Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Three breakout candidates for 2022

By Ryan Stano

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau (44) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau (44) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana Hoosiers /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
The Ohio State Football team needs better play from the safety spot, and Josh Proctor is hoping to do that. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State Football team needs better play from the safety spot, and Josh Proctor is hoping to do that. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Perhaps no injury affected the Ohio State football program more this past season than the loss of Josh Proctor. Proctor was injured early in the Oregon game, suffering a gruesome leg injury. He was expected to make a full recovery though and should be at full strength this season.

Proctor was the starting safety last year and was really the only member of the secondary that had any experience besides Cam Brown. Once Proctor went down, the safety position was a complete mess. Ohio State didn’t have any depth behind him.

With Jim Knowles coming in, there will be more two-high safety looks and some snaps with 3 safeties on the field. That gives Proctor an opportunity to show that he is a better player than he showed in 2020, his last full season. In that season, he was pretty average.

I think Proctor has a chance to break out in 2022. I don’t think he’ll do it as much as the other two guys on this list, but he doesn’t have to. He has other help at his position. I do think he’ll play at a higher level than he did in 2020 because he wants to show scouts he’s NFL-worthy.

Next. Should OSU bball play at a faster pace?. dark

If all three guys on this list elevate their games in 2022, the Ohio State football team will be in a very good spot to contend for a Big Ten title and a national title.

Home/Ohio State Football