Ohio State Football: Now is the time for the secondary

The Ohio State football team had secondary struggles last year on the national stage. The time is now and this is their year to shine on the defensive end.

The Ohio State football team is working out new quarterbacks to takeover for Justin Fields who has moved on to the NFL. Whoever wins that job will have help across the board from skill position players who have lots of reps under their belts. The unit that needs to make the biggest jump this year if the Buckeyes want to get a run at another national championship is the secondary.

Ohio State only lost one game last year so it is hard to believe that looking at the secondary as one of the major weaknesses last year as a thing. Of the eight games they did play, the defense gave up 25 or more points in five of those games.

The worst of those ended up coming in the national title game when they gave up 52 points to eventual champion Alabama and that high-powered offense in which the OSU defense, especially the secondary looked completely overmatched and overwhelmed. To be the team holding up that trophy this upcoming season, the backside on the defensive side of the ball needs to make big strides.

Shaun Wade is now off to the NFL so it is time to see who takes the spot as the big-name leader for that unit. I really expect junior cornerback Sevyn Banks to be that guy this upcoming season. Marcus Hooker and Josh Proctor at the safety positions will also make noise as all three of those players made a name for themselves at times last year as underclassmen. Hooker may have some legal issues though.

These guys have great instincts and love contact. Banks finished with over 20 tackles, 7 pass deflections, and an interception. The coaching staff will be looking at him to be their shutdown corner and bump those numbers up this season.

Hooker finished with 15 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception as well. He is a heavy hitter who makes opponents think twice about coming across the middle. Josh Proctor who has arguably the best instincts of the group also had 20 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception and could be the guy who shows up everywhere on any play in the defensive backfield.

Buckeye Nation should also keep their eyes open for a couple of cornerbacks we can expect to make a splash. Marcus Williamson is a senior with that upperclassmen leadership who finished last season with 27 total tackles. Tyreke Johnson is a younger guy ready to etch his name in Buckeye lore as he only appeared in two games last year.

The Buckeyes are currently scheduled to open the 2021 season on Thursday, September 2nd at Minnesota with a kickoff time yet to be determined. The Ohio State football team again looks to win the Big Ten title with a shot at another national championship.

After struggling in the biggest games last year, the secondary sets to play one of the biggest parts in taking home trophies this upcoming season. It is their turn to be the talk of the defensive side of the ball for all the right reasons.