Ohio State Football: Now the LB situation looks very encouraging
The Ohio State football team is loaded with talented linebackers but most are inexperienced, so Tuf Borland’s quick recovery is a big plus.
The biggest question mark for the Ohio State football team heading into fall camp was the linebacker unit. Jerome Baker and Chris Worley moved on to pursue NFL careers and middle linebacker Tuf Borland suffered an Achilles injury this spring. That left three big holes to fill.
However, things are now looking up for the unit and it’s possible the linebacker play could be a strength this year instead of a weakness some thought it might be.
There was never a doubt about the talent in the linebacker unit but most of the players lack experience. Now it appears last year’s man in the middle is back. Also, a freshman is coming on strong.
Borland has already been seen on the field during fall camp which is much earlier than most expected. That’s a big plus for the Buckeyes.
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Talented players like Baron Browning, Pete Werner and Justin Hillard may have been as effective as Borland but who knows. None of them have experience playing the position at the college level.
Also, a guy like Borland who has been through the rigors of a Big Ten season can certainly help the young talented players around him.
There is more good news in the linebacker corps as true freshman Dallas Gant will be one of those guys added to the mix. He recently lost his black stripe according as reported by Patrick Murphy of 247Sports. That means Gant is now officially a Buckeye and can battle for a spot in the rotation at outside linebacker.
Gant is listed at 6-3, 225 pounds and was the No. 10 ranked outside linebacker in the 2018 recruiting class. With the talented players he will be competing against it will be a challenge for Gant to see significant playing time, but don’t count this young guy out. He has impressed the coaching staff since he stepped on campus in January as an early enrollee.
In a previous article I wrote you should expect epic battles at all three linebacker positions. I certainly think that will be the case because there are just so many talented players in the unit to expect otherwise.
dark. Next. No Urban Meyer, no problem. Buckeyes set for 2018.
That was before I knew Tuf Borland would return to action so soon and Dallas Gant would continue to rise in the eyes of the coaching staff. Now the competition for playing time at the linebacker positions are going to be even more fun to watch.