Spring practice is a time where some questions get answered. Ohio State certainly has a huge one in the middle of its defense.
Who is going to be the Buckeyes' starting middle linebacker?
The early departure of Raekwon McMillan wasn't exactly something that blindsided Ohio State. McMillan was on the three-and-out plan from the moment he stepped on campus and after an incredibly productive career, the Hinesville, Georgia native declared for the NFL Draft at the conclusion of the Buckeyes' 2016 season.
So while both Jerome Baker and Chris Worley return at the two outside spots, Ohio State has a huge hole to fill in the middle. The Buckeyes will use the next six weeks to help determine McMillan's potential replacement.
Our spring preview series rolls along today by examining the options and much more with Ohio State's linebackers.
The Returners
A pair of NFL Draft picks left Ohio State's linebacker unit following the 2015 season, but the Buckeyes got solid production from a pair of first-year starters throughout 2016 as Worley and Baker each had their moments.
Stepping in for Darron Lee, Worley registered 70 tackles (4.5 for loss) as he started all 13 games at the SAM linebacker position. Worley didn't necessarily flash the same type of game-changing potential Lee did, but he was a solid first-year starter nonetheless. He's a leading candidate to be a captain this fall. As a fifth-year player, Worley will likely be somewhat limited during spring ball, but, barring injury, he'll be a starter in the fall.
Baker wasn't a starter at the beginning of the year, but after Dante Booker injured his knee during Ohio State's season-opener, the sophomore started the rest of the Buckeyes' games in his place at the WILL linebacker spot. All he did was register 83 tackles — second on the team behind McMillan — with 8.5 coming for loss, 3.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions. Baker's play was good enough to keep Booker on the sidelines when he returned from injury and he all but solidified a starting spot in the fall.
Ohio State should feel pretty good about its two returning starters in Billy Davis' meeting room. Davis, of course, took over for Luke Fickell as the Buckeyes' linebackers coach after Fickell left to take the head coaching position at Cincinnati — another wrinkle in this particular position group.
Options in the Middle
This is probably one of the more difficult positions to predict simply because Ohio State didn't necessarily have a clear heir to McMillan. There figure to be quite a few options here for the Buckeyes.
Baker's play last season made it nearly impossible to take him off the field, so perhaps the most likely scenario is Booker slides over from the WILL spot to be Ohio State's middle linebacker in 2017. He proved himself worthy to the staff to earn a starting spot prior to the 2016 season but lost that job due to an injury. He's clearly a capable player and probably has the best skill set among those players on the roster to fill the void left by McMillan.
With former walk-ons Joe Burger and Craig Fada no longer in the fold — they were both second-team linebackers last season — Ohio State's number of proven players at the position dips significantly after Baker, Worley and, to some extent, Booker. There is plenty of talent, but this spring will be more about seeing who fits where behind the presumed starting three.
Other linebackers who could potentially fit as middle linebackers include Nick Conner, Tuf Borland and, potentially, Justin Hilliard. This spring they'll battle for second-team reps and whatever position the staff decides.
Rest of the Bunch
Truth be told, there are a lot of unknowns with the majority of these linebackers. Where the staff lines them up may be just as interesting as who gets the first- and second-team reps.
Hilliard seems like more of a natural WILL linebacker, but with the influx of talent at the position, a move to the middle may be possible. Malik Harrison is an intriguing athlete who played primarily on special teams last season as a true freshman. Where does he fit into the plans this spring?
Like Harrison, Keandre Jones also played special teams as a freshman. He's a former highly-touted recruit who will be going through his first spring in the program, too, so there's an opportunity he cracks the rotation somewhere. There are just so many unknowns leading into spring practice.
Finally, one of the most prized defensive recruits in the Urban Meyer era is also on campus for spring practice as five-star prospect Baron Browning enrolled in January. Browning looks like a college-ready linebacker already and with his size and speed it looks like he's a natural fit at the WILL spot. Additionally, four-star athlete Brendon White could also be in the linebacker room during the spring, but it appears he'll at least start things off playing wide receiver for the Buckeyes. He's quite the versatile athlete, after all.
We'll have to wait and see how both officially fit into the picture, however, until spring practice begins March 7.
