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THE PERSONNEL
Luke Farrell (RS-SR): In his final season as a Buckeye, Farrell returns as a second-year starter. The Perry native led all tight ends with 459 snaps last season, but he only caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The conference's coaches voted him a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019. A steady tight end, Farrell is arguably the least-discussed returning starter despite his reliability. Once again, the 6-foot-6, 258-pounder is expected to start.

Jake Hausmann (RS-SR): Out of Archbishop Moeller, Hausmann was rated as the nation's fourth-best tight end. Though he's entering his fifth season at Ohio State, he still has yet to break through. Hausmann played a career-high 235 snaps last year, and he'll likely be the third-string tight end in the fall, becoming a weapon in multi-tight end sets.

Jeremy Ruckert (JR): The top receiving tight end on the roster, Ruckert enters his junior year after a 14-catch, 142-yard, four-touchdown 2019 season. His biggest moment as a Buckeye came in December with his touchdown in the Big Ten championship game. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound junior will look to maintain his momentum this fall.

Cade Stover (RS-FR): Unlike everybody else on the roster, Stover has taken a circuitous path to become a tight end. The Mansfield native entered the program as a linebacker, got moved to defensive end midway through his freshman season, then was turned into a tight end this spring. It's unfair to expect much from him this fall as he continues to learn the position, but his 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame gives him long-term potential.

Joe Royer (FR): In the 2020 cycle, Royer was the only tight end to sign with the Buckeyes. The three-star recruit joined his Cincinnati Elder teammate, Jakob James, in the class. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Royer was ranked as the No. 405 overall prospect and 14th-best tight end.

Ohio State also has one tight end committed in a future class.

Sam Hart (2021): Two days after the Buckeyes fell to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, Hart committed to Ohio State. A three-star prospect from Aurora, Colorado, he's expected to be one of two tight ends to sign with the Buckeyes in the 2021 cycle. Hart is the No. 373 overall recruit and 16th-ranked tight end.
 
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How quickly can freshmen get up to speed for Buckeyes?
One practice is about the smallest sample size available, but C.J. Stroud was clearly flashing his potential in March during his first workout with the Buckeyes. Unfortunately for both him and Miller, there would only be two more practices before the pandemic forced programs around the country to cancel spring camps and lock players out of team facilities — a ban that will be lifted for Ohio State next week.

That camp was going to be a huge deal for the early enrollees as Stroud and Miller tried to gear up to compete for the starting job. But beyond trying to back up Fields this year, those sessions were also setting the foundation of a much more pressing battle that will linger into next season as the two duel to become the next starter for the Buckeyes. Stroud has dual-threat ability, a confident swagger and a style that is reminiscent of Haskins. Miller has a big arm, he’s more mobile than he tends to get credit for and was an early recruiting target for Day for a reason. Two quarterbacks signing in the same class ensures they will always be compared against each, and it’s going to be wildly entertaining to watch those talented quarterbacks push each other to improve.

Can Corey Dennis keep Ohio State quarterbacks rolling?
Obviously it helps that the head coach knows a thing or two about developing passers and putting them in systems that play to their strengths. That’s certainly a nice security blanket for Corey Dennis, but by now he probably doesn’t need it after learning under Day’s wings for the last few years and proving that he was ready for the full-time role when the opportunity arrived in the offseason.

Of course, it’s also true that the spotlight will be bright on the first-time coach with Day trusting him with both the most important position on the roster in his hands and a Heisman Trophy candidate. Dennis has been around the program long enough to know the expectation, though, and he’s quietly been earning rave reviews from the decorated quarterbacks he’s worked with while serving as the senior quality control coach for the Buckeyes. This shutdown threw a wrinkle at Dennis and the quarterbacks as they had to work remotely, but so far all indications suggest Day’s faith in him will pay off for Ohio State.
 
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Dwayne Haskins’ impressive 2018 season at Ohio State was no fluke. In his first year as a starter, the redshirt sophomore shattered all sorts of program and Big Ten records. He demolished the conference’s record for passing yards in a season with his 4,831 yards through the air— nearly 1,000 more than the previous mark. He also took down Drew Brees’ record for most passing TD’s in a B1G season with 50 — 11 more than Brees had in 1998.

Then 2019 came along, and yet another Ohio State QB put up big numbers in Columbus. Justin Fields stepped foot on campus and immediately became a Heisman contender, passing for over 3,200 yards with 41 TDs (51 total) and just three interceptions. All of the sudden, the Buckeyes had gone from an offense more known for the power run to one that was dominating in the passing game. What changed?

The answer: Ryan Day.
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Ryan Day has clearly made a huge impact on the Buckeyes’ offense during his early tenure in Columbus, and that is no more apparent than at quarterback. The last two QBs to play in his system have been/will be first round NFL Draft picks, and the future of the position looks like it could very well continue that way for quite some time. The track record is pretty darn good so far, and while Ohio State hasn’t exactly been rich in tradition at quarterback over the years, that will not be the case as long as Day is around.

Question: Who is the real "QB whisperer" in this photo?

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:biggrin:
 
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Spencer Holbrook: Justin Fields will flirt with 4,000 passing yards
Fields was brilliant last season, but he only had 3,273 yards passing in the Buckeyes offense. While J.K. Dobbins was rushing for 2,000 yards and setting records, Fields didn’t have to do as much with his arm. This season might play out differently. With a banged up stable of running backs, coupled with an expanded Ryan Day playbook, Fields will have everything at his disposal to put up video game numbers. Could that mean getting to 4,000 yards passing? I crunched the numbers a few weeks ago and left him 11 yards short of that mark — but he can find those 11 passing yards somewhere along the way.

Birm: Justin Fields will account for 60 touchdowns
If the Buckeyes play a full season, there is nothing outside of injury that should stop the Heisman frontrunner from accumulating statistics close to what Joe Burrow put up in his senior season at LSU.mBurrow threw 60 touchdowns and rushed for five more, and while Fields may not break that total, the odds of him reaching 60 total scores in a 13- or 14-game season are very high. Ohio State will have one of the country’s most high-powered offenses, and with fresh legs and no J.K. Dobbins absorbing 300-plus carries, Fields will be turned loose on defenses all season long.
 
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STATE OF THE POSITION: OHIO STATE'S OFFENSIVE LINE WILL POTENTIALLY BE COUNTRY'S BEST IN 2020, SET UP FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

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Throughout the course of the offseason, Eleven Warriors is taking an in-depth look at the state of every position group at Ohio State.

Not too long ago, concerns about Ohio State's offensive line depth and Greg Studrawa's ability to recruit the highest level of players up front persisted. Nobody's asking those questions right now.

Rather, the Buckeyes are set up to have what could be one of the country's best offensive lines this season and what should be a strong unit for years to come. They bring back three starters, will likely have two first-year starters who were once five-star recruits and will have eight linemen with freshman eligibility.

Let's take a deeper look at Ohio State's offensive line.

THE PERSONNEL
Gavin Cupp (RS-SR): The 6-foot-4, 308-pound guard is entering his final year in the program, aiming to win a starting job for the first time. But both due to the talent of a couple of underclassmen and a foot injury that held him out of winter workouts and the beginning of spring practice, Cupp is viewed as an underdog. The native of Leipsic could use a strong preseason camp.

Thayer Munford (SR): In the same high school class as Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers, Munford won a starting job before either of them. He became the starting left tackle in 2018 and still holds the spot. Munford has played more career snaps (1,922) than anybody else on the team. He has also battled back and ankle injuries, though. More than anything, he needs to get – and remain – healthy.

Wyatt Davis (RS-JR): A first-team All-American last season, Davis easily could have left Columbus in favor of the NFL draft. Instead, he's back for what most anticipate will be his final season as a Buckeye. Expect to see Davis on just about every preseason All-American list. He could repeat on the first-team.

Josh Myers (RS-JR): After serving as a backup for two years, Myers stepped in as the starting center in 2019, becoming a second-team All-Big Ten honoree. It's not out of the question that he'll put himself in Rimington Trophy consideration by the year's end. The Miamisburg native thrives as a run blocker, especially at the second level. To take the next step, he'll look to shore up his pass protection.

Nicholas Petit-Frere (RS-SO): As Studrawa recently said, it should be Petit-Frere's "time to shine." The third-year offensive tackle has served as a backup the past two years while putting on weight, playing 240 snaps last season, the most among all non-starting linemen. Now, with the starting right tackle job open, it's go time. Petit-Frere, once ranked the top offensive line recruit in the 2018 cycle, is the favorite to fill the spot.

Matthew Jones (RS-SO): Sometimes overlooked, Jones is only two years removed from joining Ohio State as the nation's best center recruit. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Brooklyn native has backed up the interior linemen the past two seasons. Studrawa said Jones impressed in the three practices this spring, making him a candidate to start at left guard. He's an underdog to Harry Miller, however.

Max Wray (RS-SO): A 6-foot-7, 308-pound offensive tackle, Wray looks the part of an impactful lineman. That hasn't helped him get onto the field, though. The one-time top-150 overall recruit did not play a single offensive snap in either 2018 or 2019. Again, Wray's contributions will likely come on special teams in 2020.

Harry Miller (SO): A five-star recruit and valedictorian out of Georgia's Buford High School, Miller has the distinction as one of only three returning offensive linemen who didn't redshirt as freshmen. Miller played the most snaps among backup interior linemen in 2020 (181). He now finds himself as the heavy favorite to start at left guard.

Dawand Jones (SO): The 6-foot-8, 359-pound offensive tackle perhaps better known as Big Thanos surprisingly didn't redshirt as a freshman despite not being ranked among the 1,000 best prospects in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Jones played 90 offensive snaps in his first season. He's competing for the open right tackle spot, but he's an underdog.

Enokk Vimahi (RS-FR): Originally, Vimahi planned to attend Ohio State for his freshman season before taking a two-year mission trip for his church, keeping him away from the team until 2022. Instead, he won't go on a mission until his career in Columbus comes to an end. Vimahi will likely serve as a backup in 2020 before competing for starting spots in future seasons.

Ryan Jacoby (RS-FR): A Mentor native, Jacoby didn't get onto the field as a true freshman at all. Rather, he spent the entirety of the year developing in practice and the weight room, preparing for future seasons. Jacoby likely won't play much this year either, though, he'll probably get his first offensive snaps. He's a guard at Ohio State.

Paris Johnson Jr. (FR): The crown jewel of Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class. Johnson, who's 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, was the No. 9 overall recruit and top-rated offensive lineman in the cycle. He's drawn unfair comparisons to all-time great offensive tackles, including Orlando Pace. As a freshman, Johnson will compete with Petit-Frere and Jones to start at right tackle.

Trey Leroux (FR): At 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds, Leroux plays at a nearly unmatched size. However, he's a raw offensive lineman who was the lowest-rated signee in Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class as the No. 1,136 overall prospect. Most view him as a long-term offensive tackle in college, but he opened spring camp lining up at guard.

Luke Wypler (FR): Ohio State's continued loading up of top interior lineman prospects over the past couple of years included Wypler, who was the No. 107 overall prospect and second-ranked center in the 2020 cycle. The New Jersey native was committed for 18 months before signing with the Buckeyes. He's a potential future starting center.

Grant Toutant (FR): At one point, Toutant planned to leave his home state of Michigan in order to play football at Penn State. However, largely because of Ohio State's automotive engineering program, he flipped commitments. Toutant, a future offensive tackle, was the No. 461 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle.

Josh Fryar (FR): Though Fryar is listed as an offensive guard by major recruiting services, he's a versatile lineman capable of playing multiple positions. The Indiana native with a dad who played for the Hoosiers committed to Ohio State over his hometown team. Fryar was the No. 508 overall recruit in his class.

Jakob James (FR): One of the many Cincinnati natives to join the Buckeyes in the 2020 class, James hails from Elder High School. A bit undersized at the moment, he'll have plenty of time to develop. He's the No. 849 overall recruit and 55th-best offensive guard in the 2020 cycle.

Ohio State also has three offensive linemen committed in future classes.

Donovan Jackson (2021): In recent years, Ohio State has recruited offensive linemen at an exceptional clip. Jackson's a prime example. The Buckeyes landed a commitment from the Texan – who has family in Cincinnati and whose father is from the Cleveland area – in January. Since then, he has gained his fifth star while turning into the No. 18 overall prospect and top-ranked guard in American.

Ben Christman (2021): The future collegiate offensive tackle committed to Ohio State over a year ago and has been key to its recruiting efforts ever since. The Revere High School rising senior is the No. 104 overall prospect and 15th-rated offensive tackle in his class.

Tegra Tshabola (2022): As the second player to commit to Ohio State in the 2022 cycle, Tshabola is one of the building blocks of the class. Currently, the Lakota West rising junior is the No. 69 overall prospect and sixth-ranked offensive tackle in his class.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...set-up-to-potentially-be-nations-best-in-2020
 
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Is Trey Sermon ready for stardom?
Everything wound up falling perfectly into place the second time Trey Sermon and Ohio State were looking to join forces. And the Oklahoma transfer has every tool needed to become a breakout star in the Buckeyes system.

Before his knee injury shortened his final season with the Sooners, Sermon was continuing to show his impressive burst, physical rushing style and versatility that makes him a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. He finished his career in the Big 12 with 25 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards of offense, and his veteran experience will also give him an edge now that he’s able to join the Buckeyes and prepare for training camp. Sermon is still going to have to compete for the job, but he has all the makings of being a weapon who can push Ohio State over the top.

Will Ohio State use committee approach at tailback?
Tony Alford often jokes about not having access to a crystal ball, and artful dodge to the seemingly annual questions about how he’ll distribute carries to the tailbacks. And this year in particular, there was really no way for the respected running backs coach to know what the best approach would be when he was simply trying to get through spring camp with one healthy scholarship rusher on the depth chart.

The Buckeyes have had mixed results with splitting the workload, and odds are they won’t be in a hurry to recreate some of the issues that seemingly slowed the rushing attack when Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins were sharing touches two years ago. It can’t be ruled out that Alford could mix and match the personnel on hand this year, tinkering with different packages and highlighting the various strengths of his tailbacks. But the ideal scenario remains finding one guy who can do everything the Buckeyes need, and Sermon likely will fit that bill.
 
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Was in the Fields thread a couple minutes ago when I started thinking about just how good our WR corps could be this season. First, our starting three WRs:

Olave: One of the smoothest route runners ever...could end up being as good as Michael Thomas
Wilson: Faster, more athletic version of KJ Hill
Williams: Faster version of Binjimen Victor

Returning scholarship vets:

Babb: Has yet to see the field due to recurring injuries
Harris: Senior, hasn't seen the field much other than on special teams
Gill: Inside track to be Wilson's backup in the slot
Saunders: Reliable backup, team captain last year
Gardiner: RS Jr, not a whole lot of PT so far

None of the returning WRs other than the projected starting three have set themselves as clear #2 guys, with the possible exception of Harris at the slot. Which leads us to:

Incoming freshmen:

Fleming: What can you say? Rated as the #1 WR in the country per 247 composite. 5-star. Absolute monster.
Smith-Njigba: Another 5*, rated as the #5 WR in the country per 247 composite.
Scott, Jr.: Rated as the #10 WR in the country per 247 composite. Actually bigger than Fleming. Lit camps up. Some think he may be the best of the incoming bunch.
Cooper: Rated as the #16 WR in the country per 247 composite. Built for the slot position, and could likely be Wilson's backup right out the gate. Versatile enough to play other positions (HB, KR, PR).

What I see is Olave, Wilson, and Williams getting the starting snaps and playing the virtually entire first half, with Saunders and Gill coming in for a few plays to give the starters a rest. Then, in the second half of blowouts, Stroud comes in at QB and slings the shit out of the ball to the newbie WRs. In games that aren't complete blowouts, along with later in the season, I see a couple of the true freshmen WRs moving up ahead of Gill, Saunders, etc., as the #2 WRs.
 
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Was in the Fields thread a couple minutes ago when I started thinking about just how good our WR corps could be this season. First, our starting three WRs:

Olave: One of the smoothest route runners ever...could end up being as good as Michael Thomas
Wilson: Faster, more athletic version of KJ Hill
Williams: Faster version of Binjimen Victor

Returning scholarship vets:

Babb: Has yet to see the field due to recurring injuries
Harris: Senior, hasn't seen the field much other than on special teams
Gill: Inside track to be Wilson's backup in the slot
Saunders: Reliable backup, team captain last year
Gardiner: RS Jr, not a whole lot of PT so far

None of the returning WRs other than the projected starting three have set themselves as clear #2 guys, with the possible exception of Harris at the slot. Which leads us to:

Incoming freshmen:

Fleming: What can you say? Rated as the #1 WR in the country per 247 composite. 5-star. Absolute monster.
Smith-Njigba: Another 5*, rated as the #5 WR in the country per 247 composite.
Scott, Jr.: Rated as the #10 WR in the country per 247 composite. Actually bigger than Fleming. Lit camps up. Some think he may be the best of the incoming bunch.
Cooper: Rated as the #16 WR in the country per 247 composite. Built for the slot position, and could likely be Wilson's backup right out the gate. Versatile enough to play other positions (HB, KR, PR).

What I see is Olave, Wilson, and Williams getting the starting snaps and playing the virtually entire first half, with Saunders and Gill coming in for a few plays to give the starters a rest. Then, in the second half of blowouts, Stroud comes in at QB and slings the shit out of the ball to the newbie WRs. In games that aren't complete blowouts, along with later in the season, I see a couple of the true freshmen WRs moving up ahead of Gill, Saunders, etc., as the #2 WRs.
Gill will have a huge season..... in Boston College lol.

Otherwise I agree with what you said.

I'd add that Jameson is much faster than Ben too.

I really like Cooper to be honest. He's thick for a smaller guy and I think he's going to be such a weapon in the slot for us. Maybe enough so that we bring back the motion stuff into the backfield.
 
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There will be a "learning curve" for the new guys. They have to stay healthy and learn how to play major college football. Some will. Some won't. Some will hit the portal. Again our overall depth will be a huge asset. Many teams will fade. Many may not even find their stride because of all the disruption. The chaos.
 
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Depth is only an advantage (other than injury replacement) if you use it. Fortunately, we do. Hartline and Day are so aggressive with the rotation and I love that. I'm really hoping that we implement a RB version of the "release and keep releasing the hounds" strategy.
 
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Depth is only an advantage (other than injury replacement) if you use it. Fortunately, we do. Hartline and Day are so aggressive with the rotation and I love that. I'm really hoping that we implement a RB version of the "release and keep releasing the hounds" strategy.
That's what I'm most excited for...we will see I think most of these young provided they stay healthy and a lot of them.

This is the deepest talent pool at WR/RB I can remember. Sure the experience isn't there but WR is a position you don't need experience to flash IMO.
 
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I certainly wouldn't want to be an opposing cornerback. By the end of the first quarter, you're winded and we keep rotating fresh, fast receivers at you. We don't even have to throw to them. They're not just decoys. Wearing out opposing DBs early is a real strength that should be used.
 
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