With the sting of the Clemson loss finally start to fade a little, there remains plenty to look back on fondly when remembering the 2019 Buckeyes.
Though it may not seem like it, 13-1 seasons and wins over Michigan don't grow on trees. Well, okay, maybe wins over Michigan do. But still, you should be careful not to take Ohio State's run of greatness for granted.
Within the program's stellar 2019 campaign, five players in particular stood out for turning in outstanding seasons, dwarfing production realized during 2018.
JUSTIN FIELDS - QUARTERBACK
This one is a no-brainer considering Fields backed up Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm during the 2018 season before transferring to Ohio State.
In Athens as a true freshman, Fields threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns, with another 266 yards and four scores on the ground, before arriving in Columbus.
Fans expected a lot from Fields in year one at Ohio State and by any measure, he exceeded expectations in spades.
In his first year as a collegiate starting quarterback, Fields threw for the third-most passing yards in a single-season in school history (3,273), tossed the second-most touchdowns (41) and recorded the second-best completion rate connecting on 67.2% of his throws.
Fields added another 10 scores via the ground giving him 51 total touchdowns, good for the second-most in a single-season in Ohio State's illustrious history. The 6-foot-3 signal-caller threw just three interceptions in 354 attempts.
Against Ohio State's five toughest opponents, Fields tallied 13 total touchdowns with eight of those coming in the last three games versus Michigan, Wisconsin and Clemson despite playing almost 10 of those 12 quarters with a sprained MCL.
Fields finished third in the 2019 Heisman Trophy voting behind Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts.
J.K. DOBBINS - RUNNING BACK
To be honest, Dobbins' 2018 season was almost more surprising than his 2019 campaign which is exactly why he makes this list; the leap he took from 2018 to 2019 was staggering.
Last year, forced to split time with Mike Weber and playing within a pass-heavy offense, Dobbins averaged a disappointing 4.6 yards per carry, leading to 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dobbins rushed for over 100 yards just three times in 14 outings.
In 2019, no longer splitting time and playing within a system featuring a dual-threat quarterback (and behind a much better offensive line), Dobbins ran absolutely wild.
His yards per carry increased to 6.7 as he nearly doubled his yardage output, running for 2,003, good for the most in a single-season in school history.
Dobbins also more than doubled his trips to the endzone with 21 rushing scores and his rushing yards per game increased to 143.1 from 75.2 in 2018.
A much more consistent performer in 2019, Dobbins rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of 14 games. A lack of carries due to lopsided scores kept him from reaching 100 yards in at least three other games, if not all four.
Dobbins was at his best against the toughest opponents on the schedule. Versus Wisconsin (twice), Penn State, Michigan and Clemson, Dobbins ran for 877 yards - an average of 175.4 yards per game - with 10 rushing touchdowns.
He did all this averaging about five more carries per game (21.5) than the 16.4 he received in 2018.
DAVON HAMILTON - DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Maybe the most underappreciated performer in 2019, Hamilton put it all together as a redshirt senior.
The local product by way of Pickerington Central started showing signs toward the end of the 2018 season which served as a springboard to a 2019 campaign that saw him rank third on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and second with 6.0 sacks while recording 28 total tackles.
In 2018, despite playing the exact same number of snaps (352), Hamilton had just 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks.
Hamilton was big all year for the Buckeyes and really showed up down the stretch tallying five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in a blowout of Michigan while adding three stops and a sack against Clemson.
A three-star recruit who arrived in Columbus as the No. 63 ranked defensive tackle prospect in the 247 composite, Hamilton worked his ass off and is probably looking at a selection in the neighborhood of the 4th round in the upcoming NFL Draft.
WYATT DAVIS - RIGHT GUARD
Davis landed in Columbus as a five-star offensive lineman in the 2017 class by way of Bellflower, California.
After redshirting as a freshman, Davis backed up Demetrius Knox at right guard for most of 2018 before an injury to Knox against Michigan pressed Davis into a starting role.
With his first collegiate start coming in the Big Ten championship game against Northwestern, Davis rightfully had some ups and downs before turning in a sturdier performance against Washington in the Rose Bowl.
The experience gained set the stage for Davis to start from the rip at right guard this year and after a solid but not spectacular start, he emerged into Ohio State's best offensive lineman over at least the second half of the season.
Davis was particularly effective as a run blocker, helping Ohio State's rushing attack average 5.63 yards per carry (No. 6 nationally) and 266.8 rushing yards per game (No. 5).
Teaming with left guard Jonah Jackson and center Josh Myers, the trio was easily one of the country's best interior line groups.
Davis' efforts did not go unnoticed as he earned First Team All-American honors from the Associated Press and Walter Camp.
Ohio State really needed Davis to come up big this year and he flat out exceeded expectations.
CHRIS OLAVE - WIDE RECEIVER
Another California product, Olave did play last year as a true freshman, logging 12 catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns in 169 total snaps. Obviously, he captured Ohio State fans' imagination with two touchdown catches and a blocked punt leading to a score in a thrashing of Michigan before adding another touchdown grab in the Big Ten championship win over Northwestern.
Despite fairly lofty expectations coming into 2019 as a result of his final few games of 2018, he was even better than advertised this past fall.
Olave emerged as the go-to receiver for Fields, particularly on third down and in the red zone. He led the Buckeyes with 12 touchdown catches and 849 receiving yards while ranking second in receptions with 49.
Another big game performer, Olave recorded 349 receiving yards on 18.4 yards per catch and five touchdowns against the likes of Wisconsin (twice), Penn State, Michigan and Clemson.
