Ohio State Football: Weighing losses, retention for 2020 season
The 2019 Ohio State football team came the closest the Buckeyes have been to a national title since winning it all in 2014, so let’s take a look at whether the returning production can outweigh the losses for the Buckeyes to go a step further next season.
In the aftermath of the 29-23 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal, Ohio State has been forced to say goodbye to a host of seniors and a few highly talented juniors.
Projected as top 10 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah are part of a group of Buckeyes that will make waves in the NFL. J.K. Dobbins will also forgo his senior season for a shot in the NFL.
Among the seniors leaving are DBs Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette and LB Malik Harrison, who were difference makers on the defensive side of the football during their careers at Ohio State.
The graduation of Davon Hamilton and Robert Landers combined with the loss of Young will leave a gaping hole to be filled on the defensive line.
Receivers K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack will be missed by Buckeye QB Justin Fields, as will offensive linemen Branden Bowen and Jonah Jackson, who were valuable cogs in an offensive line that continually gave Fields plenty of time to throw the ball and move around throughout the season.
It’s not all bad news for the Buckeyes on offense though. Not only will Fields return but his leading receiver Chris Olave will return as well as fellow WR Garrett Wilson, who built the foundation of what should be a fantastic career at Ohio State in his true freshman season.
The offensive line for Ohio State will be in the opposite position to last off-season when there was only one returning starter (though Branden Bowen had started in 2017 before suffering a broken leg). If Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers can continue their success of 2019, Fields and RB Master Teague will find pocket protection and running lanes easy to come by.
Speaking of Teague, the running back picked up 789 rushing yards and 4 TDs as the back-up and should see those numbers inflate considerably. Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers totaled 372 yards this year and could see numbers similar to Teague’s 2019 numbers next season.
In total, the Buckeyes will return seven potential starters on offense (Fields, Olave, Munford, Davis and Myers; TEs Luke Farrell and Jeremy Ruckert could split time), and should rank in the top ten in offensive production once again.
Now a look at the other side of the ball.