The Ohio State football team will be loaded with talent both young and veteran, but which three members of the 2019 Buckeyes will breakout as stars?
The Ohio State football team will returning double-digit starters next year, but which Buckeyes have the potential to breakout in 2019 similarly to the way JK Dobbins, Brendon White, and Chris Olave have in recent years?
Running Back Master Teague
Master Teague was a coveted recruit coming out of high school and with the departure of Mike Weber, a spot will be opened in the backfield next to Dobbins. Early in 2018, we saw glimpses of Teague’s speed and pure power as just a freshman. Just imagine what another year under Coach Mick will bring – lookout.
The coaching staff has noted on multiple occasions that Teague has a bright future and it is easy to see why when you watch him run the football as well as learn from those ahead of him.
Teague carried the ball up the middle versus Oregon State before finding traffic, so he quickly bounced off of the pile and burst toward the endzone for a 33-yard score – the first of his career. Be sure to keep an eye on Teague for next year as he is believed to be the next great Ohio State running back.
Quarterback Justin Fields
Justin Fields is the “gimme” or “obvious” answer to this question, but since he never started for Georgia and spent his time as a backup quarterback, I will include him. Fields is a five-star transfer quarterback from Georgia who quickly made his move to Columbus following the end of both teams’ seasons.
Fields has an absolute cannon for an arm and can fly with his electric speed. He will be the highest rated recruit to ever step foot on the field as Buckeye once he becomes eligible and Buckeye Nation cannot wait for him to be unleashed.
The Justin Fields pairing with Head Coach Ryan Day is a match made in heaven as the Ohio State offense will look to not even skip a beat in switching from Dwayne Haskins to Fields. Rightfully so, though, as Fields looks poised to at least be a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2019 alongside Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence.
Head Coach Ryan Day
Another unconventional name for this list that may surprise some people because he is a coach. However, he is a rookie head coach stepping into his first non-interim job at The Ohio State University. You can feel the pressure just reading that sentence.
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As Urban Meyer made the decision to step down as head coach of his beloved Buckeyes, he frequently spoke very highly of Ryan Day and said he felt comfortable handing over the program to him. Meyer also firmly believes Day will be able to sustain and even increase the state of the program and take it to the next level.
Day has already begun his tenure as he has hit the ground sprinting by poaching not one, but two assistant coaches from archrival, Michigan, as well as completed the hiring of a well-rounded coaching staff.
Not to mention Day will more than likely have the highest rated prospect in Ohio State history under center with a veteran group of wide receivers and a tandem of bruisers in the backfield.
The Buckeyes will also boast an elite defense for the first time since 2016. Having a stout defense will be a breath of fresh air and bode a sigh of relief for both Buckeye Nation and the coaching staff alike after a shaky last two seasons on that side of the ball.
The schedule does not do Ohio State any favors, but the stars sure seem to be aligning again for first year Head Coach Ryan Day to start his career on a high note.