Ohio State football: Analyzing the linebacker room

The Ohio State football team will be replacing all of their starting linebackers from a year ago. We take a look at that room and who might be out there starting against Minnesota.

Linebackers were the strong suit of the Ohio State football team’s defense a year ago. All of them were very experienced and all were very talented. The Buckeyes had four linebackers that were excellent and played the bulk of the snaps. Now, they have no one who’s played significant snaps in that room.

Right now, it looks like the linebackers will be Dallas Gant, Craig Young, and probably Teradja Mitchell, although Cody Simon is making a push as well. They have four linebackers vying for three spots in the linebacker room. None of these guys have a lot of experience.

Based on what I saw in the Spring Game, I think Mitchell is the odd man out. He is someone who has had his fair share of chances to gain playing time. The other guys are just more talented than he is and hasn’t caused as many waves as he has off the field.

Young is the most interesting player in this group. If the defense does truly go to a 4-2-5 scheme, Young could end up being part of the five secondary members in the bullet position. He has the size and strength as well as the speed to excel in a position like that.

Simon and Gant make the most sense for the two linebacker positions in that scheme. They both are fast enough to get downhill on running backs and they can still do a decent job of covering. K’Vaugh Pope might get a shot to get some snaps too in a 4-2-5.

Linebacker is one of the positions to watch in the Fall when practice starts back up. It will be a brand new crop of guys and it will be interesting to see who they trust the most.