Ohio State Football: 3 under-the-radar players who must contribute

It is time for Ryan Day to fulfill a promise about where the ball will be targeted this year.

The reports came out that this would be the year of the tight end in Columbus. After Ryan Day announced that Jeremy Ruckert had a good chance at breaking the Ohio State record for catches in a season by a tight end, it seemed clear this was Ruckerts time to shine. That did not really happen in week one.

There are a lot of reasons that was the case, with the top two being that Day did not want to reveal too many plays before the Oregon game, and that Stroud needed to gain a connection and timing with his star wideouts. Now, in a game where the Buckeyes should look to pull out all the stops, Ruckert will be a prime candidate to have a big game.

What Ruckert can provide is a consistent check-down option for Stroud and a big target that will often be a mismatch for opposing defenses to try and guard. Ruckert becomes most dangerous in the red zone (which Ohio State did not have many possessions get that far which could be another reason for his limited production) and this game could be the start of a big 2021 season for the tight end.

Expect Ruckert to be more involved in the passing game and get more than just one catch against the Ducks. He will be a big player in this matchup. The final player to watch is in the linebacking corp and played well in his first start.