Buckeyes still strong despite Meyer issues
It’s hard to discuss Ohio State without addressing the elephant in the room.
The off-the-field drama surrounding head coach Urban Meyer and former assistant Zach Smith has been an unwanted distraction for the players throughout much of preseason camp. The Buckeyes have tried to filter out distractions, making players and coaches unavailable to the media.
On the field, Ohio State is still regarded as the team to beat in the Big Ten with four- and five-star athletes filling much of the roster. That’s why the Buckeyes are No. 5 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.
State Ohio
Urban Meyer (73-8, entering seventh season; 177-31 overall)
12-2, 8-1 in Big Ten Conference, first in East Division
Ohio State opened the 2017 campaign No. 2 in the preseason rankings, but the Buckeyes suffered a humiliating loss to No. 5 Oklahoma in Columbus during the second week of the season. Ohio State bounced back to win its next six games by an average of 35 points. But a rash of miscues cost the team during a heartbreaking 55-24 loss to Iowa on Nov. 4. Ohio State would finish the regular season with three straight wins. Left out of the College Football Playoff semifinals, Ohio State had to settle for a 24-7 win over USC in the Cotton Bowl. 4 7
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QB J.T. Barrett, TE Marcus Baugh, OL Jamarco Jones OL Billy Price, DL Tracy Sprinkle, DL Jalyn Holmes, DE Tyquan Lewis, DE Sam Hubbard, LB Chris Worley, LB Jerome Baker, DB Denzel Ward, DB Damon Webb
RB J.K. Dobbins, WR Parris Campbell, WR Terry McLaurin, WR Austin Mack, OL Michael Jordan, OL Demetrius Knox, OL Brandon Bowen, OL Isaiah Prince, DE Nick Bosa, DT Dre’Mont Jones, DB Damon Arnette, DB Jordan Fuller
The quarterback competition cleared itself up a bit with Joe Burrow’s decision to transfer to LSU, leaving sophomore Dwayne Haskins and freshman Tate Martell in a battle to replace J.T. Barrett. The versatile Haskins is the most likely candidate to earn the job after serving as the primary backup in 2017.
Ohio State has featured the top rushing offense in the Big Ten and should build on that success. The receiver position also is deep and talented.
All-American Nick Bosa is back after leading the team in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (7.5).
The Buckeyes have produced three first-round DBs in the past two NFL drafts, with Denzel Ward being the latest. Ohio State must offset the loss of all-conference center Michael Jordan.
The Buckeyes’ success will hinge on how they handle off-field distractions.