Ohio State football: Six Buckeyes who intrigue me

Some Ohio State football players on the current roster intrigue me. It might be because of what I saw in them during the brief stints of playing time they got in 2021. It might be because they were injured and we didn’t see them at all. It might be a lot of things. Regardless of the reason, these guys intrigue me as we make our way through the off-season.

Kourt Williams – Late in the season against Michigan State is when I really noticed he looked like a different player. He was aggressive, sure of himself, and was getting around the ball. After missing all of 2020 with a knee injury, the safety from California finally looked comfortable.

He was on the field for just one play against Michigan but started the Rose Bowl against the run-heavy, tight end-oriented offense of Utah. The six tackles and sack he finished the day with was his announcement he is a player to be watched for the 2022 season.

Julian Fleming – He has started a Big Ten championship game and Rose Bowl, but I’m still waiting for the former top-receiver recruit in the country to really show what he can do. A big reason for the slow start to his OSU career is he was stuck behind exceptional talents like Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. He also battled a nagging injury this past season. Providing he stays healthy Fleming will have every opportunity to earn a starting job this year.

Mitchell Melton – Before he was injured during spring practice last April, he looked like he might be on track for significant playing time at linebacker. Ryan Day described his injury as long-term and a timeline was not given. I still don’t know if Melton will be available for spring practice. His 6’3”, 245-pound frame can certainly add size to a position group that lacked it last season.