For good reason, returning players like Cardale Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, Joey Bosa, Vonn Bell and Darron Lee along with departing seniors such as Michael Bennett and Devin Smith have basked in the bulk of the glory following Ohio State's seemingly improbable run to the national championship.
While those names certainly deserve their due, a considerable amount of returning players made legit contributions to the championship run but for various reasons they haven't gotten the same publicity.
Because Urban Meyer has stockpiled so much talent, the number of returning contributors that don't typically garner a lot of media attention is many. Among that group, four players in particular stand out not just for the impact they had on this year's title run but for how this year's experience likely primed them for even more production and notoriety next fall.
BILLY PRICE
A first-year starter for the Buckeyes at left guard, Billy Price had his struggles, especially early in the season and mostly in pass protection but by the end of the season, Ed Warinner had molded the redshirt freshman into a key member of the slobs.
Unbeknownst to some, Price's efforts up front were even more notable considering he came to Ohio State with the intent of playing defensive tackle. At his request, Price switched sides of the ball during fall camp of his redshirt season and the move proved to be of huge importance for both the Austintown Fitch product and Ohio State's rebuilt offensive line.
The strongest guy on the team, the 6'4", 312 lbs Price helped Ohio State produce the 8th best rushing attack in the nation (264 ypg, 5.8 ypc) and the 9th ranked team in total offense at nearly 512 yards per game. Plenty of that came from the Buckeyes riding their edge in the trenches to convincing wins over Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon.
With 15 starts under his belt and a full offseason to work on complementing his strength with improved technique, Price is primed for a breakout 2015 season that should garner more individual acclaim as Ohio State continues to steamroll opposing defenses.
NICK VANNETT
A redshirt junior this season, Nick Vannett was the backup tight end on the depth chart. Even so, his on-the-field impact was every bit as meaningful as starter Jeff Heuerman, who battled injuries for much of the year.
Vannett's back.
When he spelled in for Heuerman, Vannett ensured there was zero dropoff in effectiveness from the tight end slot. Vannett ranked 4th on the team in touchdown receptions (5) and 7th in receptions (19 for 220 yards).
Sure, those numbers don't jump off the page, but Vannett displayed excellent hands in combining with Heuerman to produce 36 catches, 427 yards and seven touchdowns from a historically underutilized position in the Buckeye passing attack.
Beyond his hands, Vannett proved to be a exceptional blocker as anyone watching the Oregon game in particular can attest. He repeatedly sealed off lanes for Elliott to gash the Ducks including on EZE's 33-yard touchdown to put Ohio State on the board.
With a chance to step out of Heuerman's shadow next season, Vannett should be a much more noticeable weapon both through the air and in run blocking in 2015.
ADOLPHUS WASHINGTON
Playing on the same defensive line as stars Joey Bosa and Michael Bennett didn't help Adolphus Washington become a household name this past season, but he had impressive production anyway. His performance will likely serve as a springboard for a much more eye-catching performance next fall.
The senior-to-be enjoyed his first year as a full-time starter (5 starts in 2013) and while he didn't receive the same attention as Bosa and Bennett he did finish 10th on the team with 48 tackles, second among defensive linemen (Bosa had 55). The former five-star out of Taft High School in Cincinnati also ranked 4th in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (4.5).
With an eye on repeating as a national champion and giving NFL scouts plenty to think about, Washington should turn in a sturdy 2015 campaign as one of the anchors of the OSU defense.
JOSHUA PERRY
With the emergence of Darron Lee at the walkout linebacker position and the virtually season-long focus on Curtis Grant versus Raekwon McMillan at the Mike linebacker spot, weak side linebacker Joshua Perry was almost an afterthought of the group. That's pretty amazing when you check the stat sheet.
Perry performed in near-anonymity, with most of the spotlight coming when he was either exposed in a coverage, took a poor angle or made a bad read. Nevertheless, Perry led the Buckeyes with 124 tackles in 2014, a full 32 stops ahead of the second-leading tackler (Vonn Bell). He also finished fifth in tackles for loss.
Despite the shortcomings that were talked about considerably more than his contributions, the true senior should turn another strong performance next fall. He, Lee and McMillan should form a stellar linebacker corps in Columbus.
