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Ohio State Football: 2 surprise players for 2020

By Thomas Scurlock

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Every year the Ohio State football team has a handful of players who make an unexpected impact. Let’s look at strong candidates to do so in 2020.

Of course, the level at which Ryan Day and his staff recruit and develop Ohio State football players it is not shocking when any delivers on his potential.  Some just do it earlier than we thought they would.

Here are two players that will surprise fans in 2020:

Harry Miller

I have a soft spot for offensive linemen.  No team is championship worthy without an elite offensive line and Miller is next in line to put his stamp on the program.

Miller was recruited to play center.  If Greg Studrawa was in a pinch, Miller could have started as a freshman last season.

Instead, Josh Myers who had been grooming to play center for two years won the job and crushed it.

Miller did get substantial playing time seeing meaningful action in 13 games.  That experience will pay off this year.

Myers will still be the anchor, but Jonah Jackson’s departure leaves the left guard spot wide open.

With Thayer Munford, Miller, Myers, Wyatt Davis and likely Nicholas Petit-Frere on the right, Ohio State will have its best line since 2013, and maybe its best ever.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste

It took some time to build out Jean-Baptiste’s 6-foot-5-inch frame, but he is fully ready after being named by Mickey Marotti as one of the most improved players during winter conditioning this year.

Jonathan Cooper’s return along with Zach Harrison probably means Jean-Baptiste won’t start at defensive end this year.  He will be a huge contributor though.

Next. 5 most important Buckeyes on defense. dark

He saw considerable action last year playing in 14 games and recorded 14 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. Larry Johnson likes to rotate his guys so I expect those numbers to rise significantly.  Get ready to hear his name called often.

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