With spring football in the books, Eleven Warriors will look back over the next week at what we learned from each position group heading into the offseason.
Coming into this spring, much like many of the other positions on Ohio State’s offense, there wasn’t much doubt about who was going to be the Buckeyes’ starting tight end.
Nick Vannett was essentially a starter last season for Ohio State. He split the majority of the reps with senior Jeff Heuerman as the Buckeyes’ captain battled through most of the 2014 season with a variety of injuries.
Vannett thrived in what was essentially a co-starting role. As a junior, Vannett caught 19 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns. One of those scores came in Ohio State’s 42-20 win over Oregon in the first-ever College Football Playoff national championship game.
As a senior, Vannett will be the full-time starter in 2015. He says there won’t be much of an adjustment this year despite being “the guy” at tight end.
“I really haven’t taken the time to really embrace or think about it. It’s more just I have to step up right away. That’s the one thing: When a guy leaves, you can’t miss a beat on offense.”– Nick Vannett
“I really haven’t taken the time to really embrace or think about it. It’s more just I have to step up right away,” Vannett said this spring. “That’s the one thing: When a guy leaves, you can’t miss a beat on offense.”
In Urban Meyer’s offense, the tight end must be a well-rounded player that can both block and catch passes. With Heuerman hobbled by injuries, he became primarily a blocker toward the end of the season. Vannett was targeted a bit more in the red zone, but still did his fair share of blocking. The two tight end system worked to perfection.
It remains to be seen if there will be a two tight end system for the Buckeyes in 2015, but if there is, redshirt sophomore Marcus Baugh would be the guy who fills that No. 2 spot.
All indications are Baugh had a solid spring. He did not participate in the spring game, however, because of an illness, according to multiple reports. But leading up to the game, he was showing signs of being a promising player.
“He would not be in the depth chart where he is if I didn’t believe that,” Ohio State tight ends coach Tim Hinton said this spring. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to just — he’s maturing, he’s doing very, very well.”
Baugh and Vannett will soon be joined by A.J. Alexander and Rashod Berry at the tight end position. Both Alexander and Berry are high-level athletes and will come to Columbus and try to get on the field as freshmen.
It seems right now, though, it will be mostly Vannett on the field for the scarlet and gray in 2015. The fifth-year senior seems up to the challenge.
“We have a saying: When one guy drops the rifle, someone’s gotta be there to pick it back up,” Vannett said. “I’ve always embraced that and I always try to compete at the same level that Jeff has and that’s really been my motivation.”
