| CORNERBACKS (YEAR) | SAFETIES (YEAR) |
|---|---|
| DAMON ARNETTE (RS JR) | JORDAN FULLER (JR) |
| KENDALL SHEFFIELD (RS JR) | WAYNE DAVIS (RS SO) |
| JEFFREY OKUDAH (SO) | JAHSEN WINT (RS SO) |
| AMIR RIEP (SO) | ISAIAH PRYOR (SO) |
| MARCUS WILLIAMSON (SO) | BRENDON WHITE (SO) |
| SHAUN WADE (RS FR) | TYREKE JOHNSON (FR) |
| SEVYN BANKS (FR) |
The Ohio State secondary will rely on two new position coaches and a roster without a senior to maintain their standard in 2018.
Last year's campaign started rocky, with the pass defense dipping to the worst in the country after a squabble with Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield. The secondary eventually righted the ship by ending the season with the S&P+ No. 12 pass defense in the country.
Gone is likely top-10 pick Denzel Ward and third-day hopefuls Damon Webb and Erick Smith.
Famed cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, who oversaw an unrivaled professional pipeline, also departed to take the same position under new Tennessee Titan coach Mike Vrabel.
Urban Meyer did as well as he could in replacing a legend by luring Temple defensive coordinator Taver Johnson back to Columbus. Meyer also tapped Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch as the Buckeyes' 10th assistant coach. Grinch will serve as co-defensive coordinator while overseeing safeties.
It remains to be seen if Johnson will rotate cornerbacks like Coombs or how Alex Grinch will mesh underwing of Greg Schiano. There is no doubt, however, in Meyer providing them with the tools to succeed.
"There is a different level; there’s no doubt about it," Johnson said at his introductory press conference when asked about the difference in talent between his two stints in Columbus.
CORNERBACKS
Kendall Sheffield looks to continue turning heads in 2018.
When Ward elected to sit out the Cotton Bowl, Kendall Sheffield filled the void and played every snap as Damon Arnette and Jeffrey Okudah rotated opposite of him.
Though a long haul to locking down the No. 1 corner spot when Oregon State comes to Columbus in 182 days, that should be the default pecking order when the Buckeyes opens spring drills next week.
Though bigger receivers can always present problems, Sheffield found a groove after a rocky start after jumping from JUCO. The true testament to his athletic ability, however, came earlier this month when Sheffield shattered a 23-year-old school record in the 60 meter dash.
Former five-star recruit Shaun Wade, who saw his freshman campaign derailed by injury, will find his way onto the field if he can put his injury woes behind him.
Four-star freshman Sevyn Banks early enrolled and will look to earn special teams consideration in his first spring camp.
It remains to be seen how Johnson utilizes his rotation. But in the talent of Sheffield, Arnette, Okudah and possibly Wade, he will have a cornerback core capable of combatting any receiving corps in the country.
Arnette and Sheffield should both be playing in the NFL next season.
SAFETIES
Jordan Fuller could be Ohio State's next All-American safety.
New position coach Alex Grinch came with a specialty in defensive backs, and he has never worked with the level of talent he now has at his disposal.
For Grinch, it will all start with Jordan Fuller, a player he researched before his introductory press conference.
"The film suggests Jordan Fuller can be an elite defensive back at this level," Grinch said. Fuller is a dynamic athlete capable of playing either safety position, which gives his coach fluidity in picking the heir to Webb's vacated spot.
The candidates to replace Webb lack game experience, if not talent. Brendon White and Isaiah Pryor enter spring drills gunning for a starting position. Jahsen Wint, who once deleted a tweet about transferring to Louisville, could see this as his last chance to secure serious playing time in Columbus.
That lack of experience also opens the door for five-star freshman Tyreke Johnson, who already looks like a Division 1 football player and early enrolled in January. Four-star signee Josh Proctor arrives this summer. Despite the delay in matriculation, Proctor too has the talent to secure the starting spot should he steal the show in fall camp.
Another name to watch is Amir Riep. Though officially listed as a cornerback, the former four-star Cincinnati product appeared in an offseason workout photo with the safeties, which could signal a positional move in search of more playing time.
Grinch holds no loyalty to any player and could use a rotation, like Schiano did last season, when Fuller and Smith failed to separate from each other though spring drills and fall camp before Fuller solidified the spot.
OUTLOOK
Fuller and Arnette figure to be key cogs..
There is always turbulence with transitions involving this many new faces. The good news for Ohio State is it faces Oregon State and Rutgers before tangling with Texas Christian in Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Grinch and Johnson will use spring drills to familiarize themselves with their new players' talents and figure out how to best utilize them. The battle to replace Damon Webb could be one of the team's fiercest position battles of the spring.
Given that the iron fist of Schiano still looms over the secondary, Buckeye fans shouldn't expect a drop-off once the new pieces find their home.
