With veterans names including Trey Sermon, Wyatt Davis, Pete Werner, Tuf Borland, Justin Hilliard, Luke Farrell, Johnathon Cooper and Tommy Togiai, among others, off to hopefully make their mark at the level, one might think Ohio State could be light on seasoned, productive leadership.
Thanks to a deep roster aided in some cases by the NCAA's decision to give players an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, Ryan Day's squad boasts a handful of five and six-year guys counted on to play major roles on the field and in the locker room as Ohio State looks to make another run at a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff bid.
Of the eight players fitting this mold, five should play important roles and will of course compliment a host of fourth-year guys like Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Josh Proctor, Tyreke Smith, Cameron Brown, Taron Vincent and Sevyn Banks, among others.
The big five within the eight elder statesmen include left tackle Thayer Munford, defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, defensive back Marcus Williamson, nose tackle Taron Vincent and nose tackle Jerron Cage.
THAYER MUNFORD - CLASS OF 2017
Back in scarlet and gray to start for an incredible fourth-straight year at left tackle, Munford in the cornerstone of Ohio State's offensive line.
Considered a likely mid-round selection had he entered the 2021 NFL Draft, Munford came back to become the first member of his family to earn a college degree and also to improve his stock for the 2022 draft.
Munford's value as a pass protector and run blocker has come into clear focus the last couple seasons and now he's focusing on not only enhancing his game but being a bigger factor as a leader among his teammates. He's "feeling it" as a leader and taking pride in helping his peers, emerging as legit captain material for the upcoming season.
Breaking in a new starting quarterback will certainly be easier with a clean blindside and added leadership in the huddle.
HASKELL GARRETT - CLASS OF 2017
Back for a fifth year in Columbus after a stellar 2020 campaign that saw him earn All-American accolades, Garrett, like Munford, is the anchor of his line.
Despite being shot in the cheek last August, Garrett didn't miss a game on the way to 20 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and an interception in the end zone for a touchdown. He and nose tackle Tommy Togiai were an unblockable duo at times, doing their best to aide a lackluster secondary.
Garrett led the defensive tackles with 311 snaps in 2020 and should have a bit more help if Taron Vincent can take the next step in his own development. That said, there's little question Garrett will be counted on for not only production but also leadership and the Las Vegas product could also be in line to serve as a captain for Kerry Coombs' defense. He's out this spring with an undisclosed injury but there's no reason to believe he won't be 100% for fall camp.
His perseverance alone following last year's brush with a potentially life altering situation is a testament to his unwavering character.
MARCUS WILLIAMSON - CLASS OF 2017
Another fifth-year guy, Williamson is taking advantage of an extra year due to the pandemic following a 2020 season that saw him play his biggest role yet for the Buckeyes.
The Westerville product logged 414 snaps in Ohio State's secondary, in multiple slots, as the Buckeyes looked for answers in stopping the pass.
Despite the defense's struggles, it was great to see Williamson healthy and contributing after battling adversity during the first half of his career. The Westerville South product is the type of kid Day wants in his program having been recognized as an OSU scholar-athlete multiple times along with flat out loving playing for his hometown team. The kid oozes class and leadership.
Expected to again log major playing time, most likely as a slot corner-type, Williamson has made it clear he wants to leave Ohio State's secondary on a high note after playing through last year's struggles.
ANTWUAN JACKSON - CLASS OF 2016
Jackson is also taking advantage of the extra "COVID year" which will be his sixth in college and his fourth at Ohio State.
The nose tackle started his career at Auburn before spending a year at Blinn junior college and eventually finding his way to Columbus. He graduated from Ohio State in May 2019 and played 201 snaps in 14 games that fall before carving out an even larger role last year.
In the abbreviated eight-game season, Jackson logged 189 snaps serving as one of Tommy Togiai's chief backups. With Togiai unavailable for the national title game versus Alabama, Jackson came up big with five stops and one sack in 47 snaps.
Similarly, with Togiai entering the NFL Draft, Ohio State needs Jackson to step up in a big way this fall. With one last shot to prove himself, take a major leap in production as a potential starter and try for another shot at a title, Jackson enters the season with supreme motivation.
JERRON CAGE - CLASS OF 2017
Entering his fifth season for the Buckeyes, Cage is looking to continue his run as a late bloomer.
As Dan Hope wrote earlier this week, Cage, after logging just 105 snaps during his first three years in Columbus, played 109 snaps in the shortened 2020 season giving the Buckeyes needed depth at nose tackle.
Cage serves as a great example for younger players to follow in that despite years of being leapfrogged on the depth chart, he stuck with it and enters the 2021 campaign as one of two primary options at the nose. He and Jackson should both see their fair share of time, even if Vincent slides over from 3-tech at times.
Day and Larry Johnson both have been complimentary of Cage this spring and he's an easy guy to root for considering his career-to-date. Beyond being a feel good story, the reality is Ohio State's defense is counting on at least modest production from the Cincinnati product.
Outside of these five guys, sixth-year guy Demario McCall is apparently now a defensive back and while it's difficult to see him carving out a role there, there's at least a chance he can see time on special teams as a kickoff return man again though that seems far from certain. Finally, redshirt class of 2017 receivers Jaylen Harris and Elijah Gardiner look to be long shots for any meaningful playing time.
