True freshmen don't often make their way into the regular rotation at Ohio State under Urban Meyer. When it happens, it takes a special talent from a special player.
This season, another crop of talented freshmen join the squad, hoping to be the next Buckeye freshman phenom. But before they all arrive on campus, let's look back at some of the best true freshman performances so far from Meyer's recruits at Ohio State.
Honorable Mention: Dontre Wilson – RB/WR
With the way Dontre Wilson's career went, it's easy to forget his promising freshman year.
First off, it's impressive enough that Wilson even saw the field in meaningful moments as a true freshman, as that's been a rarity under Urban Meyer. But Wilson didn't just play, he performed.
His debut season, Wilson accounted for more total yards than he did in any of his next three. He hauled in 22 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran the ball 31 times for 250 yards and a touchdown. He also returned kickoffs, averaging 24.9 yards per return.
Wilson had a fine freshman season. He showed enormous potential with his blistering speed, shiftiness and general playmaking ability. It seemed like the start to a promising career, but his next three years were marred with injuries and he never quite looked like the same player again.
5. Raekwon McMillan – LB
Raekwon McMillan was never officially a starter during his true freshman season, but he played an integral role in the defense almost every game, and even played more snaps than starter Curtis Grant in nine of the team's 15 games.
McMillan finished his freshman season with 54 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and had an interception that he returned for a touchdown – all while playing meaningful snaps for a national championship team.
Following his debut season, McMillan was named a freshman All-American by Athlon, 247Sports and Scout.com.
4. Nick Bosa – DE
Nick Bosa would probably be much higher on this list if he didn't join an already stacked Buckeye defensive line, but his debut season was impressive regardless.
He never quite cracked the starting lineup with Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard and Jalyn Holmes all in front of him on the depth chart, but that didn't stop the younger Bosa brother from putting up impressive numbers.
Bosa finished his freshman season with 29 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss and five sacks, which was good for second on the team behind only Tyquan Lewis, who had eight. He was named a freshman All-American by ESPN after the season.
3. Michael Jordan – OL
Michael Jordan was the first offensive lineman in 23 years – since Orlando Pace in 1994 – to start as a true freshman.
Jordan earned a starting guard spot before the start of the 2016 campaign, beating out Demetrius Knox and Matthew Burrell, and he locked it down during the season. He was part of an offensive line that ranked 11th nationally, and first in the Big Ten, in rushing with 245.2 yards per game and was one of three finalists for the Joe Moore Offensive Line of the Year Award.
Following his true freshman season, Jordan was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
2. Joey Bosa – DE
Joey Bosa has been a dominant pass rusher since his true freshman season.
Bosa earned a starting spot midway through the season and quickly became a nightmare for opposing offensive lines. He finished his freshman season with 27 total tackles, led the team in quarterback hurries with eight and ranked third in tackles for a loss with 13.5 as well as sacks with 7.5.
Following the dominant debut season, Bosa was named a freshman All-American by Sporting News and College Football News, and was named honorable mention all-Big Ten.
1. J.K. Dobbins – RB
We don't have to go back too far to find the most impressive freshman season of any player Urban Meyer recruited at Ohio State. That honor goes to J.K. Dobbins.
With a returning 1,000-yard rusher on the roster, Dobbins was never expected to start, but was thrust into the role when Mike Weber dealt with early-season injuries, becoming the first true freshman running back since Maurice Clarett to be the opening day starter for the Buckeyes.
But Dobbins didn't just fill in, he dominated. His very first game, Dobbins broke Clarett's record for most yards from a freshman running back in a debut game, and he later broke Clarett's school record for most yards for a freshman in a season.
Dobbins was named a freshman All-American by ESPN, and was named the MVP of the Big Ten Championship Game.
