Part of the anticipation for a new season of Buckeye football is always the incoming recruiting class. Who is going to play? Who is going to make an immediate impact? Who is going to be the next Devin Smith or fill the Percy Harvin role?
The truth is, despite what Urban Meyer likes to say, true freshmen rarely play at Ohio State and those who do typically don't make much of an impact. The upcoming season may be an exception after the exodus of talent left many roles needing filled, but history tells us the true freshmen will not be the breakout stars of 2016, it will be the redshirt freshmen.
The past few seasons, Ohio State has seen some of its top performers arise immediately following a redshirt season. J.T. Barrett sat behind Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton for a year before stepping in to lead the team through the regular season of a national championship run. Darron Lee entered his true freshman season as a former quarterback without a position and a year later emerged as one of the most dominant linebackers in the country. Eli Apple didn't even lose his black stripe until the spring of his true freshman season and he went on to become one of the most versatile corners in the country and an eventual top-10 pick in the NFL Draft.
Excitement about the incoming freshmen is always fun, but it may be a little misguided. When you're looking for young players to emerge as stars in 2016, don't forget about the ones who've quietly been with the program for a year already. Here are a few redshirt freshmen who could become stars by the end of 2016.
Mike Weber
A season after turning heads in the summer only to be sidelined the entire season after a knee injury, Mike Weber finds himself as the team's top running back entering the 2016 season. What was once a crowded backfield is now youth-laden, led by a redshirt freshman.
Meyer acknowledged at various times last season that Weber was game-ready, it was just a matter of whether or not it was necessary to burn his redshirt. But with Ezekiel Elliott staying healthy all season, Weber's services were not desperately needed and he took a redshirt.
Weber will without doubt be a focal point of this typically run-heavy offense despite having never taken a snap in a game. By the end of the season, it's not unrealistic to think he'll establish himself as one of the top tailbacks in the conference.
K.J. Hill
Like Weber, K.J. Hill was ready to play and contribute last season, according to Meyer. But with a crowded receivers room and an arsenal of playmakers, the need was not there and Hill redshirted.
This season, Hill will battle a flock of unproven receivers for playing time, and after a year with strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti and on the practice field, a bigger and more technically sound Hill is even more prepared to make an impact.
Torrance Gibson
Nobody doubts Torrance Gibson's physical ability. He's continually praised as one of the team's top athletes, but with only a year in the wide receivers' room, he does not seem quite ready – technically – to beat out other guys for playing time outside.
However, that does not mean Gibson will not play and make an impact. Meyer and the offensive coordinators will look to get him the ball in space – with jet sweeps and screen passes – to let him showcase his natural athleticism.
A.J. Alexander
With tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner calling plays, it seems to make sense that tight ends will be heavily involved in the offense in 2016. Marcus Baugh is the unquestioned starter, and many thought highly-touted freshmen Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell would fill in behind him – this has not happened.
"The young freshmen still have a ways to go," said Meyer at a press conference last week. Right now, Alexander is the team's No. 2 option at tight end after taking a redshirt last season and appears to be on track to see a lot of meaningful snaps in 2016.
Dre'Mont Jones & Davon Hamilton
This pair of talented redshirt freshmen defensive tackles are talented, but are not the team's starters – yet.
Right now, juniors Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill own the top two defensive tackle spots while Jones and Hamilton fill in the No. 2 spots. The redshirt freshmen continue to impress Meyer and push Sprinkle and Hill. Come November, one or both of those spots could be taken by the younger players. After all, they aren't competing against much experience – Hill and Sprinkle have just one career start between the two of them.
Ohio State brings in an enormously talented class every season and every season fans look for the players who will immediately contribute. Some may, but don't underestimate the value of a year of conditioning, practice, film study and maturity.
History tells us the redshirt freshmen – not the true freshmen – will be the ones to emerge this season. Watch out – there are a few who are ready to hit this season like a pent-up bull.
