If you watch any of Ohio State spring practice, you'll notice a host of new numbers among Zach Smith's wide receivers. Injuries, graduation and early declarations for the NFL Draft decimated the group, a notion that is evident with the exits of Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller.
Those three led Ohio State with 56, 36 and 26 catches in 2015. Paltry numbers in the realm of a 13-game season, but still the top-three on the team. Add in the fact that Corey Smith (five catches before injury), Noah Brown (injury in fall camp) are still on the mend from broken legs, and how Curtis Samuel (fourth-leading receiver in 2015) can't do much with a sore foot and those running 7-on-7 drills with quarterback J.T. Barrett are a bit unknown. We also can't forget Ohio State's fifth and six-leading receivers from 2015, tight end Nick Vannett and running back Ezekiel Elliott, are also onto the next level.
That could strike some fear into fans considering how young the Buckeyes are as a whole, with trips to Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin looming on the horizon. However, it's not all bad in the eyes of Urban Meyer.
"It’s a blessing in disguise," Meyer said March 8.
“I think the growth in Torrance Gibson is ridiculous. I think he's really developing. He's got a long way to go, but he's really tall, really fast and really physical. Austin Mack is going to be a very, very good player for the Buckeyes. He's competitive, he's learning, he's growing.”– Kerry Coombs
Why? Because the likes of James Clark, Torrance Gibson, Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon, Alex Stump and even true freshman Austin Mack are the focus of Zach Smith and Barrett. That can only build a stronger rapport and more depth when Brown, Samuel, Corey Smith return and Dontre Wilson — provided he stays healthy — finally does what Meyer brought him to Columbus to do.
"I think Torrance Gibson and Austin Mack right now are battling for the starting X in practice and that also gives guys like Parris Campbell — he’s also battling for the starting X — and Terry McLaurin, some guys who really have to step up and I think they will," Meyer said. "They’ve earned the right to get some playing time."
Not to mention K.J. Hill, another four-star prospect who redshirted last season with a host of other members from the 2015 recruiting class. Hill is practicing with a cast on his left wrist because of an injury and unable to catch, but is doing everything else. Johnnie Dixon remains in the fold, hoping his knees cooperate enough to get a spot in the rotation.
The list of talent is long — and the youth is starting to show why it was so highly rated out of high school.
"I think the growth in Torrance Gibson is ridiculous," cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, who sees his position group battle the wideouts every practice, said Thursday. "I think he's really developing. He's got a long way to go, but he's really tall, really fast and really physical. Austin Mack is going to be a very, very good player for the Buckeyes. He's competitive, he's learning, he's growing."
Coombs didn't stop there with the praise, either.
"I think Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and James Clark have shown tremendous improvement this year," Coombs continued. "This is a great thing for them and those are just the guys that are out there playing right now."
Coombs has his own youth to coach up this spring alongside new safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. Three members of Ohio State's 2015 starting defensive backfield are onto the NFL, and injuries to some upperclassmen leave the door cracked for young guys on that side of the ball to get their feet wet.
"It is great and it is a war every day," Coombs said. "They're really coming."
It appears players like Gibson, Clark, Campbell, McLaurin and more recognize the chance they have in front of them with those yards and receptions no longer on roster. The injuries to Brown, Samuel and Corey Smith provide another window of opportunity for the simple fact that there is no one else physically able to run the routes and catch passes from Barrett and the other quarterbacks.
That's not to say those who are hurt are forgotten about by any means, however.
"Noah Brown, he was a starter before his injury, so I think he’ll have a heck of a year," Meyer said. "Corey Smith has played a lot of football for us, he’ll be fine too."
Zach Smith did not speak to reporters Thursday though he was scheduled to, but it's clear those able to practice at full speed are reaping the benefits with the mess of reps available.
After all, Ohio State — and it's subpar passing game from 2015 (finished ranked 100th) — desperately needs them to.
"Austin Mack, he and Torrance are going against each other, who wants to be the X? Austin Mack said he wants to be the X," Barrett said in February. "I threw it to him one time, and asked 'What position do you play?' He said 'X.' Well, in our offense, at the X, you gotta be a Mike Thomas. You gotta be a dog. You know what I'm saying? There was a reason his Twitter handle was 'Can’t guard Mike.' It wasn't on accident, it was on purpose.
"It is one of those deals like 'Go get you a spot.' In the spring, that's when you go win a job. Now having so many positions open, that's the mindset. How bad do you really want it? If you really want it, that's when you're going to find out, in the offseason workouts and it’s going to translate to spring ball."
