Film Study: Projecting Which Young Buckeyes Will Play Special Teams This Fall

While there are certainly times when a freshman sees the field right away, they are rare, especially at programs stocked with talent like Ohio State. The Buckeyes have consistently landed Top-10 recruiting classes since Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus five years ago, and 2016 was no exception.

Meyer will welcome 25 freshmen this summer, a group that made up the fourth-ranked class in the nation according to 247 sports. But although the class is headlined by blue-chippers like defensive ends Nick Bosa and Jonathan Cooper, running back Demario McCall, and Austin Mack at wide receiver, they may not be the first members of their class to see the field.

It's true that Cooper, Mack, and fellow freshman Michael Jordan on the offensive line are already enrolled and made a strong impression during spring practice. Additionally, Bosa and McCall may contribute to some relatively thin position groups. However, only Mack fits the mold of what Meyer desires from his youngest contributors. 

Looking back to 2015, although six of the top 100 players in their class nationally joined the Buckeyes, only two of that select group were able to see playing time in their first year in Columbus. That pair of players, linebacker Jerome Baker and safety Eric Glover-Williams, joined offensive tackle Isaiah Prince and cornerback Denzel Ward as the only freshmen not to be red-shirted last fall.

None of these four were pushing Darron Lee, Vonn Bell, Taylor Decker or Eli Apple for playing time. Rather, they all earned their way onto the field as members of the Buckeye special teams. 

Prince, having earned his place on the second-team offensive line, saw regular duty during field goals and extra points. This unit is made up nearly entirely of backup offensive linemen and tight ends, meaning Jordan may well see the field right away should he lock down the backup guard position he held in the spring.

Beyond the field goal unit, the remaining OSU special teams were populated by a small group of mostly unheralded contributors from only a handful of position groups. Unlike other programs that include linemen in these units, the largest Buckeye to see the field on any of the punt, kickoff, or return teams was tight end Nick Vannett. 

Excluding specialists like kickers, holders, snappers and returners, the remaining members of the special teams seemed to fall into the following categories: 

Speed

Typically younger players able to cover a lot of ground on one play, either in an effort to make a tackle, or to slow down a similar opponent trying to do so. In 2015, wide receivers Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin, along with the aforementioned Glover-Williams and Ward, filled this role. 

This group often filled the role of "Missile" on the kickoff team, looking to either make the first hit or force the returner to dramatically alter his path. On punts, they often act as "Gunners" trying to get downfield first to make a play. 

Skill

This group is asked to play roles that place a heavy emphasis on staying disciplined, requiring them to make a block and stay in a lane while overcoming the desire to let aggression determine their path. This group was made up of players with more size than the first: linebackers Baker, Lee, and Chris Worley; running backs Brionte Dunn and Warren Ball; and safeties Bell and Malik Hooker.

This group is truly the heart of the special teams, as they are rarely the ones to get downfield and make a big play, but are most often only showcased when they get outside their lanes or miss a block. On Punts, they often line up at guard or tackle, making an initial block before releasing downfield in a uniform pattern.

On Kickoffs, they're likely tasked with staying in their lane downfield, or playing the role of 'contain' meant to keep the returner from releasing down the sideline.

When on the Kickoff Return team, they're tasked with identifying specific opponents and setting blocks 30 yards downfield.

Big Skill

The final group of the Buckeye special teams is made up entirely of tight ends and linebackers. These protectors on the punt team and kickoff return team act as the muscle for each unit, often taking part in the biggest collisions on each play. 

Big athletes like Vannett, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan and Jeff Heuerman have filled these roles in the past, but they're now held down almost exclusively by former walk-on linebackers Joe Burger and Craig Fada. 

Though the pair isn't likely to see much action outside of kicking situations, they still find ways to get their hands dirty. In this example from a punt return last November, there isn't a called block on the table, but the pair is instructed to get into the backfield and force a collision to slow down the opposing punt protectors.

They're more than willing to do so, then sprint straight back in the other direction to set a block, only to flip roles with the guys they just hit when the Buckeye punt team hits the field. Though more aggressive than some of the other special teams jobs, it's usually still quite thankless, as the spotlight only comes their way when a snap is fumbled or someone is the recipient of a particularly vicious hit.

Despite saying goodbye to one of the greatest collections of talent in school history this winter, Meyer won't have to lean too heavily on his incoming freshmen to contribute this season. Despite the fact that most of his starters will be considered 'new' players this fall, most will be entering their third or fourth year in the program. Both the 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes saw the vast majority of their members receive redshirts during their first years on campus, meaning the 2016 group won't have many chances to see the field right away, even on special teams. 

Given the personnel groupings listed above, though, we can immediately narrow down the candidates within the freshmen to the following players:

Few spots remain open, however, as the Buckeyes will have to replace only Lee, Bell, Vannett, and Perry from last year's core group of special teamers. While Meyer and his staff clearly value the experience playing special teams can provide for a young player, they won't keep the redshirt off a freshman just so he can play on one unit. 

To prove they deserve to play now, they'll have to prove they can block, cover kicks, and most importantly, stay disciplined while doing so. That could prove to be more challenging than they may think, since most of these players were so highly regarded in high school that special teams were their time to catch a breather, assuming they weren't the ones back there to return a kick, of course.

With only a few potential spots open for 12 players, only time will tell who claims them. However, given the way Mack made his presence felt during the spring, he's a likely candidate, given he's willing to put in the extra work while trying to break into the rotation at receiver. 

In the Skill category, Keandre Jones is the most decorated recruit of the bunch, making him the fan-favorite for the job, although Jordan Fuller is also a serious candidate here. The sleeper is Tuf Borland, who went through Spring practice and is already adjusting to the speed of the game. 

As for the Big Skill players, Jake Hausmann seems to be the best candidate, given the development needed by the other players at their everyday positions. However, the Archbishop Moeller product will have to beat out redshirt Freshman A.J. Alexander, who will also be looking to see the field for the first time.

If any of these players see the field this year on Special Teams, they'll most certainly have earned it, and will provide Buckeye fans with a spotlight into what they may be capable of in the future. Once they step on campus, the recruiting service rankings are meaningless. The players to watch are the ones on the field.