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August 18, 2015The Ohio State Buckeyes, coming off of their inaugural College Football Playoff Championship, are looking to repeat their result from 2014. Whether they are in scarlet, gray, white, or even black, the top-ranked Buckeyes will most likely put on a show every Saturday this fall. We will use the next several weeks to preview the impending season as defending champs.
With any new season in NCAA football, you have teams—both successful and those who are not so much—returning many key players from the season before. But with that typically comes a class of players who have either gone on to graduate or ran out of eligibility before they could do so, forcing their head coach to reach in to their respective bags of tricks to fill in those gaps left behind.
For the 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes, Urban Meyer will have to replace several key pieces on both sides of the ball. We take a look at those who are no longer with us as well as those who will be asked to step up in their place.
Key Losses
Devin Smith, WR
The first Buckeye selected in the 2015 NFL Draft, Smith will be missed in the 2015 Ohio State offense. Although he was just 6-foot-1, he was one of the most impactful deep-ball threats during his four years in Columbus.
During Ohio State’s national championship run in 2014, Smith led the Buckeyes with 931 receiving yards and a Big Ten-best 12 touchdowns, while also being named an All-Big Ten Honorable mention. During his senior campaign, the Massillon native set a single-season record with 28.2 yard per catch, which was also the best in the NCAA in 2014.
Smith’s 30 career touchdown receptions averaged 37.9 yards each. The most interesting statistic about Smith: The Buckeyes were undefeated (22-0) when he hauled in a touchdown.
With the loss of Smith, Ohio State will need another deep-ball threat to fill his role. Not only did he get the big-time touchdowns, but Smith opened up the ground game as well, as defenses had to focus on him downfield.
Evan Spencer, WR
Considered the unsung hero and MVP of the 2014 Buckeyes, Spencer was a mainstay on the outside for the scarlet and gray’s offense. He may have been ninth on the team in receptions, but Spencer was truly one of those players that did so much more than what was on the stat sheet.
In the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, Spencer not only had an incredible throw to Michael Thomas for what was not only a touchdown, but one of the best plays during the 2014 college football season, but he also recovered the onside kick to seal the victory over the “unbeatable” Alabama Crimson Tide, sending the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff Championship game.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound wideout, while known as one of the best blocking receivers in the country, also recorded 15 catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.
Before the College Football Playoff Championship game, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of Spencer, ““He’s unbelievable,” Meyer said. “He’s the MVP of our team. He’s the leader of our team. He’s the guy that at the right time, I’ll probably make an executive decision and make him a captain. He’s a wonderful kid. He’s really, to me, what football is all about.”
Spencer may not have filled up the stat sheet, but he brought a dimension to Ohio State’s offense that will be hard to replace.
Jeff Heuerman, TE
A co-captain on the National Champion squad, Heuerman started 14 of 15 games for the Buckeyes and was a second team All-Big Ten selection.
Although he did not accumulate many stats (just 17 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns), the tight end brought more to the Buckeyes than just what was on the sheet. Not only was he one of the leaders of the team, but Heuerman was always a threat in the passing game that opened up passes for other receivers.
One of the best tight ends in college football, Heuerman’s injury dwindled his last couple seasons in Columbus, but his leadership, even when injured, made the Buckeyes better.
Darryl Baldwin, OT
A defensive lineman at Solon High School in Ohio, Baldwin made the transition to the offensive line in Columbus. Earning a starting nod at offensive tackle his fourth and final season at Ohio State, he was a honorable mention All-Big Ten performer his first and only season as a starter.
The only senior along the offensive line, the right tackle helped anchor a line that ranked first in the conference in total offense (511.6 yards per game) and scoring (44.8 points per game) and second in rushing (264.5 yards per game). If it wasn’t for his selfless decision to switch to the offensive line, who knows how good Ohio State’s offense would have been in 2014.
Michael Bennett, DT
Named a co-captain for his senior season in 2014, Bennett was named a CBSSports.com First Team All-American, along with Associated Press third team and second team All-Big Ten honors.
Anchoring a defense that recorded two shutouts, the 6-foot-2, 288-pound defensive tackle recorded a tackle for loss in nine of his 15 games in 2014. He finished third on the team with 14 tackles or loss and seven sacks and was second in forced fumbles (two). In the Big Ten Championship game, he set two records with four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Anchoring down the middle of the defensive line, he opened many holes for defensive end Joey Bosa and company to get into the backfield.
Steve Miller, DE
In his first and only year as a starter, Miller played in all 15 games (started 13) at defensive end. Due to the loss of Noah Spence (transferred), the senior stepped in and filled a major hole for the Buckeyes in 2014.
Finishing with 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a very crucial pick-six in the Sugar Bowl win over No. 1 Alabama, the Canton, Ohio native stepped up big-time for Ohio State, in a much-needed spot because of the loss of Spence. No word as to whether or not he’ll go back to focus full time on his band.
Curtis Grant, MLB
Also a co-captain in 2014, Grant was the anchor in the middle of the linebacker group for the Buckeyes.
As one of the most experienced players on the Ohio State defense, Grant recorded 69 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception in 2014, including 10 tackles against Alabama and six tackles in the national championship game.
Throughout the season, Grant split-time with freshman phenom Raekwon McMillan at middle linebacker. (More on him later.)
Doran Grant, CB
The No. 1 cornerback for the Buckeyes in 2014, Grant earned first team All-Big Ten honors, and was another co-captain.
Starting all 15 games his senior season, he finished second on the team with five interceptions, which was also sixth in the conference, while also totaling 63 tackles and nine pass breakups.
Taking on the opposing team’s best receiver for the majority of the season, the Akron, Ohio native recorded two interceptions in Ohio State’s 59-0 blowout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game, which was a Big Ten Championship game record.
Against five ranked opponents in 2014, the 5-foot-11, 193-pound cornerback recorded 28 tackles and three interceptions.
Next Man Up, come on down
Johnnie Dixon (Freshman), WR
Battling through injuries in 2014, Dixon was allowed to redshirt after playing in just three games due to leg issues.
The man who gave up his No. 1 jersey to Braxton Miller (and is now No. 5), Dixon has a chance to be Devin Smith’s replacement in the deep-ball game. With a crowded group of receivers in 2015, Dixon has a shot to be “that guy” that no one knows about because of his injuries in recent years. A coveted wide receiver out of high school, he not only has the speed, but the talent to compete with the best in college football when he is healthy.
Recovering from season-ending knee surgery in 2014, the biggest question for Dixon is if he can get back to the type of player he was before his knee injury.
If he can return to the player he was pre-injury, the 5-foot-11, 194-pound receiver has the speed and elusiveness to open up the defense for the short pass game as well as the run game, along with catching the deep-ball.
Like Jalin Marshall, Dixon brings versatility to an Ohio State offense that already has plenty of it. He can play outside or in the slot, in the backfield, or even in Wildcat, along with being able to return kicks and punts as well.
Of all the receivers in 2015, Dixon has the best shot of being the Devin Smith of 2015.
Chase Farris (Senior), RT
A former defensive lineman (like Darryl Baldwin, whom he is replacing), Farris will be the only “new guy” on the Ohio State offensive line this fall.
The senior right tackle has not only impressed both in spring and fall camp, but he has been mentored by left tackle Taylor Decker, among others, in the past year. As the Buckeyes sixth offensive lineman in 2014, Farris finally settled in on the offensive line after switching back and forth early on in Columbus.
The lone new starting offensive lineman in 2015, Farris played in all 15 games and 270 plays, which was the most of any non-starter on the Ohio State offensive line.
With four years under his belt, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman has had plenty of time to learn under not only some of the best coaches in the country, but All-Americans as well.
Raekwon McMillan (Sophomore), MLB
The Buckeyes may have lost senior Curtis Grant, but they may have something better that will take over the middle of the defense. McMillan may have had plenty of significant playing time in 2014, but he did not start any of the 15 games. In those games, he racked up 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one interception, along with compiling more snaps than the starter, senior Curtis Grant in nine games.
Named a Freshman All-American by Athlon’s, 247Sports, and Scout, McMillan will be one of the leaders of the defense in 2015. The sophomore brought quickness, and an eye for the ball, wherever it may be on the field, in addition to potentially having the best name on the team.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound middle linebacker has a shot to be an All-American in his second year at Ohio State, and could be one of the best players on the Buckeyes defense in 2015. The new man in the middle of the defense will accept the challenge to be the “quarterback” of the defense.
Gareon Conley (Sophomore), CB
With Eli Apple’s role changing to the top cornerback in the Ohio State defensive backfield (to replace former Buckeye’s top cornerback Doran Grant), Conley will most likely move into the second cornerback spot in the defense, although he will be pushed by players like freshman Damon Webb in camp.
Playing in all 15 games in 2014, the redshirt sophomore played 160 snaps as a corner. With just 16 tackles and two pass break-ups, his third-year in Columbus will play just a bit different than his first two years.
The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback will not only be a starter, but will also be the Buckeyes second best cornerback for the scarlet and gray, and much of the pass defense will depend on him.
He may not have much experience being a cornerback in college, but the highly-coveted defensive back has been able to learn under the wings of now-NFL corners Bradley Roby and Doran Grant.
1 Comment
“Inaugural” instead of “first annual”?? Yes, please.
This Dixon kid looks like a talented bloke. But can he stay healthy? Who else is lined up in case he can’t?