Matt Tamanini
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Is Ohio State essentially running next year’s team out against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We are comparing the Cotton Bowl depth chart with what the team could look like in 2024.
The last month has been an interesting one for the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes. Following a third-straight loss to Michigan, the Scarlet and Gray saw a mass exodus of mostly backup players as they headed for the transfer portal. Conversely, Ryan Day and his staff did seemingly little to bolster the lineup via the first transfer window, while the Early Signing Period brought a rollercoaster of emotions that ultimately ended on a high note for OSU.
While fans were concerned and frustrated by the Buckeyes' apparently passive approach to bringing in transfer players, it slowly started to make sense as we saw next to no NFL declarations as days turned into weeks and tonight’s Cotton Bowl approached.
At this point, we are nearly certain that Marvin Harrison Jr. has played his final game as a Buckeye, and we know that Miyan Williams (who had season-ending surgery in October) has declared for the NFL Draft. We also know that Tommy Eichenberg (who may or may not play against the Missouri Tigers tonight) is set to participate in the Senior Bowl, meaning his collegiate career is over.
Otherwise, everyone else seems to at least be considering a return to Columbus, while some like Cody Simon have declared that they will be back and others — like Jack Sawyer — have strongly hinted as such. So, that makes tonight’s game far more interesting than I ever imagined it would be when the bowl pairings were initially released.
Instead of a skeleton crew hobbled by transfers and NFL departures, the Buckeyes instead, could essentially be running out the 2024 version of the team for an exhibition game against a top-10 SEC squad. While Devin Brown will be making his first career start, and that is always a bit perilous for a quarterback, especially against a quality opponent, having this much talent play in a non-playoff bowl game during this era of college football is practically unheard of (check out the rosters for Georgia and Florida State in the Orange Bowl).
So, in my new-found giddiness for next season, I decided to put what could be next year’s starting lineup on paper and compare it to who we believe will be lining up in the Cotton Bowl in order to see just what type of preview we will be getting for next year’s version of OSU.
Now, players have until Jan. 15, 2024 to declare for the NFL Draft, so while the buzz has been that most of them will be returning, anything can happen in the two-plus weeks until the deadline, and, I’m probably a wee bit overly optimistic in terms of who will return, but vibes are vibes, and everything seems to be pointing towards a return for these players right now.
And of course, if TreVeyon Henderson goes for 275 and three touchdowns against Mizzou tonight, he could decide it’s time to head to the league. Or if J.T. Tuimoloau goes into game-wrecker mode and has four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pick-six, it would probably behoove him to get while the getting’s good. But, for now, the Magic 8 Ball is saying “Signs point to yes” about this difference-making Buckeyes being back.
There is also the question of what Day does in the portal, especially after the next wave of portal windows open following each individual bowl game. We know that Ohio State is pursuing players like former USC linebacker Tackett Curtis, so there almost certainly will be roster additions, but — with all due respect to those players — if OSU gets all of these guys back, I’m not sure that there are many guys in the portal who would supplant the returners as starters.
The one major question that I will be curious to have answered in Arlington tonight is how Devin Brown looks. Day was not aggressive in the first transfer portal window, meaning that he has to have at least some confidence in the sophomore’s ability to lead the team next season. Now, in fairness, I’m not sure that many of the guys who entered the portal would have been significant upgrades in OSU’s offense, so Day’s decision to remain quiet might have had more to do with available talent rather than the talent he already has.
But, if Brown goes out and looks good to great tonight, then I think we can all be optimistic that his progress will continue through the offseason. But, if he looks ill-equipped to play against a competent defense like Missouri’s, then maybe we see if former Kansas State QB Will Howard following a bunch of Buckeyes on social media means anything.
So, without all of those caveats out of the way, here is a way-too-early, overly-optimistic attempt to compare tonight’s lineup in the Cotton Bowl with who will be Ohio State’s starters when they open the 2024 season in September.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We are comparing the Cotton Bowl depth chart with what the team could look like in 2024.
The last month has been an interesting one for the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes. Following a third-straight loss to Michigan, the Scarlet and Gray saw a mass exodus of mostly backup players as they headed for the transfer portal. Conversely, Ryan Day and his staff did seemingly little to bolster the lineup via the first transfer window, while the Early Signing Period brought a rollercoaster of emotions that ultimately ended on a high note for OSU.
While fans were concerned and frustrated by the Buckeyes' apparently passive approach to bringing in transfer players, it slowly started to make sense as we saw next to no NFL declarations as days turned into weeks and tonight’s Cotton Bowl approached.
At this point, we are nearly certain that Marvin Harrison Jr. has played his final game as a Buckeye, and we know that Miyan Williams (who had season-ending surgery in October) has declared for the NFL Draft. We also know that Tommy Eichenberg (who may or may not play against the Missouri Tigers tonight) is set to participate in the Senior Bowl, meaning his collegiate career is over.
Otherwise, everyone else seems to at least be considering a return to Columbus, while some like Cody Simon have declared that they will be back and others — like Jack Sawyer — have strongly hinted as such. So, that makes tonight’s game far more interesting than I ever imagined it would be when the bowl pairings were initially released.
Instead of a skeleton crew hobbled by transfers and NFL departures, the Buckeyes instead, could essentially be running out the 2024 version of the team for an exhibition game against a top-10 SEC squad. While Devin Brown will be making his first career start, and that is always a bit perilous for a quarterback, especially against a quality opponent, having this much talent play in a non-playoff bowl game during this era of college football is practically unheard of (check out the rosters for Georgia and Florida State in the Orange Bowl).
So, in my new-found giddiness for next season, I decided to put what could be next year’s starting lineup on paper and compare it to who we believe will be lining up in the Cotton Bowl in order to see just what type of preview we will be getting for next year’s version of OSU.
Now, players have until Jan. 15, 2024 to declare for the NFL Draft, so while the buzz has been that most of them will be returning, anything can happen in the two-plus weeks until the deadline, and, I’m probably a wee bit overly optimistic in terms of who will return, but vibes are vibes, and everything seems to be pointing towards a return for these players right now.
And of course, if TreVeyon Henderson goes for 275 and three touchdowns against Mizzou tonight, he could decide it’s time to head to the league. Or if J.T. Tuimoloau goes into game-wrecker mode and has four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pick-six, it would probably behoove him to get while the getting’s good. But, for now, the Magic 8 Ball is saying “Signs point to yes” about this difference-making Buckeyes being back.
There is also the question of what Day does in the portal, especially after the next wave of portal windows open following each individual bowl game. We know that Ohio State is pursuing players like former USC linebacker Tackett Curtis, so there almost certainly will be roster additions, but — with all due respect to those players — if OSU gets all of these guys back, I’m not sure that there are many guys in the portal who would supplant the returners as starters.
The one major question that I will be curious to have answered in Arlington tonight is how Devin Brown looks. Day was not aggressive in the first transfer portal window, meaning that he has to have at least some confidence in the sophomore’s ability to lead the team next season. Now, in fairness, I’m not sure that many of the guys who entered the portal would have been significant upgrades in OSU’s offense, so Day’s decision to remain quiet might have had more to do with available talent rather than the talent he already has.
But, if Brown goes out and looks good to great tonight, then I think we can all be optimistic that his progress will continue through the offseason. But, if he looks ill-equipped to play against a competent defense like Missouri’s, then maybe we see if former Kansas State QB Will Howard following a bunch of Buckeyes on social media means anything.
So, without all of those caveats out of the way, here is a way-too-early, overly-optimistic attempt to compare tonight’s lineup in the Cotton Bowl with who will be Ohio State’s starters when they open the 2024 season in September.
What Is Ohio State’s Starting Lineup for the Cotton Bowl? What Is Ohio State’s 2024 Depth Chart?
Continue reading...