Safety Brendon White was a breakout player for Ohio State last season, expect running back Master Teague to be one this year.
Ohio State fans remember the game well from 2018. Stat line was 13 tackles, 2 for loss in the Buckeyes 36-31 win over Nebraska. With a defense struggling with consistency for the better part of a month, a breakthrough performance by Brendon White was both welcomed and peculiar.
White had all of Buckeye Nation wondering why Greg Schiano had him on the bench for so long.
He played in four games prior to Nebraska totaling 5 tackles. He had 28 after, including a key interception against Michigan, finishing the year with 46 tackles, four for loss.
Breakout stars are fairly common at Ohio State, especially with the yearly turnover to the NFL. White’s rise was just odd.
Usually the player is a young guy that takes off early in September rather than one coming off the bench later in the season to provide an identity to a struggling unit.
Though he made his mark in November, White’s abilities are not shocking. He was a four-star athlete, part of the heralded 2017 class.
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White was just under the radar coming in with Isaiah Pryor, Amir Riep, Shaun Wade and Jeffrey Okudah. Who will be the player this year that has everyone wanting more?
It will be Master Teague.
J.K. Dobbins is a special player and the leader in the backfield. He’ll be the primary option, but he will need help.
No team, at least not championship-caliber teams, can go through a Big Ten season without two backs. The season is too rugged.
With a schedule that includes the East heavyweights plus Northwestern, Wisconsin and Nebraska from the West, Ryan Day needs a strong compliment to Dobbins. Teague fits the bill.
He is listed 5-foot-11, 215-pounds. I am certain Mickey Marotti will add more bulk to his frame during the off-season.
Despite the enormous production last year, I do expect the offense to be more balanced this year and Teague will be a big reason why the running game will be lethal again.