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Ohio State football: The single biggest question mark on this team

By Ryan Stano

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: Damon Arnette #3 and Josh Proctor #41 of the Ohio State Buckeyes make a tackle on defense against the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 34-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: Damon Arnette #3 and Josh Proctor #41 of the Ohio State Buckeyes make a tackle on defense against the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 34-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State doesn’t rebuild, they reload. Even so, they have a lot of talent to replace from last season’s team. They have some big questions to answer in the secondary in particular.

Ohio State has a true claim for DBU. They had two corners go in the first round of the NFL Draft last April in Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette. Jordan Fuller has been a starter for the Rams this season too. Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, and Malik Hooker are also recent first-round picks.

Shaun Wade would have been a first-round pick had he decided to enter in last April’s draft as well. He is the only one returning from the great secondary the Buckeyes had a year ago. That leaves the secondary as the biggest question mark going into this season.

Wade will undisputably be the best player on the backend. The question is how all of the other guys will fit into their new roles. How will Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown do at outside and inside corner? Who will be the new starting deep safety? These are questions that need answers.

Kerry Coombs will have his hands full this season. He returns to coach the secondary as well as being co-defensive coordinator. My guess is that if anyone can handle having so much turnover in one season, it’s Kerry Coombs. He should have this unit playing lights out.

Unfortunately, the Bucks don’t get a whole lot of time to ease into things in the secondary. After their opener against Nebraska, they travel to Happy Valley on Halloween. That will undoubtedly be their toughest game of the regular season, so the secondary better mesh quickly.

A stout pass rush would help the secondary too. Ohio State has to replace Chase Young with Zach Harrison, who did show some flashes as a freshman a year ago. The pass rush shouldn’t fall off too much and help give the secondary some time to figure things out.

Next. Who is the next Buckeye player to get their number retired?. dark

We should know very soon into the season how good this secondary is. They will be the key to Ohio State making another run at the CFP.

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