Folks still clamoring for Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins or even Tate Martell to take the reins as Ohio State's starting quarterback were disappointed when J.T. Barrett was the clear No. 1 at the spot as Urban Meyer's team opened spring practice. Only Barrett and Burrow wore black practice jerseys during the team's first two sessions, Tuesday and Thursday.
The University is on spring break this week, so the football team is also off. Meyer's team reconvenes March 21 for its third practice of the season. Then things really pick up.
Ohio State has 12 more practices scheduled over the next month before its annual spring game, the Saturday before Easter, April 15. That game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.
It is a big spring for the Buckeye offense, which must find some semblance of the downfield passing game that was absent a year ago. New coordinator Kevin Wilson is in the process of becoming inundated with his personnel, while new quarterbacks coach Ryan Day is working with Barrett and the other names listed at the position.
The battle for the backup job will be one to watch as spring wears on but for now, it appears Burrow remains Barrett's understudy. Ohio State also has to replace three starters and potential first-round NFL Draft picks in its secondary, plus the man in the middle of the defense, Raekwon McMillan.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown after one week of practice, plus who we think leads to fill the open slots.
Author's note: Injured players are included even though they are in the middle of rehab and either off to the side during practice or not on the field at all. They are expected to be healthy once fall camp rolls around in August. This list also does not include players set to enroll this June.
Offense
Quarterback: J.T. Barrett (rSr); Joe Burrow (rSo); Dwayne Haskins (rFr); Tate Martell (Fr)
Breakdown: Barrett is the starter — no ifs ands or buts about it. He knows it is now or never for him to take a major step forward under the new offensive leadership but spoke candidly on Thursday about the flack he received following a 31-0 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff.
“If there's somebody out there that's better than me here at Ohio State, then they would be playing,” Barrett said. “But right now I've been a starter for 3 years. I'm doing the best I can. Is it going to be perfect all the time? No.”
Fans want Barrett to be perfect and that starts with proving he can throw the ball down the field with accuracy and fixing the timing with his receivers. Burrow wearing a black jersey means he is next up at least at the start of spring practice, while Dwayne Haskins and early-enrollee Tate Martell are left to battle for leftover snaps. The backup battle is far from over but the personnel in Ohio State's quarterback room for 2017 is already intact.
Running back: Mike Weber (rSo); Antonio Williams (So); J.K. Dobbins (Fr)
Breakdown: This job is Weber's to lose. He started all 13 games a year ago and ran for more than 1,000 yards, only the third freshman ever to do so at Ohio State. The Buckeyes expect him to take a major step forward in Year 2 as the man alongside Barrett.
Williams is next in the pecking order because of age. Another early enrollee eager to show what he can do is J.K. Dobbins, who is a dynamic player that basically didn't play his senior season in Texas because of an ankle injury. Tony Alford called out Williams multiple times on Tuesday for going the wrong way during drills. Is that Dobbins's music? Perhaps. It's still early.
Wild card: Demario McCall. The sophomore worked at running back but also caught passes in practice last week. He looks to have an early lead at replacing Curtis Samuel at H-back, though all the snaps he took a year ago came at running back.
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| QB | J.T. BARRETT |
| RB | MIKE WEBER |
| WR | PARRIS CAMPBELL or BINJIMEN VICTOR |
| WR | TERRY McLAURIN or K.J. HILL |
| H | DEMARIO McCALL |
| TE | MARCUS BAUGH |
| LT | JAMARCO JONES |
| LG | MICHAEL JORDAN |
| C | BILLY PRICE |
| RG | DEMETRIUS KNOX |
| RT | ISAIAH PRINCE |
H-back: Demario McCall (So); Parris Campbell (rJr); K.J. Hill (rSo) OR Eric Glover-Williams (Jr) OR Dobbins
Breakdown: As just previously mentioned, McCall was everywhere during the portion of practice the media was able to watch last week. He is going to be heavily involved this fall, provided he can stay healthy and show the proper ball security that Meyer wants.
During the mini-field portion of practice, Campbell worked almost exclusively as the slot receiver. He made a couple really nice plays on post patterns as well, beaten the nickel corner and catching passes both from Barrett and Burrow. Does that mean he is now an H? We'll learn more as spring moves on but it was clear Meyer enjoyed what he saw in the first week.
Dobbins and Hill are each playmakers. The former may be too dynamic to not to be used somewhere this season. At 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, he has a great frame and is crisp in and out of cuts. Hill will be a key part of the offense somewhere.
A wild card is Glover-Williams. He is extremely shifty, fast and quick in and out of cuts. He beat his man a few times in mini-field last week only to have the ball overthrown by the quarterbacks. A converted safety, where does he fit in?
X-receiver: Campbell; Hill; Binjimen Victor (So)
Breakdown: The wide receivers depth chart is difficult to project because we haven't seen a full team of offense quite yet. In any event, the Buckeyes rotated a ton of bodies on through last year at the spot but outside of the departed Samuel and Noah Brown didn't see that much production.
Campbell and Hill will be involved and Victor showed improved route running to go with his great size at the spot. He flashed his potential at the end of 2016 so he will be involved. The roster said he added about 10 pounds from the end of last season, a welcome sight for Meyer and Zach Smith.
Z-receiver: Terry McLaurin (rJr); Johnnie Dixon (rJr); Austin Mack (So); Brendon White (Fr)
Breakdown: McLaurin made a few catches last week that we saw and Dixon participated in practice without issue. The latter also showed his speed on a deep route but dropped a pass from Barrett. As is always the question, can his knees cooperate so he can do it again when Ohio State returns to practice next week?
Many expect Mack to make strides after playing last year on special teams. White is an early enrollee and only recently converted to wide receiver. Meyer said he will work some at linebacker too this spring but is in Smith's meeting room because the Buckeyes are considerably deep at that position on their defense.
Tight end: Marcus Baugh (rSr); A.J. Alexander (rSo); Luke Farrell (rFr); Jake Hausmann (rFr); Kierre Hawkins (rFr)
Breakdown: Baugh is out this spring after undergoing a procedure on his shoulder in the offseason. The team's leading returning pass catcher, he will start this fall barring any major setbacks.
His absence allows plenty of reps to be available for Alexander and the three players at the position that redshirted in 2016. Farrell was first up on his half of the mini-field drills last week, so that is telling. Alexander remains heavily in the mix after playing in all 13 games last season.
Wilson has five scholarship tight ends to work with — four healthy and at his disposal this spring.
Left tackle: Jamarco Jones (Sr); Branden Bowen (rSo); Kevin Feder (rSo) OR Joshua Alabi (rSo)
Breakdown: A pillar of the offensive line, Jones is in line to start for the second-straight season. Ohio State needs him to be just as good if not better as he was in 2016. If he does that, Jones could become a first-round draft pick in 2018.
Behind him is where things get hairy. Center Billy Price said Joshua Alabi flipped from defensive tackle to offensive tackle and is "killing it right now."
“We switched him from offensive line to defense. Kid's just going,” Price said. “He's playing hard.”
Feder is practicing after missing last year with a foot injury and Bowen played as a blocking tight end briefly in 2016. However, if Ohio State has to resort to considering a converted defensive player as its backup left tackle, that shows you the lack of depth it has up front.
Left guard: Michael Jordan (So); Josh Myers (Fr); Gavin Cupp (rFr)
Breakdown: Jordan's injury in the Fiesta Bowl further proved how dire things are in terms of readily available depth up front at Ohio State when Greg Studrawa inserted the formerly injured Demetrius Knox into the fray. Price said Knox is working to the right of him in the early portions of practice, so more on him in a bit.
Myers is a massive, powerful man that impressed veterans like Price and defensive end Tyquan Lewis both in the weight room this winter and the first two spring sessions. A highly touted player from Miamisburg, Ohio State brought Myers in early in the hopes of contributing right away.
Center: Billy Price (rSr); Brady Taylor (rJr); Jack Wohlabaugh (rFr)
Breakdown: No need to spend too much time here. Price moved over from right guard in an attempt to fill the shoes of 2016 Rimington Trophy winner Pat Elflein. Taylor has been listed on the depth as backup center forever and the Buckeyes signed Wohlabaugh with an eye toward the future at the position.
Right guard: Demetrius Knox (rJr); Matt Burrell (rSo); Cupp
Breakdown: Price's shift to center made right guard the lone place where Ohio State didn't have a returning starter on its offensive line. Knox's entrance into the Fiesta Bowl means he leads to fill it.
“To my right side, Demetrius Knox, the transformation you see, because he and I have been very close over the past three years, four years,” Price said on Thursday. “To see his transformation is just absolutely incredible.”
Price added some telling thoughts about Burrell's first few years at Ohio State, citing various "extracurricular activities" and the "High Street scene" that wasn't part of the fifth-year senior's mindset earlier in his career. But it was for Burrell.
“You know, I told him ‘You gotta close your circle and tighten your circle down because people want to hurt you, people want to take you down. People want to see you mess up and put you on the frontline news. Especially here. Especially here,’” Price said of Burrell. “So I think those conversations … I’ve told him and Matt’s done an excellent job, he’s cleaned up. You’re here now and where do you want to be? So that’s where you have to align your goals.”
Will that translate to playing time? We'll see.
Right tackle: Isaiah Prince (Jr), Malcolm Pridgeon (rJr)
Breakdown: Prince started every game last season after Pridgeon went down with a knee injury in camp. Pridgeon is fully healthy and working out without any restrictions this spring. It is Prince's job, though.
Defense
Defensive end: Sam Hubbard (rJr) OR Jalyn Holmes (Sr); Rashod Berry (rSo); Jonathon Cooper (So)
Breakdown: Ohio State listed Hubbard and Holmes as co-starters all season, so that's why they are written as such here. Both are terrific pass rushers and integral parts to Larry Johnson's rotation. You'll hear that a bunch in this defensive line section.
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| DE | SAM HUBBARD or JALYN HOLMES |
| DT | DRE'MONT JONES or TRACY SPRINKLE |
| DT | MICHAEL HILL |
| DE | TYQUAN LEWIS |
| WLB | JEROME BAKER |
| MLB | CHRIS WORLEY |
| SLB | DANTE BOOKER |
| CB | DAMON ARNETTE |
| S | DAMON WEBB |
| S | ERICK SMITH |
| CB | DENZEL WARD |
Berry showed his freak athleticism by cradling a basketball and throwing it down during the team's impromptu dunk contest on March 1. Cooper appeared to have a right leg/ankle injury during practice last week and spent it off to the side with Tracy Sprinkle and Darius Slade.
Defensive tackle: Dre'Mont Jones (rSo) OR Tracy Sprinkle (rSr); Jashon Cornell (rSo); Malik Barrow (rFr)
Breakdown: Jones blossomed into a star in place of Sprinkle last season, when the latter went down with a patella injury in the season opener against Bowling Green. Ohio State expects Sprinkle back in the mix and healthy this fall.
Cornell also saw time in 2016 but has an uphill climb with so many returners. Barrow redshirted and is the same boat.
Nose tackle: Michael Hill (rSr); Robert Landers (rSo); Davon Hamilton (rSo); Dylan Thompson (rJr)
Breakdown: Hill turned in a fine junior season and Landers burst onto the scene with 7.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Johnson also utilized Hamilton in an effort to keep guys fresh. He will do that again this fall with so much talent back in the fold.
And it is pretty obvious it is now or never for Thompson's career.
Defensive end: Tyquan Lewis (rSr); Nick Bosa (So); Darius Slade (rJr)
Breakdown: How ridiculous is Ohio State's defensive line depth? It has a Bosa on it and he doesn't even start.
Lewis was named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 and chose to return for a fifth season. A team captain, he is crucial for Ohio State this fall. Bosa will be too and played last year mostly in the Rushmen package of four defensive ends on passing downs. Slade tore his Achilles in training camp.
WILL linebacker: Jerome Baker (Jr); Keandre Jones (So); Tuf Borland (rFr)
Breakdown: Baker stepped in for Dante Booker after he went down with an injury early in the year. Then, Baker became a star. He is the man again at the spot.
MIKE linebacker: Chris Worley (rSr); Justin Hilliard (rSo)
Breakdown: One of the bigger pieces of news out of the first week was Urban Meyer saying Worley shifted from outside linebacker to the middle to replace Raekwon McMillan. That is where this spot stands — for now.
Hilliard is coming off of his second biceps tear in as many seasons.
SAM linebacker: Dante Booker (rJr); Nick Conner (rSo) OR Malik Harrison (So)
Breakdown: Worley's move to the middle inserted Booker back to the lineup after Ohio State elected to medically redshirt him in 2016 following his injury and the rise of Baker. Harrison showed some promise on special teams as a true freshman. Conner is in his third year in the program.
Cornerback: Damon Arnette (rSo); Kendall Sheffield (rSo); Joshua Norwood (rSo); Shaun Wade (Fr) OR Marcus Williamson (Fr)
Breakdown: Arnette took the first reps in mini-field portion of practice opposite of Denzel Ward at corner. But junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield is already enrolled at Ohio State for a reason. He will play this fall.
Ohio State brought in an incredible wave of talent in place of Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore. It is still too early to see how it all fits.
Safety: Damon Webb (Sr); Jordan Fuller (So); Isaiah Pryor (Fr)
Breakdown: Webb is the lone returning starter in the secondary, so his spot is all but secure. Fuller is pushing for playing time — could he possibly start at the other safety spot?
Safety: Erick Smith (Sr); Jahsen Wint (rFr); Wayne Davis (rFr)
Breakdown: This is another spot up for grabs this spring. Smith waited his turn behind Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell then went down with an ACL injury in 2015. Can he fend off the younger guys for the job? He is the front-runner for now.
Cornerback: Denzel Ward (Jr); Jeffrey Okudah (Fr); Rodjay Burns (So)
Breakdown: Ward is the guy here, as he was listed as a co-starter with Marshon Lattimore all last season. Okudah is the highest rated recruit in the 2017 class. Burns has a pick-six to his name. Ohio State wants to play at least three corners on some sort of rotation, four if it feels it has the bodies.
Game on.
