Ohio State entered this spring with only one linebacker who regularly started games for the Buckeyes last season.
That linebacker’s status for the upcoming season is now in question.
Tuf Borland started nine games for Ohio State at middle linebacker last year, and was slated to be the Buckeyes’ starting middle linebacker again this year. Borland suffered an Achilles tendon injury during practice last week, however, leaving the Buckeyes with competition at all three linebacker positions.
While Borland has not been ruled out for the 2018 season, Meyer did not specify the severity of Borland’s injury or the timetable for Borland’s return during his press conference Monday.
"He’s got an Achilles injury," Meyer said. "So he’s going to miss some time. But he’s a little bit like J.T. Barrett. You say he’s out for awhile, he’s not going to be out that long."
Meyer said he was heartbroken to see Borland suffer the injury, but also expressed confidence that Borland would make a full recovery and return to the lineup.
"He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around in my life, and a very good player," Meyer said. "He’ll be back."
For now, though, the Buckeyes have to move forward without Borland, leaving the Buckeyes with a unit full of unproven players at a position where they already needed to improve from last season.
That group of unproven linebackers, though, includes plenty of highly recruited and talented players, leaving Meyer concerned but confident that new linebackers will step up.
"Coach (Bill) Davis is doing a good job, and there’s some talented cats," Meyer said. "They’re not perfect, but they don’t have to be, and they’re trying. I kind of like that position right now."
During the portion of Monday’s spring practice that was open to the media, Justin Hilliard took over for Borland as the Buckeyes’ first-team middle linebacker, while Malik Harrison and Keandre Jones lined up as the first-team strongside and weakside linebackers, respectively. Baron Browning, who began the spring working at weakside linebacker, was the second-team middle linebacker at Monday’s practice, with Pete Werner and Dallas Gant as the second-team outside linebackers.
All of them are currently in the mix to earn significant playing time for the Buckeyes defense this season.
Harrison and Jones, who have been lining up with the first-team defense since the beginning of spring, appear to be the frontrunners to start at the outside linebacker spots as of now.
Hilliard, meanwhile, is a former five-star recruit who emerged as one of the Buckeyes’ top special teams players last season after battling injuries for his first two years on campus. Going into his fourth-year junior season at Ohio State, however, Hilliard could finally have his opportunity to earn a starting job.
"Very accountable guy," Meyer said of Hilliard. "Having a good spring so far. I’m a Justin Hilliard fan. I hope he continues to grow as a defensive player.
"He’s one of my favorite guys because he just goes as hard as he can, and like I told you, I’m a fan," Meyer added. "And I push that a little bit. He’s a guy that’s made some mistakes on defense when he’s in there, and he’s just fighting through that. So the light’s coming on, and he’s doing pretty good."
Browning, who was also a five-star recruit, could be the linebacker who ultimately proves too talented to keep off the field – whether that means replacing Borland in the middle or seizing a starting spot outside. While the true sophomore hasn’t emerged as a first-teamer yet, Meyer raved about his potential on Monday and said he is pleased with his progress as well.
"He’s as talented a linebacker that’s ever walked through these doors," Meyer said of Browning. "He’s a big freak that can do it all. Great young man. Did not play very well early in the season (last year). Just was out of his comfort zone, and by the end of the season was really contributing in a lot of areas on special teams and should have played some defense, but he just didn’t earn that yet. But he’s got it all now. He’s got A to Z, intelligent guy, good person, and God’s blessed him with an incredible skill set."
Baron Browning will be among the contenders to start at middle linebacker if Tuf Borland remains sidelined this fall.
Another true sophomore who could make a push for a starting linebacker spot is Werner, who Meyer has raved about since last season and is currently "having an excellent spring," Meyer said Monday. While Werner has been running as Harrison’s backup so far this spring, Meyer described Werner as a "very flexible" player who could play multiple linebacker positions.
As the spring continues, Ohio State will continue to experiment with linebackers lining up at different positions, as the Buckeyes look to assemble their best possible lineup for the unit.
"We’re not set to say who’s going to be in what position," Meyer said. "It’s our job to get the best three of them out there. And the good thing is there’s opportunity for someone to step up and go in there."
Gant, an early enrollee freshman, isn’t likely to earn a starting spot this season but is already making a push for playing time. Meyer says he expects Gant, a four-star recruit from Toledo, to at least see the field on special teams this year.
"He’s probably going to play," Meyer said of Gant. "I’ll be getting him ready to compete in the special teams, because he’s one of those very mature players, come right in and he’s not where he needs to be but doesn’t have to be. He just needs to give us everything he’s got and he’s been doing that. Very smart player."
Two additional true freshman linebackers, K’Vaughan Pope and Teradja Mitchell, could also factor into the competition for playing time when they arrive on campus this summer.
Borland, of course, could re-emerge at the forefront of the middle linebacker depth chart whenever he is healthy. And Dante Booker, who started six games at strongside linebacker in 2017 but is currently sidelined after undergoing a pair of shoulder surgeries, could also contend for a starting spot if he can get healthy. But the Buckeyes can’t count on having either of those players this fall right now, which means they need linebackers to establish themselves.
