2018 Ohio State Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes were all set to open a new era with the graduation of J.T. Barrett and the new dimension that comes with Dwayne Haskins before the name Zack Smith became one that football fans across the country recognized and threatened to end the Ohio State career of one Urban Meyer.

Ryan Day will coach the Buckeyes in their three games without Meyer and he will have a young quarterback in Dwayne Haskins to nurse through any early struggles.
Haskins brings the type of arm that has rarely been seen around Columbus of late and he'll give the Buckeye wideouts chances to get downfield that they did not have with the weaker arm of J.T. Barrett.
Tate Martell backs up Haskins and will likely see some playing time as well as Haskins could leave Columbus with a good season so Ohio State will find snaps for Martell as insurance.
We'll see if freshman Matthew Baldwin or West Virginia graduate transfer Chris Chuginov can find time for snaps of their own behind Martell.

The running game is well manned with sophomore J.K. Dobbins and junior Mike Weber.
Dobbins is a bit more explosive than the chain-moving Weber, but the ground attack will be strong with both or even either carrying the ball.
Sophomore DeMario McCall will be the top answer in case of injury to either of the top two with freshmen Brian Snead and Master Teague attempting to earn carries as well.

Senior Parris Campbell is the starter at H-Back after a strong junior year, but he is pressed for time by his two junior backups K.J. Hill and C.J Saunders, both of whom occasionally impressed last season.
On the outside, Seniors Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon have been unable to separate from the other on one side, while juniors Austin Mack and Binjimin Victor both bring big-play potential on the other end of the formation.
Victor is my pick to be the breakout star on the offense.
Sophomore Luke Farrell has battled junior Rashad Berry to start at tight end, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see freshman Jeremy Ruckert as the top receiver at the position by season's end.

The offensive line saw a major surprise when 2017 All-Big 10 guard Michael Jordan was moved to center.
At 6'7, there will be few centers of Jordan's size in the college game and he brings the type of blocking that should blow holes up the middle.
Seniors Demetrius Knox and Malcolm Pridgeon will start the season at guard, but redshirt frosh Wyatt Davis might be ending the season there.
Senior Isaiah Prince starts at right tackle with sophomore Thayer Munford sharing the left tackle slot with junior Joshua Alabi.
Heralded freshmen Nicholas Petit-Frere will see time as well after being listed as the top tackle recruit in the nation.

The defensive line is right with Clemson's as the most talented in the country.
The ends are the most impressive with a potential player of the year in Nick Bosa on one side and Jonathan Cooper alternating with Chase Young on the other.
Cooper and Young will benefit from Bosa's pass rush, but both are loaded with talent themselves and could be eventual first-round picks as well.
The interior line may not have the flash and names, but have plenty of talent in starters Robert Landers and Dre'Mont Jones.
The Buckeyes will rotate several players at defensive tackle with Haskell Garrett and Davon Hamilton having the most experience.

Junior Malik Harrison returns to start at a linebacker slot around two sophomores.
Baron Browning won one spot after an injury to Tuf Borland and Pete Werner surprisingly beat out a senior in Dante Booker to win the other starting position.
Juniors DeAndre Jones and Justin Hilliard will also see plenty of time and will have a chance to break into the starting lineup.

The cornerbacks look strong with juniors Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette starting and sophomore Jeffrey Okudah as the third corner and could be the star by the end of the season.
Redshirt freshman Shaun Wade is the fourth cornerback in nickel and dime alignments.
Junior Jordan Fuller and sophomore Isaiah Pryor won the starting safety jobs but will be pushed by sophomores Jahsen Wint and Amir Riep.

Sean Nuernberger returns at kicker and Drue Christman will replace Cameron Johnston as the punter.
DeMario McCall will be the main returner on kickoffs and punts.

The Buckeyes look strong and are more than capable of winning the Big Ten.
Still, the schedule isn't easy with TCU in a "neutral" site game in Dallas, Penn State and Michigan State on the road and a desperate Michigan team in Columbus.
I think Ohio State will lose one of those three road games, but I think they'll recover, finish 11-1 and go back to Indianapolis for a return match against Wisconsin for the Big 10 title game.