PH DPD: Meet the 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes

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Coming off a national championship run that surprised everyone, coaches, players, fans and, yes, journalists included, Ohio State returns most of their weapons for 2015. But, for the first time in Coach Jeff HCross's tenure, some key pieces were lost to graduation. Can Ohio State replace a missing All-American? Will the offense overcome any defensive deficiencies?

Quarterbacks

Player	Pos.	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Comp	Att	Yards	TD	INT	Comp Rate	Sacks	Sack Rate	Yards/ Att.
Marcus Avery	QB	6'5”, 220	SR	88	239	305	2760	31	14	78.4%	13	4.1%	9.0
Jason Roberson	QB	6'1”, 236	SO	82	Redshirt
Leroy Harris	QB	6'3”, 210	SR	80	3	4	28	0	0	75.0%	1	20.0%	7.0
Marcus Crosby	QB	6'2”, 212	JR	62

Marcus Avery replaced Leroy Harris last season as the starting quarterback, and while everyone expected improvement from the quarterback position, I don't think anyone expected a third-place Heisman campaign from the JUCO transfer. Recalling visions of Cam Newton, Avery ran first and threw later, to the tune of over 4000 yards total offense.

Harris accepted the role of a backup, but not even he imagined that he'd only throw three passes on the entire year. Now Harris falls to third-string, with JUCO Jason Roberson, who redshirted last season and is the heir apparent to the starting job, taking over as this season's backup quarterback.

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Running Backs

Player	Pos.	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Rushes	Yards	TD	Yards/ Carry	% of Team Yards
Kris Davis	HB	6'0”, 211	SO	76	166	1135	9	6.8	30.7%
David Edwards	HB	5'11”, 211	SR	78	99	678	9	6.8	18.3%
Nathan Jackson	HB	5'11”, 210	JR	77	35	184	1	5.3	5.0%
Cory Rivera	FB	6'2”, 233	FR	63

For the second season in a row, Ohio State returns all of their rushing yards from last year. Yet again, the leading rusher on the team was their quarterback. But among the running backs, freshman Kris Davis went from a unknown third-stringer to a starter to a star, running for over 1000 yards in his debut season. David Edwards tacked on an additional 678 yards, almost matching his team-leading total from 2013, and will return as the top backup. Nathan Jackson will be the third back in the rotation.

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Receivers

Player	Pos.	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Catches	Yards	TD	Yds/ Catch	% of Team Catches	% of Team Yards
Mike Luke	WR	6'0”, 188	Grad		56	524	7	9.4	23.1%	18.8%
Josh White	WR	6'2”, 209	Grad		32	396	1	12.4	13.2%	14.2%
Tim Herron	WR	6'4”, 196	SR	84	13	177	2	13.6	5.4%	6.3%
David Little	WR	6'2”, 212	JR	82	47	592	4	12.6	19.4%	21.2%
Louis Rhodes	WR	6'4”, 190	FR	73	Redshirt
Jake Overstreet	WR	5'11”, 183	JR	74	20	307	6	15.4	8.3%	11.0%
Garrett Baker	WR	6'3”, 194	SO	78	Redshirt
John Matthews	WR	6'4”, 229	SO	75	Redshirt
Larry Williams	TE	6'4”, 237	SR	79	26	230	1	8.8	10.7%	8.2%
Lonnie Tidwell	TE	6'7”, 244	SO	68	3	35	1	11.7	1.2%	1.3%

Ohio State's ability to threaten with the passing game was lost just two games into the season with the season-ending leg injury to Tim Herron. Mike Luke, David Little and Josh White both provided some threat in the passing game, mostly on short passes and in space, but the Buckeyes lacked the deep threat that Herron could theoretically provide. Herron has returned and looked impressive in the spring, but Luke and White have both graduated, taking their 88 combined catches with them. With a new offensive philosophy this fall, look for Herron and Little to line up outside the numbers, with Jake Overstreet and converted halfback Louis Rhodes lining up in the slots. Larry Williams and Lonnie Tidwell will still be the only tight ends on the roster, though their use is expected to decrease with the offensive changes this fall.

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Offensive Line

Player	Pos.	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Career Starts
Matt Taylor	LT	6'4”, 297	Grad		25
Tyler Gordon	LG	6'2”, 293	Grad		25
Will Fellows	LG	5'11”, 287	SR	69	0
Joshua Newman	LG	6'6”, 288	SO	71	13
Nate Moore	C	6'1”, 285	FR	79	0
Nate Newberry	RG	6'4”, 266	SO	72	13
Bryan Lacey	RT	6'5”, 295	SO	73	13
Casey Herring	LT	6'5”, 300	SO	73	0
Dwayne Rice	C	6'5”, 309	FR	71	Redshirt
Danny Outlaw	RT	6'4”, 308	FR	68	Redshirt

Going into the spring, Ohio State was expected to replace four starters on the offensive line, including two players that returned this year but were expected to play backup roles. Instead, the returns from the spring were felt across the entire line, leading to a completely different starting lineup as the Buckeyes exited fall camp. Will Fellows, who most recruiting experts thought would merely be permanent depth after transferring to Ohio State as a JUCO, will instead line up at Left Tackle. The three returning starters will all be part of the starting lineup again, though Josh Newman shifts to left guard to allow Nate Moore, the top rated freshman in this year's Ohio State class, to start at Center from day one.

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Defensive Line

Player	Pos	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Tackles	% of Team	TFL	Sacks	Int	PBU	FF	FR
Mike Walters	DT	6'2”, 321	Grad		11	2.2%	4	1	0	0	0	0
Thomas Mason	DT	6'4”, 276	Grad		5	1.0%	1	1	0	0	0	0
Brent McCoy	DT	6'1”, 310	FR	75	Redshirt
Aaron Shaw	LE	6'2”, 255	FR	76	Redshirt
Brandon Walker	RE	6'1”, 232	SO	76	16	3.2%	9	4	0	0	0	0
David Murray	DT	6'3”, 289	SO	56	Redshirt
Chris Hayford	DT	6'3”, 271	SR	54	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0	0	0
Todd Pace	RE	6'5”, 265	SR	76	6	1.2%	1	0	0	0	0	0
Marcus Harrell	LE	6'4”, 271	SR	71	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kenneth Holmes	RE	6'1”, 244	JR	69	1	0.2%	1	0	0	0	0	0

Redshirt freshman DT Brent McCoy will finally take his place in the middle of the Ohio State 3-4 defense, and will be expected to contribute on almost every snap, as the talent drop-off to his backups is significant. Another redshirt freshman, Aaron Shaw, is expected to start at defensive end alongside McCoy. All-Freshman selection Brandon Walker will start at the opposite defensive end spot and hopes for a repeat of last year's impressive deput season.

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Linebackers

Player	Pos	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Tackles	% of Team	TFL	Sacks	Int	PBU	FF	FR
Matt Charles	MLB	6'1”, 232	Grad		76	15.4%	17	5.5	1	0	1	0
Barry Lloyd	OLB	6'3”, 234	SR	74	14	2.8%	4	3	0	0	0	0
Ryan Perkins	OLB	6'1”, 240	SR	74	13	2.6%	4	1	0	0	0	0
Desmond Hamby	MLB	6'1”, 218	JR	77	JUCO
Randy Williams	MLB	6'1”, 208	JR	82	51	10.3%	17	5	0	2	0	1
Brandon Frederick	OLB	6'3”, 224	JR	74	10	2.0%	2	0	0	0	0	0
Daniel Miller	OLB	6'1”, 218	FR	70	Redshirt
Paul Hawthorne	MLB	6'0”, 238	JR	69	1	0.2%	0	0	0	0	0	0
Maurice Walker	MLB	5'9”, 223	SO	65	1	0.2%	0	0	0	0	0	0

Barry Lloyd has made the full-time switch to OLB this season, and is expected to start at LOLB, allowing top OLB Randy Williams to slide inside to MLB full-time. Williams played mostly MLB last season, but was still officially listed as an OLB. Ryan Perkins earns the other OLB starting job this year, after a surprising 2014 that saw him start only two games, yet notch more tackles in those two games than his competition, Brandon Frederick, did all season. Perkins has a nose for the ball that Ohio State will need after losing 2nd-team All-American Matt Charles to graduation. Desmond Hamby will join Ohio State from the JUCO ranks and complete the 3-4 defensive scheme at the other MLB spot.

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Secondary

Player	Pos	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	Tackles	% of Team	TFL	Sacks	Int	PBU	FF	FR
Robert Ellis	CB	6'1”, 180	SR	77	46	9.3%	3	0	5	0	0	0
Derrick Thomas	CB	5'11”, 201	SO	80	JUCO
Craig Smith	FS	6'2”, 180	SO	80	62	12.6%	3	0	3	4	0	0
Rashad Alston	SS	6'1”, 194	SR	82	63	12.8%	5	0	2	4	0	0
Lee Gore	STAR	5'9”, 166	SO	80	48	9.7%	7	2	0	3	0	0
Eric Henry	CB	6'1”, 177	JR	76	Redshirt
Edward Wood	CB	6'1”, 196	SR	72	12	2.4%	0	0	1	0	0	1
Michael Busch	CB	6'1”, 199	JR	70	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austin Davis	FS	6'3”, 209	SR	74	1	0.2%	0	0	0	1	0	0
Derrick Hall	FS	6'1”, 190	SO	76	Redshirt
Jerome Thomas	SS	6'2”, 212	FR	77	Redshirt

For the second consecutive year, Ohio State adds a JUCO cornerback that will immediately see a starting role in the fall. For 2015, that JUCO is Derrick Thomas, a four-star prospect in HS that played last season at Monterey Peninsula College near his hometown. Thomas will be the #2 cornerback opposite of Robert Ellis, who led the team a year ago with five interceptions. All three safeties return, led by Rashad Alston at SS, who is the leading returning tackler. Craig Smith will provide centerfield help from the FS spot and Lee Gore will probably play practically every defensive snap from his STAR position.

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Specialists

Player	Pos	Ht, Wt	Year	Rating	PAT	FG	FG Pct	Punts	Net Avg	TB	I20
Dan Pierce	P	5'10”, 227	Grad		67	23	95.8%	5	41.4	0	3
Carl Bentley	P/K	6'2”, 180	FR	80	Redshirt
Spencer Cox	K	6'0”, 176	SO	70	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Dan Pierce was the sole kicking specialist for Ohio State last season, but he's now demonstrating his talents in the Arena League. Pierce was again responsible for three game-winning field goals last season, including the game winner against Alabama to win the national championship. That production will look to be replaced by redshirt freshman Carl Bentley, who will take over kicking, punting and kickoff duties.