Ohio State Football: 3 Buckeyes who need big spring practices

No.2 Dewand Jones, offensive tackle

Dewand Jones impressed this Ohio State coaching staff as a true freshman last season. Earning playing time as a three-star prospect in his first season on campus is very impressive to say the least.

And his size is very impressive as he looks like a bulldozer who plays offensive tackle. At six-feet eight inches tall and 360 pounds, keeping Jones’ weight in check is a concern of strength coach Mickey Marotti. He said as much during a press conference last week, via Lettermen Row:

"“We have to be creative in keeping his weight down,” Marotti said of Jones. “He likes basketball, so I told him I’ll get one of our interns to feed him the basketball. He can do jump shots for two hours in a row and see how much he sweats.”"

The massive Indianapolis, Indiana native has his sights set on a starting job and it begins this spring in the weight room and gym. As long as Jones can keep his weight down and is able to bend the way a starting offensive tackle needs to be able to do, then he will be in the thick of the starting competition at right tackle.

It will be hard however because he is going to have to beat out two former five-star recruits in Nicholas Petit-Frere and true freshman Parris Johnson. The competition at right tackle will be one of the best battles to watch during spring ball and don’t be surprised if Dawand Jones raises his level of play to put himself in position to win that job.