Spring practice is a terrible time to get one of your best players injured.
That statement is as obvious as its potential is avoidable, so college football programs take measures in order to error on the side of caution. Odd colored jerseys for quarterbacks or other injured players signal to teammates that they are off limits for contact, for example.
Ohio State does this with black practice pennies but also tracks every known live rep for each player throughout his career. Football is a rough game, and the safety of players has become the focal point of administrators, coaches and families. To combat this, Urban Meyer implemented what he calls the "2,000-rep Club" in spring 2015.
“Just being smart with the guys in the 2,000-rep Club and guys that have a lot of competitive snaps and just gotta be really smart,” Meyer said then.
Spring practice is an essential stretch for teams. It is an opportunity for younger players to push for starting jobs, spots that are usually decided before summer vacation. Waiting until fall camp to name who sits atop the depth chart is something coaches usually try to avoid — they want to spend a good chunk of that time game planning for Week 1.
In 2015, when the Buckeyes returned double-digit starters after winning the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship, barely any key members from that magical three-game run did much in spring practice. Ezekiel Elliott nursed his surgically repaired wrist, offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Pat Elflein were set to be multi-year starters, and All-American defensive end Joey Bosa was 12 months away from becoming the No. 3 overall selection in the NFL Draft. It would have been foolish to risk injury for any of those players. The same goes for safety Tyvis Powell and linebacker Joshua Perry — fourth-year players and returning starters.
There were others who also sat out. There are every spring.
“You're talking about a kid that has over 1,200, 1,500, sometimes 2,000 competitive reps and the wear and tear,” Meyer said in 2015. “I think we're on the cutting edge of just being smart about the wear and tear of the student athletes. I love it.”
The 2017 version of the Buckeyes is no exception. Ohio State returns seven starters on defense and more than a handful on offense. The program is still relatively young, with only 13 seniors set to be on the roster this spring. Let's take a look at who is likely to be held out of the major parts of spring practice to avoid the wear and tear Meyer spoke about and what that means for the players behind them on the depth chart.
The No-Doubters
Seniors: Offensive linemen Billy Price and Jamarco Jones, defensive linemen Jalyn Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and Mike Hill, tight end Marcus Baugh, linebacker Chris Worley
Others: Junior defensive end Sam Hubbard
Breakdown: J.T. Barrett would also be on this list as a fifth-year senior but his position allows him to be an exception. More on that in a bit.
Another fifth-year senior, Price is moving to center in place of Elflein and will start for the fourth straight season up front. Jones is a true senior with the potential to become one of the best at what he does in not just the Big Ten but all college football. A cornerstone left tackle, Jones will be a critical piece of what the Buckeyes do in 2017.
The Big Ten named Lewis its Defensive Lineman of the Year after he led his team with 8.0 sacks. Another fifth-year senior, many expected Lewis to turn pro after the 2016 season. He didn't, and neither did Holmes. While Holmes was a co-starter with Hubbard, it isn't likely either of them will do much in March and April. Worley is also a fifth-year senior and became a key part of Ohio State's defense last year. All of their positions are solidified.
Same goes for Baugh at tight end and nose tackle Mike Hill, two more fifth-year seniors and starters. Hill came into his own and had a fine season last fall, his first as a starter.
The Exceptions
Seniors: Quarterback J.T. Barrett, wide receiver James Clark, safeties Erick Smith and Damon Webb, kicker Sean Nuernberger
Others: Wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon
Breakdown: The four wide receivers are probably close to nearing 2,000 reps, with Dixon being the lone exception. His recurring knee injuries have caused him to miss time his first three years in the program.
Regardless, Ohio State's passing game needs considerable work this spring. That is why Barrett will take as many snaps as Meyer, new quarterbacks coach Ryan Day and new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson want. Day and Wilson need to get an idea of what Barrett does well as quickly as possible with the clock ticking on his career. It is a must for that to happen in the spring before summer bleeds into training camp.
McLaurin and Campbell were both first-year starters in 2016 and like Dixon are redshirt juniors. Wear and tear is a real thing for wide receivers in terms of how their legs respond to constant running downfield but they are the members of Zach Smith's position room that have the most experience. They must take steps forward with Barrett in the passing game or risk being passed over by the youth at the position. For that reason, they can ill afford to sit out much this spring.
Webb started all 13 games in 2016 but missed time with injuries and a suspension the year before. As a result, he is probably on the fringe of being in the 2,000-rep club. His struggles in pass coverage were apparent at times last season, though, so Greg Schiano will want to see him work. Smith has missed time with injuries. Nuernberger is a kicker. They will participate this spring, provided each stays healthy.
The Health Questions
Every player that deals with injuries has his own plan and timetable for rehabilitation. On National Signing Day, Meyer didn't speak about guys who were hurt near the end of the season. That is the most recent time he took questions from the media.
Ohio State has yet to release its spring practice calendar, so we remain in the dark as to when Meyer could give a rundown of players dealing with various nicks, bruises or other issues. Among the players in question:
- Wide receiver Johnnie Dixon
- Offensive linemen Malcolm Pridgeon and Kevin Feder
- Defensive linemen Darius Slade, Josh Alabi, Tracy Sprinkle and Malik Barrow
- Linebacker Justin Hilliard
Pridgeon participated in the bulk of Fiesta Bowl practice, so he should be available to compete on the offensive line after a knee injury knocked him out a year ago. Feder has missed a ton of time with a broken foot but was seen in uniform in Phoenix.
Slade hurt his Achilles in 2016 fall camp and missed the season. Is he healthy enough to work out in spring practice? Not likely. Same goes for Hilliard, who tore his left bicep during practice in September. Hilliard missed spring practice in 2016 with a right biceps injury.
Barrow should get himself in a position for spring drills after Ohio State redshirted him in 2016. He injured his knee his senior season at IMG Academy, so the defensive tackle will likely be anxious to get going on March 7. Sprinkle suffered a patella injury in the season opener against Bowling Green, so the Buckeyes probably won't rush him back as he is a senior with multiple years of experience.
What It Means
Ohio State has its fair share of issues that need ironing out this spring. With such a stunningly poor offensive performance in the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson, that much is obvious. Fans are worried about the passing game, the offensive line, wide receivers and who in the world is going to step in for the three future early round NFL Draft picks in the secondary.
The youth at all of those spots are in a position to take advantage once practice commences in a little under two weeks. Perhaps the group that will garner the most attention is the offensive line, where Greg Studrawa has to replace the 2016 Rimington Trophy recipient, figure out if Isaiah Prince is the correct man for the job at right tackle and do all of that without Jones or Price taking too many snaps.
Early enrollee Josh Myers has great size despite being a freshman. Could the Buckeyes start another true freshman up front like they did a year ago with Michael Jordan? It's possible. The clock is ticking for Feder, Branden Bowen, Matthew Burrell, Demetrius Knox and Brady Taylor. The latter should take the majority of the snaps at center but Ohio State recruited Jack Wohlabaugh to play that position. Where does he figure into the plans?
It is a pivotal spring for wide receivers Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor. Neither redshirted last season and with the astounding lack of production from Clark, McLaurin, Campbell and Dixon (a combined 37 career catches for two touchdowns), the sophomores must force Smith's and Meyer's hand to give them more opportunities by standing out in spring practice. Additionally, is Alex Stump still in the equation? Spring practice is the time to figure that out, especially with top talent in Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris set to arrive in June. Lest we forget Brendon White, an incredible athlete that remains unsure of his position.
Overall, the 2,000-rep club is a wise move by Meyer and Co. in an effort to keep their best players fresh. There isn't a need for guys like Price to smash heads for a month when they are multi-year starters.
But as Meyer noted in 2015, it makes for some pretty awful football at times. Players who won't play huge roles in the fall do in the spring, a chance to show their coaches whether or not they can be depended upon.
“We just had the conversation and here's the issues: You're losing a little bit of chemistry in the unit,” Meyer said. “That's why sometimes it just looks really bad.”
