As usual, Ohio State returns a ton of veteran, proven talent.
The Buckeyes have two returning 1,000 yard rushers at running back, return their top-six receivers from last season and two defensive linemen who will likely be taken in the first round of this year's NFL Draft.
Still, there are some unproven players stepping into vital roles as well as some who haven't quite played up to their potential and could be on the verge of big seasons.
As we head into the 2018 season, we look at three players each on offense and defense who could be headed for breakout seasons this fall.
Dwayne Haskins – Quarterback
We'll begin the with most obvious.
To put it mildly, if Dwayne Haskins isn't a breakout player this season, that's extremely bad news for the Buckeyes. Haskins takes over the starting role for J.T. Barrett and brings a strong, confident arm to the quarterback position.
Though most of his snaps came in mop-up duty with games well at hand, Haskins was thrown into the fire in a big moment against Michigan, and he delivered, completing 6-of-7 passes in relief of injured Barrett to the Buckeyes to a come-from-behind win over their rivals.
Haskins has all the tools to be successful and has shown flashes already. This year will be his season to prove his greatness.
Thayer Munford – Offensive Tackle
We don't yet know which side of the line he'll play, but all signs point to Thayer Munford lining up as one of Ohio State's starting tackles this fall in just his second season with the team.
Munford was the final piece and one of the lowest-rated players in Ohio State's vaunted 2017 class, but he'll be one of the first to work his way into a starting role.
For Munford, this isn't just about football, it's about climbing out of bad life circumstances. He says he sees Ohio State and football as an opportunity to save his family.
"That's a bold statement, isn't it?" Meyer said. "Well, God bless him, if that's one of his focuses, you can see it every day. He's doing a hell of a job."
Binjimen Victor – Wide Receiver
Though he's played meaningful snaps each of the last two seasons and worked his way into the first-team rotation last year, Binjimen Victor still hasn't played up to his sky-high potential, but it's coming.
Victor's length and athleticism is undeniable, but he's struggled with fundamentals his first two seasons at Ohio State. He hasn't been a great blocker – as evidenced by the team's tendency to run away from the X receiver in the running game – and isn't the smoothest route runner.
More than that, the offense hasn't been designed to get the X receiver the ball. J.T. Barrett never seemed comfortable throwing the ball outside the hash down the field last season, completing just 24 percent of those throws last season. The passing game primarily focused on getting the ball to the middle of the field or outside via wide receiver screens.
That all seems to have changed. Victor looked like a new receiver in the spring game and Dwayne Haskins already seems much more confident and comfortable throwing deep outside the hashes. This could be a big season for Victor, and Austin Mack as well.
Defense
Chase Young – Defensive End
The only reason Chase Young played so few meaningful snaps last season is because he was behind three now-NFL defensive ends and a future top-five pick on the depth chart.
He was ready to play last season as just a true freshman, and now he's even more ready and will almost-certainly hold a starting spot opposite of Nick Bosa.
Young was the nation's No. 2 weakside defensive end and No. 7 overall player in the country coming out of high school, and for good reason. He's a physical freak – you can tell that by just looking at him – and an absolutely gifted pass rusher.
One huge benefit Young will see this season is the opportunity to play opposite of Bosa, the nation's top pass rusher. Teams will be forced to scheme around Bosa, leaving more room for Young to make plays.
Young's had a season to get bigger and stronger, hone his technique with defensive line guru Larry Johnson, and gets to work in tandem with the top defensive lineman in the country. It's going to be a big season for him.
Jeffrey Okudah – Cornerback
Last season, Jeffrey Okudah got his feet wet as the team's No. 4 cornerback behind eventual top-five pick Denzel Ward as well as Damon Arnette and Kendall Sheffield.
He played often, sometimes in meaningful moments, but this season, Okudah will almost certainly be in the first team rotation.
Okudah was the No. 1 cornerback in the country and the No. 8 overall player in the nation coming out of high school and expectations were sky high. With over a year of perfecting technique – he enrolled early his freshman season – Okudah is now ready to step up.
Much like in the past, it seems likely the Buckeyes will roll with a three-man rotation at cornerback and Okudah will be featured somewhere in that rotation. With those first-team snaps, Okudah could emerge as a breakout star.
Malik Harrison – Linebacker
There are still about five or six linebackers vying for starting spots and playing time, and all of them have realistic arguments to be included on this list. Malik Harrison, however, has experience and seems to be heading towards claiming one of those starting roles.
Harrison played regularly last season in the nickel defense and seems to be the most likely candidate to win the starting strongside linebacker position. He finished the season with 36 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.
Though Harrison was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school, he's already proven capable of performing at the highest level, and will likely be asked to do it again this season.
