DE: JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE
While Chase Young was the clear-cut star of Ohio State’s defensive ends last year, the Buckeyes’ edge-rush production from that position is expected to be more by committee in 2020. Even so, Jean-Baptiste has been somewhat of an afterthought in the months leading up to the season, with Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith, Jonathon Cooper and Tyler Friday expected to be Ohio State’s top four at the position.
Perhaps he shouldn’t be, though, considering that Jean-Baptiste was named by Ohio State’s strength and conditioning staff as one of the team’s most improved players after winter workouts. Jean-Baptiste didn’t make a ton of plays last season, and his playing time decreased over the course of the year as a result, but he’s very physically gifted at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds and could be ready for a breakout now that he has a year of playing experience under his belt.
Second-year defensive end Noah Potter is another player who could potentially fit this category, but with the number of defensive ends still in front of him on the depth chart, his chance for a breakout season is probably more likely to come in 2021.
