Though Ohio State is set to have seven fifth-year seniors on its roster this fall, Urban Meyer's sixth team in Columbus is still on the relatively young side of the coin. Thirty players hold sophomore eligibility and only 12 are in their final season of college football as allowed by the NCAA.
Meyer led the youngest team in the country to the College Football Playoff in 2016. He then lost six players early to the NFL Draft, which puts the pressure on those older guys that returned to lead even more. Setting the groundwork for that began in winter workouts, expanded at the start of spring practice a few weeks ago and will continue all summer.
Meyer said on the first day of spring practice that he and his staff had already put together a leadership committee for the "first time in a while," likely an exercise due to both having strong heads up top and nine members of the 2017 recruiting class already enrolled. He wants to accelerate everything.
“I'm not going to give you names yet but have a group of players,” Meyer said. “Made a comment that we had a very, this is as strong a group of leaders that we've had.”
J.T. Barrett, Billy Price and Tyquan Lewis — three fifth-year senior starters and faces of the program — were all listed as captains on the spring roster a team spokesman handed to media members on March 7. Seeing the capital "C" next to their names was hardly a surprise — all three served as the head of the team's leadership panel a year ago. Barrett is also a three-time captain, the first in school history.
Meyer typically opens the floor to his players to vote on captains at some point during training camp in August. After tapping five captains in each of his first three seasons in Columbus, the number has increased by one each of the last two years. For reference:
| Season | Team Captains |
|---|---|
| 2012 | John Simon, Zach Boren, Etienne Sabino, Garrett Goebel, Jordan Hall |
| 2013 | Jack Mewhort, C.J. Barnett, Kenny Guiton, Corey Linsley, Philly Brown |
| 2014 | Michael Bennett, Curtis Grant, Doran Grant, Jeff Heuerman, Braxton Miller |
| 2015 | Jacoby Boren, J.T. Barrett, Taylor Decker, Joshua Perry, Braxton Miller and Tyvis Powell |
| 2016 | J.T. Barrett, Pat Elflein, Raekwon McMillan, Joe Burger, Tyquan Lewis, Billy Price and Gareon Conley |
Experience is obviously key to be named a captain. Every player that has been named a captain was a starter except for Joe Burger, the walk-on linebacker who ran multiple special teams units for the Buckeyes before he graduated. Burger, Conley, Lewis and Price were voted as captains by their peers alongside Barrett, Raekwon McMillan and Pat Elflein last August.
There has also been an exceptional balance among the team leaders. Every position on offense and defense has been represented with at least one captainship in Meyer's tenure. The specialists continue to hold out hope for some love.
The Buckeyes actually voted eight as captains ahead of the 2013 season before Meyer whittled the number to five after the team went 12-2. Barrett is an exception to the assumption that only seniors are named captain. Since he is already one this fall along with Lewis and Price, it would make sense for Ohio State to add two or three more before kickoff at Indiana on Aug. 31.
ALREADY IN
J.T. Barrett: As previously mentioned, Barrett is the first three-time captain in school history. He is also the starting quarterback. Yeah, let's move on.
Billy Price: Voted in by his peers a year ago and shifting to center like his best friend and former fellow offensive lineman Pat Elflein, Price teams with Barrett as the pillars in an offense that must improve from a year ago. Price is entering his fourth year as a starter too, just for good measure.
Tyquan Lewis: He of quiet strength, Lewis was named the 2016 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after he led the Buckeyes with eight sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Lewis could have left for the NFL Draft. He returned to lead Ohio State's on its quest to return to the College Football Playoff.
PROBABLES
Chris Worley: Another fifth-year senior, Worley bided his time and waited his turn to start at linebacker for Luke Fickell. He did that in 2016 and thrived, finishing with 69 tackles — fourth-most on the team. A move to the middle in place of McMillan means he is the quarterback of the defense and, along with Lewis, a commander of the entire unit. Already being more vocal as he leads the linebackers through its transition from Fickell to new coach Billy Davis, Worley's presence will be instrumental for the Buckeyes this fall.
Tracy Sprinkle: When Sprinkle left Ohio State's 77-10 decimation of Bowling Green on a cart last September, his teammates on the defensive line did not mince words about how much they would miss him during the season. Larry Johnson said he saw Sprinkle's emotions spill out of him after undergoing surgery for a patella injury. Back for a fifth year and already the subject of a story that includes him getting kicked off the team three years ago to becoming a starter before last season, Sprinkle teams with Lewis as the main leaders on the defensive line.
50/50
Jalyn Holmes: Holmes teams up with Sprinkle, Lewis, Sam Hubbard and many others to form a terrifyingly talented defensive front for Johnson to work with. A true senior, Holmes really came into his own in 2016, namely in the Rushmen package where Johnson dispatched him, Hubbard, Lewis and Nick Bosa on passing situations to get after the quarterback. A vibrant personality, terrific interview and emotional player, really the only reason we don't have Holmes as a probable is because two other assumed captains are defensive linemen.
Damon Webb: However you feel Webb performed in 2016 alongside three potential first-round draft picks, he is the only starter in the secondary back for Greg Schiano and Kerry Coombs. Another true senior, the younger Buckeyes (and Schiano) will look to Webb to lead. Even if he isn't as vocal as some others on the team.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES
Terry McLaurin: Ohio State does not have a senior wide receiver on its roster for the 2017 season after James Clark elected to graduate and transfer. McLaurin, Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell are all redshirt juniors. McLaurin's name has been brought up often in recent years by Barrett, Meyer and others when asked about the leaders in the wide receivers room. Does that mean he will earn captain status?
Jerome Baker: Baker exploded in 2016 in place of an injured Dante Booker, turning in an All-Big Ten-caliber season with 83 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Only a true junior, Baker is a phenomenal player who, provided he stays healthy, is likely bound for the NFL in 2018. One of the best players on the defense, Baker could earn the nod from his peers.
Denzel Ward: Like Webb, Ward is another presumed starter in the secondary that must replace three stars. He played a ton of snaps last season and is a junior. To put it simply, Ward must become a dependable player on the outside of Ohio State's defense. His experience could warrant a captaincy.
It will be interesting to see how many captains Urban Meyer's staff allows from a team vote standpoint. He said in 2013 the reason there were eight in fall camp was because the votes were so close.
The three already named as team leaders will also have a say. They will represent the key pieces in Ohio State's hunt to return to the Big Ten Championship.
