Urban Meyer Updates Ohio State Depth Chart With 2017 Spring Game in Plain View

A top priority of every set of spring practices for Urban Meyer is to leave them with some sort of idea for a two-deep for the next edition of his Ohio State football program. On Tuesday, the head coach gave reporters a glance at the details of the progress to reach that goal.

Unlike last season, the Buckeyes have a wide range of starters back in the fold ahead of their 2017 slate. A bunch of guys missed spring practice last year with injuries and Ohio State returned just six starters after an NFL exodus. A similar thing happened this past winter but not nearly on the same scale.

Meyer gave a position-by-position rundown on Tuesday. Below is where things stand with nine practices in the books and just 11 days between Ohio State and its annual spring game at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff on April 15 is set for 12:30 p.m.

OFFENSE

Quarterback: J.T. Barrett (rSr); Joe Burrow (rSo); Dwayne Haskins (rFr); Tate Martell (Fr)

Breakdown: Barrett is the unquestioned starter at quarterback but the battle to be his backup has picked up in recent weeks. Last Thursday, Dwayne Haskins was seen wearing a black, non-contact jersey like Barrett and Joe Burrow. It was the first time reporters saw him wearing black. Meyer said Burrow remains ahead of both Haskins and Tate Martell but the latter two "are both getting reps." Martell had his best day of spring on Saturday during the team's scrimmage.

Running back: Mike Weber (rSo); Demario McCall (So) OR J.K. Dobbins (Fr); Antonio Williams (So)

Breakdown: Much like the position above, running back has a strong, set starter in Mike Weber. Meyer: "He's having an exceptional spring. It's about where he should be." J.K. Dobbins flew passed Antonio Williams on the depth chart a week ago and is locked up with Demario McCall in the fight to be Weber's backup. Meyer said Dobbins rolled his ankle in practice on Tuesday but will be fine, while Williams hasn't had opportunities this spring due to a hamstring injury.

Wide receiver: Parris Campbell (rJr); Terry McLaurin (rJr); K.J. Hill (rSo); Binjimen Victor (So); Austin Mack (So); Johnnie Dixon (rJr)

Breakdown: Zach Smith's position group needs to take a considerable jump with Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown onto the NFL. Here is what Meyer said on Tuesday about it: “Parris, Terry's having an excellent spring. Ben Victor, he's got a little sore shoulder so he wasn't as active today but he's coming on. Austin Mack has a little hamstring but he's coming on. K.J. Hill's had a very good spring. Johnnie Dixon's competing his tail off for playing time.”

Tight end: Marcus Baugh (rSr); A.J. Alexander (rSo); Luke Farrell (rFr); Jake Hausmann (rFr); Kierre Hawkins (rFr)

Breakdown: Baugh's offseason shoulder procedure has relegated him to running laps at practice this spring. As a fifth-year senior, though, he likely wouldn't do much anyways even if he was healthy. Meyer said on Tuesday that Alexander is "really coming on" and Farrell is ahead of Hausmann, though "they're both very comparable." New tight ends coach Kevin Wilson must be doing something right, as Meyer called this position the most improved position on the team. He did not, however, mention Hawkins on Tuesday. Last week, Hawkins was not seen at practice for what the head coach said was "academic stuff."

Offensive line (L to R): Jamarco Jones (Sr); Michael Jordan (So); Billy Price (rSr); Demetrius Knox (rJr); Isaiah Prince (Jr)

Breakdown: Knox being firmly at right guard is the biggest news here, as that is the lone position up front that did not have a returning starter from the 2016 club. Billy Price moved over to center to replace Pat Elflein, which left that spot vacant. Meyer said he is "very pleased" with where Ohio State is right now on the offensive line, though that does not include the backups: “Still not where we need to be in the twos — nowhere close. Wish you could get a little more competition out of those guys but it's not happening yet.” Meyer called guard Matt Burrell "probably one of the most improved offensive linement at this point" and Malcolm Pridgeon continues to learn the offense. He didn't mention any other names.

DEFENSE

Defensive line (L to R): Tyquan Lewis (rSr); Dre'Mont Jones (rSo); Mike Hill (rSr); Sam Hubbard (rJr) OR Jalyn Holmes (Sr)

Breakdown:  To no surprise, Meyer called Larry Johnson's group "the strength of our team." Considering the unit lost no one to the NFL or graduation and is in line to return senior Tracy Sprinkle from a knee injury, that makes sense. Meyer called Lewis, Hubbard, Holmes and sophomore Nick Bosa "elite players" and it sounds like the Buckeyes are trying to figure out ways to get all that talent on the field ahead of kickoff in their season opener on Aug. 31 at Indiana: “We have five premiere [players] in my mind with four defensive ends and Dre’Mont Jones that I’d like to see all five on the field at one time. Coaches like to say you hold checkers. You have five really good checkers right there so play them all at once.” Dre'Mont Jones is "turning into a fine player" for Ohio State and the hope is Sprinkle — the "X-factor," per Meyer — can return and provide depth. Meyer also mentioned Robert Landers and Mike Hill. Jonathon Cooper hasn't practiced much due to a hamstring injury and Davon Hamilton is out with a broken foot. But the Buckeyes are incredibly deep, especially at end: “Defensive end, we'll be as good as anybody in America at defensive end.”

Linebacker: WILL: Jerome Baker (Jr); MIKE: Chris Worley (rSr); SAM: Dante Booker (rJr)

Breakdown: Worley slid to middle to get Booker back on the field after an injury early last year coupled with Baker's rise knocked him out for the season. Two young linebackers are out with shoulder injuries, Baron Browning and Malik Harrison, but Meyer said on Tuesday each will play this fall. Justin Hilliard is "making a little bit of a push" according to Meyer.

Cornerback: Denzel Ward (Jr); Damon Arnette (rSo) OR Kendall Sheffield (rSo)

Breakdown: Ohio State lost three players in the secondary to the NFL, including projected first-round picks at corner in Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore. Kerry Coombs's effort to reload starts with Denzel Ward, a junior college transfer in Kendall Sheffield, a guy who started as 2016's nickel corner in Damon Arnette and a horde of top talent. Meyer didn't mention Jeffrey Okudah, Marcus Williamson or Shaun Wade by name but said this: “There are four freshmen that are competing with Denzel Ward and Damon Arnette. Damon Arnette has had an excellent spring and so has Denzel.” He likely meant the fourth freshman as Amir Riep, who enrolls this summer.

Safety: Damon Webb (Sr); Erick Smith (Sr) OR Jordan Fuller (So)

Breakdown: Webb said last week that Greg Schiano has him fighting for his starting position just like everyone else at safety even though he is the only returning starter in the secondary. Yet Meyer mentioned the three listed above by name on Tuesday: “Damon Webb is a much-improved player than he was before the spring. His weight's down. He's doing very well. The other position is still a toss up. Erick Smith's doing fine. He's gotta keep coming. Jordan Fuller is in the hunt for that as well.”

Kicker, Punter:  Sean Nuernberger (Sr); Drue Chrisman (So)

Breakdown: It sounds like the kicking job is Nuernberger's — for now. He'll have to fend off incoming freshman Blake Haubeil from New York, the No. 2 kicker in the country in the class of 2017 that is set to enroll in June: “He'll be here in the summer to compete. Sean, we're going to have the field goal [Wednesday]. We had one. He's OK. It's not like it's his spot. He worked really hard. In much better shape than he's ever been in so we'll see at the end of spring. He gets to do it in front of 100,000 here pretty soon.”