a down 2011 season. The year after, the nine listed likely wanted a shot at competing for the Big Ten and national championship with a bowl ban lifted.
The exodus of players after the 2015 season left a smaller amount of seniors this past year, as you already know. In that class — redshirt or not — only Pat Elflein started every game, though you could count punter Cameron Johnston.
The way Ohio State's season ended played into the minds of multiple players that had to decide if they wanted to play a fifth year in Columbus. A 31-0 loss to Clemson, coupled with changes in the coaching staff, served as worthwhile catalysts for returns.
“I just think there was unfinished business with a lot of guys. None of us liked the way we went out. You can’t leave on a mark like that,” Price said. “You leave your legacy with your last game playing with Ohio State and just the way we went out is not acceptable to a lot of the guys who are coming back.”
Added Lewis: “Something that I had to do, something I chose to do because it was for the better of me and the better of everything overall. Had a real, real bad feeling in my stomach and it was just, that game just didn’t sit well.”
Price and Lewis likely would have been draft picks had they decided to go that route. Barrett could have too, though his stock isn't as high.
“I was just sitting there. I prayed about it, stayed close with the group of people that I rely on. It wasn't crazy stressful,” Barrett said. “At first, I was kind of stressing about it but then I was like, 'J.T., a lot of people can't say they have this problem. So let's relax a little.'”
The seniors aren't relaxing much with winter workouts in full swing at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. When spring drills open and fall camp follows, however, there is set to be an extremely seasoned group for Meyer to work with.
“One of those things that I had a chance to go to the NFL or I could come back for a fifth year and play with my brothers again and go after a national championship,” Barrett said.
