There’s an inherent problem with projecting an Ohio State spring defensive depth chart without knowing exactly what kind of defense the Buckeyes are going to employ in 2019.
I have been told that they are looking at more of a nickel look with a full-time hybrid linebacker/safety that both Maryland and Michigan used last season. With the way offenses are nowadays, it’s not an unusual defensive set up. In fact, Ohio State used to use it quite a bit under Jim Tressel. Back then they called it the Star. Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller were a pair of playmakers at the position. Michigan calls it the Viper. We’ll see what Ohio State ends up calling it this time around.
We haven’t spoken to any coaches since the season ended, so we don’t know how things are going to go. And having an entirely new defensive staff in the back seven makes this exercise even more difficult.
But since it’s January (and we’ve already done the offensive depth chart), let’s just go ahead and get crazy and project two depth charts. One based on normalcy, and the other based on the possibility that OSU goes with the 4-2-5.
This is subject to massive, massive change, so don’t print this out and post it around town. The back seven could be waaaaaay off. I’m okay with that.
[Note: Again, this is only a spring projection, meaning the freshmen that have not arrived yet will not be listed.]
Defensive End
2 Chase Young, Jr
54 Tyler Friday, So OR
9 Jashon Cornell, rSr OR
17 Alex Williams, rFr
Noah Potter, Fr
Let’s not get hung up on where the backups are, because guys like Tyler Friday and Tyreke Smith will rotate freely. I’m interested to see if Jashon Cornell slides back inside since Larry Johnson has four defensive ends that he likes and also has a need at the three tech.
Defensive Tackle
92 Haskell Garrett, Jr OR
6 Taron Vincent, So OR
9 Jashon Cornell, rSr
This is the situation I was talking about at the three technique. Dre’Mont Jones is gone and Haskell Garrett and Taron Vincent provide some talented possibilities, but maybe they need one more guy in there. There is a truckload of nose tackles, so it’s possible one of those guys could slide over as well.
Nose Tackle
67 Robert Landers, rSr OR
53 Davon Hamilton, rSr
72 Tommy Togiai, So
98 Jerron Cage, rSo OR
90 Antwuan Jackson, rJr
Robert Landers and Davon Hamilton will once again hold things down at nose tackle, but Tommy Togiai is going to continue to earn reps. Snaps for anybody behind those three will be difficult to come by.
Defensive End
18 Jonathon Cooper, Sr
11 Tyreke Smith, So
Zach Harrison, Fr OR
38 Javontae Jean-Baptiste, rFr
The defensive end rotation could look a bit like the one in 2017 where Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper were the fifth and sixth options and played only when the Buckeyes were in the easy going. That could be Zach Harrison and Javontae Jean-Baptiste in 2019. It’s a good learning experience and Larry Johnson will be careful not to put them in situations that could damage their growth.
Will Linebacker
39 Malik Harrison, Sr
47 Justin Hilliard, rSr OR
36 K’Vaughan Pope, So
Malik Harrison returns and any number of things could happen behind him. This is an athletic group of linebackers — even without Keandre Jones — so there could be movement all over.
Middle Linebacker
32 Tuf Borland, rJr OR
5 Baron Browning, Jr OR
7 Teradja Mitchell, So
A new linebackers coach and a new defense means that whoever fulfills the duties the best and the calls the best will play. Good luck to all of the contenders. (If you were looking for something more definitive, I can’t help you. Reps should be equal at the outset this spring to glean as much information as possible.)
Sam Linebacker
20 Pete Werner, Jr OR
5 Baron Browning, Jr
19 Dallas Gant, So
Baron Browning moved back to middle linebacker last year when Tuf Borland injured his Achilles. Will Browning begin the spring out wide? If he does, will he pick up the position quick enough to win it? Could we also see the Sams and Wills switch like they did last spring? Will there even be Sams? (If they do go to a 4-2-5, there will still likely be situations when there will be three TRUE linebackers on the field, such as running downs/short-yardage situations. These projection could suffice for that particular circumstance.)
Cornerback
3 Damon Arnette, rSr
12 Tyreke Johnson, rFr OR
26 Cameron Brown, rFr
Just deal with it. The only question here is if one of the redshirt freshmen can work their way into the rotation.
Strong Safety
25 Brendon White, Jr
14 Isaiah Pryor, Jr OR
23 Jahsen Wint, rJr
Ronnie Hickman, Fr
Everything seems pretty well set here, but just wait til you see what happens when we move to the hybrid depth chart.
Free Safety
4 Jordan Fuller, Sr
15 Josh Proctor, So OR
10 Amir Riep, Jr OR
29 Marcus Hooker, rFr
I will be interested to hear what Ryan Day’s two new secondary coaches have to say about Josh Proctor and his prospects for playing this season. I’m also interested to find out what constitutes a free safety versus a strong safety? In OSU’s defenses of recent years, the free safety was the field safety who played closer to the line of scrimmage because he usually had a slot receiver to defend. The strong safety was the boundary safety who was the deep guy, a la Malik Hooker. There is some thought that the Buckeyes could move back to a quarters defense, which wouldn’t require much change at all to the safety projections.
Cornerback
1 Jeff Okudah, Jr OR
24 Shaun Wade, rSo
15 Sevyn Banks, So OR
21 Marcus Williamson, Jr
If Shaun Wade is at cornerback, then he’ll be in the three-man rotation with Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah.
Nickel
24 Shaun Wade, rSo OR
3 Damon Arnette, rSr
21 Marcus Williamson, Jr
Both Damon Arnette and Shaun Wade have experience at nickel for the Buckeyes, but maybe this is the year somebody like Marcus Williamson steps in and allows a bit of rest to the corner rotation.
Crazy Hybrid Back Seven Depth Chart
Okay, so here we go…
Will Linebacker
39 Malik Harrison, Sr
20 Pete Werner, Jr
47 Justin Hilliard, rSr OR
36 K’Vaughan Pope, So
Pete Werner showed last season that being split out was a tough gig. The fact that he was asked to do it, however, is a good sign as to what he has shown in practice. Still, if they go to a “Viper,” I don’t expect it to be Werner, which means he’ll be at Will or will play in other defensive packages, which there certainly will be.
Middle Linebacker
32 Tuf Borland, rJr OR
5 Baron Browning, Jr OR
7 Teradja Mitchell, So
Rather than writing any particular linebackers off, Buckeye fans should be excited to see what each of them can do with new coaching and in a new defense.
Hybrid Linebacker
25 Brendon White, Jr
19 Dallas Gant, So
23 Jahsen Wint, rJr
And here’s where things get interesting. When Brendon White first practiced as a Buckeye, he was at linebacker. The Viper in Michigan’s defense gets into the backfield quite a bit, so he has to be a good tackler. He also needs to cover well, which White has experience doing. Dallas Gant is a possibility because he is athletic, but he may be too much of a linebacker. The options aren’t many here. Perhaps Isaiah Pryor or Ronnie Hickman get involved as well.
Cornerback
3 Damon Arnette, rSr
12 Tyreke Johnson, rFr OR
26 Cameron Brown, rFr
The need for more cornerbacks could grow if the Buckeyes go to a 4-2-5.
Strong Safety
4 Jordan Fuller, Sr
14 Isaiah Pryor, Jr
Ronnie Hickman, Fr
Jordan Fuller now moves back to strong safety, which is where he played in 2017 and also in 2018 when Shaun Wade was on the field at free safety. Isaiah Pryor should be helped by a simplified defense.
Free Safety
24 Shaun Wade, rSo
15 Josh Proctor, So OR
10 Amir Riep, Jr OR
29 Marcus Hooker, rFr
Shaun Wade could end up at corner regardless of defensive changes, but the Buckeyes will need Isaiah Pryor or Josh Proctor or Amir Riep to step up and become a starter at safety. That could happen, and it would be much more likely to happen if Wade is moved immediately to cornerback and the existing safeties are forced to sink or swim. If Wade is at corner, then Fuller may be at free safety.
Cornerback
1 Jeff Okudah, Jr OR
24 Shaun Wade, rSr
15 Sevyn Banks, So OR
21 Marcus Williamson, Jr
Isn’t guessing fun?
Nickel
24 Shaun Wade, rSo OR
3 Damon Arnette, rSr OR
21 Marcus Williamson, Jr
This is the same situation as the normal defense. If Wade is a starting safety, however, then everybody moves up one spot here and maybe Josh Proctor or Amir Riep gets involved at nickel.
On paper the front four and back four look great. Lots of talent coming back among the LB corp as well. The issue isn’t talent, and the issue isn’t our DL coach. The question is could our new coaches competently allow the back 7 to play up to their potential. If the answer is yes, that will easily be a far better D than the one we have seen last year and probably the year before.
When he took over, Day said he wanted to simplify the defense so the players can play fast. With a team the should enjoy the upper hand athletically in almost every game they play, one would think that would be a winning approach.
With a new D-staff, the competition for PT is a brand new game. The back 7 is totally up in the air (pun intended).
We may need to see if Reip and Proctor can play strong. I see no scenario where Pryor and Wint should be in two deep…both can be solid special teams contributors and emergency situation guys next year.
Moreover, I see no open competition that will result in Boren and Werner starting. Inconceivable.
“Rather than writing any particular linebackers off, Buckeye fans should be excited to see what each of them can do with new coaching and in a new defense.”
This applies equally to safeties.
Very true.