Ohio State Spring Football Overview – Tight Ends

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison

“The Wizard Of Menlo Park”, Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, and is considered to be America’s greatest inventor.  For all of Edison’s achievements as an inventor, perhaps Edison’s greatest attribute was his refusal to give up.  Edison’s perspective was that he never failed during his experiments, but that he had found 10,000 ways that did not work.

I am guessing Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will not begrudge Edison’s approach to opportunity, as there is a substantial opportunity within the Buckeye offense for someone to claim the starting tight end position due to the departure of Marcus Baugh as the starter.  With three returning players, and an incoming recruit, someone needs to step up and become a starter for the Buckeyes in 2018.

Over the next few weeks, I will be writing articles that will examine the various position groups within the team, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Game, scheduled for April 14th. These pieces will look at the position groups from positions of least concern to greatest concern, based upon the returning players, incoming recruits, and performances that were seen throughout the 2017 season.

With spring practice, the threat of injury is of paramount concern, and the possibilities of transfers during/following spring practice can have an impact upon the position rankings. As always, it is my sincere hope that these articles will spark discussion and dialogue, and I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I look forward to writing them. Onto the subject at hand, the 2018 Ohio State tight ends.

Players Lost:  Marcus Baugh (eligibility), A.J. Alexander (injury retirement), Kierre Hawkins (transfer)

Players Returning:  Rashod Berry (Redshirt Junior), Luke Farrell (Redshirt Sophomore), Jake Hausmann (Redshirt Sophomore)

Incoming Recruits:  Jeremy Ruckert

Why did I rank the tight ends as a position of medium concern?  In previous posts, the position groups were ranked lower in terms of concern as there were players returning within that group who had extensive playing experience.  With the tight ends, that experience is severely limited.

Looking at Ohio State’s 2017 season statistics, Marcus Baugh ranked fourth on the Buckeyes with 28 receptions and five touchdown catches.  Backup Rashod Berry appeared in all 14 games last season, but with minimal statistics, finishing with just six receptions and two touchdowns.  Please do not misunderstand me — when Berry had an opportunity to make a catch, he made the most of it.  I am merely pointing out his inexperience compared to Marcus Baugh.

Of the other tight ends on the roster, Luke Farrell was credited with two receptions for 19 yards in 2018.  Going from 28 receptions with one player, down to 8 receptions between two players is the reason why tight end is ranked as a position of concern heading into 2018.

A.J. Alexander, who signed with Ohio State in 2015, was forced to retire due to a knee injury sustained last spring. He could have helped the Buckeyes this year.

Rashod Berry, Luke Farrell, and Jake Hausmann cannot get too comfortable with their respective positions on the depth chart, as incoming freshman recruit Jeremy Ruckert will be arriving on campus this summer.

While a true freshman, Ruckert was considered to be the best tight end prospect in the nation, and could quickly move up the depth chart.

Here is a look at what Ruckert can provide for an offense.