Last February, the Buckeyes signed the country's third-ranked recruiting class, dubbed the "Dream '14" by its members. The 24 man class featured seven early enrollees and a number of contributors in Ohio State's eighth national championship season.
THE KEY PIECES
While the class of 2013 earned most of the accolades for the Buckeyes during their national championship run, the uber-talented "Dream '14" had a number of key contributors to the Buckeyes' success. The player who provided the biggest boost in 2014? Kicker Sean Nuernberger. Nuernberger, from Oldham County High School in Buckner, Kentucky, led the Buckeyes in scoring and finished fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 points per contest. He was a perfect 89-89 on extra points and was 13-20 on field goal attempts and had a season-best 49-yard field goal in the season's toughest environment: at night in Happy Valley in October.
Beyond the kicker, the largest immediate impact from 2014's recruiting class came from the group's biggest name: Hinesville, Georgia five-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan. When the Ohio State defense struggled early in the season to find an identity, McMillan was thrust into playing time early and often and did an excellent job when called upon. The Liberty County High School product finished eighth on the Buckeyes in tackles (30) and sixth in tackles for loss with 6.5. He had one interception as a freshman — at Maryland — and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. He also added 2.5 sacks and his play against Oregon in the national championship game might have been his most complete performance.
Freshman wide receiver Noah Brown.
On the offensive side of the football, running back Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown each recorded significant playing time as freshmen. Samuel scored six touchdowns on the ground and averaged 6.6 yards a carry, good for 383 yards, third-best on the team in 2014. Samuel, who started in Ohio State's home game against Illinois, also collected 11 receptions in the passing game and returned 20 kickoffs throughout the season, averaging just over 20 yards per return.
Although he was not often involved in the Buckeyes' passing game, Noah Brown became a regular in Tom Herman and Urban Meyer's offense because of his ability to block in the running game. Brown played in eleven games but only had one catch, a nine-yard grab against the Fighting Illini. He also had one carry on the season, a four-yard loss against Bama in the Sugar Bowl. Expect the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Brown to get a bit more time at tight end next season
THE CONTRIBUTORS
While Nuernberger, McMillan, Samuel and Brown saw more of the football field than their freshman peers, a number of other players were valuable cogs for the Buckeyes, especially on special teams. The Ohio State "piranhas" — the ferocious kick return defenders — featured a number of freshman but none more visible than Cleveland Glenville safety Erick Smith. Smith recorded 13 tackles in 12 games played and had an interception in Ohio State's early season beatdown of Kent State.
Norfolk, Virginia defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes definitely looked the part of a big-time Big Ten defensive end and his raw athletic ability got him on the field quite a bit as a freshman. In nine games, Holmes recorded 11 tackles including six solos and was credited for one tackle for loss on the year. At a lean 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Holmes is a player the Buckeyes believe can be a major piece of the Silver Bullets moving in to 2015 and beyond.
Damon Webb, another highly-ranked defensive back, didn't make much of a dent in Ohio State's improving secondary, but he and linebacker Dante Booker each played an important role on Ohio State's kickoff and punt return teams. Webb saw the field in nine games for the Buckeyes and had three tackles: he forced a fumble playing cornerback against Rutgers and broke up a pass against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.
Booker, a five star linebacker from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary's, played in 11 games for Ohio State and had seven tackles on the season. He's likely to become an integral part of the Buckeye defense in 2015 at linebacker.
Two members of Ohio State's five-man offensive line haul saw action in 2014. Chicago's Jamarco Jones, who played in five games for Ed Warinner's group. Jones, who can line up at either tackle position, is an early leader in the clubhouse to take over the starting spot that will be vacated by Darryl Baldwin's graduation. Marcelys Jones, the first commit in the 2014 recruiting class, enrolled early and saw early playing time. Jones, perhaps the most talented player in the entire group, could be an All-American according to Ohio State sources if he were willing to maintain a commitment to his craft.
THE INJURED
One of the underlying themes for the Buckeyes' third-ranked 2014 recruiting class was the injury bug, which cost a handful of "Dream" members their chance at playing in 2014.
Kyle Berger, a four-star linebacker from Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, suffered a second torn ACL (originally injured prior to his senior year in high school) and is still rehabbing, hoping to make an impact in 2015. Lombard, Illinois defensive lineman also was hit twice by the same injury, suffering a broken kneecap in the preseason and once again as Ohio State approached the postseason.
Marshon Lattimore, the high school teammate of Erick Smith at Glenville, was regarded by many as a sleeper choice to start opposite Doran Grant in Ohio State's secondary this past year before he was sidelined with a torn ACL of his own.
Four-star wide receiver Johnnie Dixon, who saw his first action of the season against Kent State, was sidelined after that contest with tendonitis-related issues in both of his knees. The Florida native did not catch any passes this season but did carry the ball four times before his season ended prematurely.
Darius Slade, the last member of Ohio State's 2014 recruiting class, was slowed early in the season by a broken toe on his right foot, which kept him from being able to contribute. Bishop Ready (Columbus, Ohio) lineman Brady Taylor tore his labrum and was sidelined the entire season as he recuperated from that injury.
The youngest member of the "Dream '14" is Akron-native Parris Campbell, who — although he likely would not have played this season anyway due to Ohio State's depth and his need to get stronger physically — also missed significant time due to a shoulder injury that required surgery in early December.
THE REDSHIRTS
As many of the 2014 class recover from injury with the hopes of making an impression in 2015 and after, the non-injured-but-redshirted group possesses just as much as talent as anyone.
Redshirt freshman QB Stephen Collier.
Cincinnati Moeller defensive end/linebacker Sam Hubbard was a fan and coach favorite in 2014 and no matter what position he lines up at next year, he's expected to become a household name among the Scarlet and Gray. Fort Worth product Demetrius Knox, an offensive guard who many thought would challenge for playing time in 2014, is someone that Buckeye coaches think can and will become a regular in the rotation starting next season, much like redshirt freshman guard Billy Price did this past year.
Quarterback Stephen Collier became a popular guy as the season wore on and the Buckeyes' utilized the Georgia freshman in the role of Alabama's Blake Sims and Oregon's Marcus Mariota. Collier, cerebral and athletic, worked tirelessly from the moment he arrived on campus last January and has become a well-liked and respected member in the quarterback room.
Malik Hooker, Terry McLaurin and Kyle Trout each redshirted and remain firmly entrenched Ohio State's future plans. Hooker, the rangy safety from New Castle, Pennsylvania, is likely to be very active on special teams next fall and McLaurin and Trout will fight for time in the two-deep. McLaurin is a possible replacement for Devin Smith as the Buckeye offense will look for field-stretching wide receivers, an area where the Indianapolis native excels.
Ohio State's 2014 recruiting — with a national title under their collective belts — has gotten off to an incredible start. The story is just being written, but it's clear that this group, as tight as any in recent history, will be a a big part of the Buckeyes' long-term success.
