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Ohio State football: Assessing the roster after draft declarations

By Ryan Stano

Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave (2) makes a catch in front of Clemson Tigers cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) before running for a touchdown during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave (2) makes a catch in front of Clemson Tigers cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) before running for a touchdown during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ohio State football team got a lot of good news on Monday in terms of players returning to the team. Their roster is stacked for 2021.

The Ohio State football program expected to lose a lot of key guys in 2021 to the draft. They did lose some really good guys. Justin Fields, Tommy Togiai, Trey Sermon, Josh Myers, and Baron Browning were just a few guys to decide to turn pro.

But it’s the guys who decided to come back for an extra year that should have Buckeye fans fired up. Thayer Munford comes back to anchor the offensive line at left tackle. It’s a move that should give the Buckeyes one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in the country.

As I write this late on Monday night, there has been no declaration from Nicholas Petit-Frere. That would mean he’s coming back too to give the Buckeyes both starting tackles back for the 2021 season. That will help whoever is starting at running back.

Tyreke Smith decided to come back as well. The defensive end will give Ohio State even more absurd depth on the defensive line. Haskell Garrett returning also gives the Buckeyes the best defensive line in the country next season with incoming freshmen looking to make an impact too.

No doubt the biggest win of the day for the Ohio State football program was Chris Olave deciding to stay for his senior season. Olave is one of the best receivers in football and possibly could have been a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Brining Olave back gives whoever the new quarterback is the best receiving corps in the country. Add tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who also decided to come back for his senior year, and the offense has perhaps the best pass-catchers in the country.

This team is absolutely loaded for another run at the national title next season. The ceiling of this team will be determined by the quarterback play and how well the Buckeyes fix their secondary. Almost everything else is in place for this team to be the best.

Next. Picking a new quarterback hard with Quinn Ewers looming. dark

I already can’t wait for Spring ball.

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