Ranking Ohio State’s position groups: DBs, D-line and RBs all have case for No. 1

Ohio State is expected to be one of the top two teams when preseason rankings come out, battling with Georgia for the title of most talented team in the country.

After a disappointing end to the 2023 season, Ohio State brought back most of its juniors and added an elite group of transfers. Now, it feels like a national-championship-or-bust season.

Which areas of the roster are the most talented? As preseason camp nears, let’s rank the Buckeyes’ position units based on talent, depth and productivity.

1. Defensive backs

Notable departures: Josh Proctor, Ja’Had Carter

Key returnees: Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Lathan Ransom and Jermaine Mathews Jr.

New arrivals: Caleb Downs, Aaron Scott, Bryce West, Miles Lockhart, Jaylen McClain, Leroy Roker, Keenan Nelson Jr.

It’s a hard decision between the defensive line and secondary, but Ohio State had the best pass defense in the country last season and its only major loss was Proctor. The Buckeyes replaced Proctor with Downs, an Alabama transfer who was one of the best defensive players in the country as a freshman. As good as Proctor was, Downs is an upgrade. Ohio State now pairs Downs with Lathan Ransom to form arguably the best safety tandem in the country.

Ohio State didn’t lose any production at cornerback and returns the best threesome in the country with Burke and Igbinosun on the outside and Hancock playing the nickel. Throw in Mathews off the bench, and the mix of returning experience and talent combined with the addition of Downs pushes the secondary to the top.

2. Defensive line

Notable departures: Michael Hall Jr.

Key returnees: Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, Hero Kanu

New arrivals: Eddrick Houston, Dominic Kirks, Eric Mensah

The loss of Hall is tough, but it shouldn’t hurt too much for a group that is filled with experience, depth and elite talent.

Tuimoloau and Sawyer are two of the nation’s best edge rushers, especially after Sawyer became increasingly dominant as last season progressed. In the final eight games, he had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Jackson and Curry are talented second-team options to give Tuimoloau and Sawyer a breather from time to time.

The interior is loaded, as well. Williams had a strong junior season and can be in the All-America mix, and Hamilton is ready for a breakthrough alongside him. They’ll need depth to continue to develop, but there’s no denying the amount of talent in this group. So much so that it is arguably the nation’s best defensive line.

JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer form one of the nation’s top DE duos. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

3. Running backs

Notable departures: Miyan Williams, Dallan Hayden, Chip Trayanum

Key returnees: TreVeyon Henderson

New arrivals: Quinshon Judkins, James Peoples, Sam Williams-Dixon

With Williams and Trayanum entering the portal, there was some concern with running back depth entering the offseason — especially given Henderson’s injury history. But in addition to getting Henderson back, the Buckeyes brought in a two-time 1,000-yard rusher from the SEC in Judkins, who transferred from Ole Miss, immediately giving them the nation’s best tailback tandem. They are two of the best running backs in the country individually, and they’ll complement each other well while reducing wear-and-tear.

On talent alone, there’s no running back group that can match Ohio State’s. And yet I put them third here because of the talent in the secondary and defensive line and greater depth questions in the backfield. With Hayden gone, the Buckeyes will have to turn to two freshmen, Peoples and Williams-Dixon, if they have even just one injury at the top of the depth chart.

Both freshmen are talented, but it’s too early to know how ready either is to contribute immediately.

4. Wide receivers

Notable departures: Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming, Xavier Johnson

Key returnees: Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jayden Ballard, Brandon Inniss

New arrivals: Mylan Graham, Jeremiah Smith

It’s impossible to replace a player like Harrison, but the Buckeyes have plenty of talented players waiting to make a name for themselves. Egbuka is the big name, a Biletnikoff Award contender hungry for a strong year after battling injuries last season. If he recaptures his 2022 form, he’ll be a first-round draft pick.

After Egbuka, attention turns to the young players ready to emerge. Tate, a sophomore, is primed for a breakthrough. Inniss, if he can get through the preseason healthy, should be an interesting weapon Ryan Day and Chip Kelly utilize likely in the slot. Then there’s Smith, the spring freshman sensation. The No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, Smith looks ready to take heavy snaps from Week 1. A strong camp will likely vault him into the starting lineup.

This isn’t the same group from last year, but it could end the season among the best in the country despite losing a two-time All-American in Harrison.

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5. Linebackers

Notable departures: Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers

Key returners: Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, C.J. Hicks

New arrivals: Payton Pierce, Garrett Stover.

Linebacker is a mixed bag this year. The Buckeyes lost two starters in Chambers and Eichenberg, both of whom played more than 500 snaps last season. That’s a lot of experience to replace. But Cody Simon is ready to step into a starting spot, and the position has clear upside. Hicks and Styles don’t have much experience at linebacker, but they are athletic and talented enough to become impact players before the end of the season. They were the Buckeyes’ top recruits in the Class of 2022, both top-30 players in the country.

The potential to play both at the same time and use some confusing coverage and blitz looks should give the defense some versatility. This linebacker corps might struggle at times to begin the season, but among the top three players, there’s enough talent and experience to be excited about what they can be once they put in a few weeks together.

6. Tight ends

Notable departures: Cade Stover

Key returnees: Gee Scott Jr., Jelani Thurman, Ben Christian

New arrivals: Will Kacmarek, Max LeBlanc, Damarion Witten

Stover made a major impact last year, playing 597 offensive snaps and tallying 576 yards and five touchdowns. Replacing him won’t be easy, but Scott has been waiting for a chance to lead the tight ends. He’s a natural pass catcher. Ohio State won’t ask him to replace everything Stover did last year, but the others don’t have much experience.

Thurman is a talented and physical force, Christian is returning after missing all of last season serving a suspension and the addition of Kacmarek will bring the blocking force in the run game Ohio State needs.

Like the linebackers, there’s talent here, but it’s not proven and we won’t have a full idea of the upside until the season begins. This seems like a bridge-to-the-future type of season at tight end.

7. Quarterbacks

Notable departures: Kyle McCord

Key returnees: Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz

New arrivals: Will Howard, Air Noland, Julian Sayin

Much like last preseason, there’s some uncertainty at quarterback. McCord edged Brown for the starting job after an offseason competition in 2023, only to transfer to Syracuse. The favorite to replace him is Howard, formerly Kansas State’s starting quarterback.

I was tempted to put the offensive line above the quarterbacks this year, but depth was enough for me to lean toward the quarterbacks. I’m confident that Howard can run the offense well enough to get Ohio State back to the Big Ten championship, especially with the defense he has on the other side.

But the best part of the unit is the youth. Ohio State has five quarterbacks, which includes the top-ranked 2024 quarterback in Sayin, who transferred from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement, plus the fourth-ranked 2024 quarterback in Noland and a promising redshirt freshman in Kienholz.

The future is bright at quarterback for Ohio State, but for now there’s too much uncertainty to move the position group any higher.

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8. Offensive line

Notable departures: Matt Jones

Key returnees: Donovan Jackson, Josh Fryar, Josh Simmons, Tegra Tshabola and Carson Hinzman

New arrivals: Seth McLaughlin, Deontae Armstrong, Devontae Armstrong, Ian Moore and Gabe VanSickle

The offensive line is last for the second consecutive season, but I’m more confident in this group now than I was a year ago. Simmons, Jackson, McLaughlin and Fryar are a solid four to start a season with. The questions are where Fryar plays and who joins them as the fifth lineman. Ohio State didn’t dip into the portal in the spring, which is an indication the Buckeyes couldn’t find anybody better than what they already have.

One of the biggest concerns is depth. The Buckeyes have missed on elite offensive line recruits in recent cycles, and though there’s talent, they haven’t recruited high-end blue-chip talent like they have at most other positions. This group is still a significant question mark, even if a smaller one than a year ago.

(Top photo of Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock: Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)