New Faces Will Be Aplenty in 2016 Buckeyes Defense

The names continue to roll in, another early departure for the NFL. Another hole to fill for the 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes. While this attrition was expected before the season even began, it is alarming to see what the Buckeyes must replace as they reload for the 2016 season. Previously, we took a look at what the offense can expect to have to replace. Let’s dive in to the task at hand for the Silver Bullets.

Most of the names leaving the program come as no surprise to anyone, and that is especially true along the defensive line. Tackles Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt were seniors, their departures already set in stone. While Schutt again struggled to stay healthy, Washington put together a masterful year. It remains to be seen what effect his legal situation has on his draft stock, but his play on the field solidified him as a first round talent. Joel Hale has graduated as well. Hale saw significant playing time in the absence of Schutt, and Washington in the Fiesta Bowl. He provided great depth at a position sorely lacking much of it at all.

Fans spent the 2015 season soaking up one more year of Joey Bosa, as he was the safest bet you could have to leave early. A lock to be a top-5 pick, Bosa’s intentions to leave were made public in the week leading up to the Fiesta Bowl. With him goes one of the most celebrated careers a Buckeye has ever had. While he spent the entire season dealing with double, and sometimes triple teams, it could be argued that he still had his best season as a Buckeye.

With Schutt unable to stay on the field, Larry Johnson was able to get some valuable reps out of young guys like Michael Hill, Donovan Munger, and Tracy Sprinkle. Those three guys can be expected to get the first shot at filling the void left in the interior defensive line. On the outside, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard proved more than capable of being disruptive. The two combined for 14.5 sacks, despite Hubbard not being an every down player behind Joey Bosa. While Bosa is a once in a generation player that can’t fully be replaced, Johnson and the defensive staff have to feel good about what they have coming back.

Redshirt freshmen Jashon Cornell and Robert Landers will compete for playing time as well. Highly touted recruits Nick Bosa and Jonathon Cooper are already physically ready to compete at this level. Cooper is an early enrollee who could factor into the rotation immediately. Bosa won’t be on campus until the summer, but from all accounts is developing faster than even his brother did.

Urban Meyer was adamant when he got to Columbus that the linebacking group was in a state it should never be in at a place like Ohio State. Since then he has turned that position into one of the Buckeyes’ greatest shows of depth. That depth will be tested this year as Joshua Perry graduates, and Darron Lee takes his talents to the draft. As good as Perry’s play has been, leading the team in tackles in 2014, his leadership might be even harder to replace. Lee blossomed into a special talent, despite coming to Columbus undersized and without a true position. His speed off of the edge was unique for the linebacking position.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, they have their man in the middle returning. Raekwon McMillan is quickly

making good on the enormous hype that followed his recruitment to Ohio State. The team leader in tackles this year, McMillan must embrace his role as the unquestioned leader of the Buckeye defense now. A potential early departure in his own right after this upcoming season, expect McMillan to take the next step into the elite category of defenders in college football.

Who starts along side McMillan is not clear, but there will certainly be plenty of talent vying for playing time. Chris Worley and Dante Booker will both be juniors, and they both appeared regularly in the two-deep throughout the season. Freshman Jerome Baker had his redshirt burned in October so that he could help out on special teams. That bodes well for him as Urban Meyer has always put an emphasis on contributing to special teams before becoming a bigger factor. Fellow freshman Justin Hilliard kept his redshirt, but the highly regarded recruit should find himself on the two-deep come next fall.

The secondary is going to have to deal with replacing three starters, including both safeties. Both Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell have decided to forego their senior years, joining cornerback Eli Apple in the jump to the pros. Bell and Apple are likely to be first round picks. Gareon Conley will be the lone starter returning. While he was criticized early in the year for his play, Conley came on strong at the end of the year. He will look to make strides similar to what Apple did from his sophomore to junior year.

Damon Webb and Marshon Lattimore figure to get the first crack at starting opposite Conley. Webb was the starting nickelback for the Buckeyes at times this past year, but was suspended indefinitely just before the Northern Illinois game. Lattimore, despite being highly talented, has not been able to stay healthy since he has been on campus. Erik Smith and Malik Hooker are good bets to take over the two saftey spots.

Depth in the secondary is a major issue. Any injuries to the aforementioned players would put a huge strain on the back end of the defense. The coaching staff is currently in pursuit of a third defensive back to add to their 2016 class, but it would be an uphill battle for any of them to contribute on defense as true freshmen.

Next: Questions Abound for the 2016 Buckeyes

New defensive coordinator Greg Schiano will have his work cut out for him as he settles into his new role with the Buckeyes. While the cupboard is not bare, he will be leaning on a ton of inexperience to keep the defense playing at a high level. Expectations will not change, though, despite all of the unknowns. At places like Ohio State, rebuilding is a forbidden word.