OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW

What they're saying about Ohio State football in 2018

An inside look at what's being talked about for the Buckeyes

8/28/2018
BY KYLE ROWLAND
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
  • s7dobbins-jpg

    Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins combined with Mike Weber to rush for more than 2,000 yards a season ago.

    BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

    • What they are saying

    “Simply put, Ohio State does not have a glaring weakness going into this season. Everything is set up for the Buckeyes to make a strong run at the College Football Playoff.” — Street & Smith’s

    “I don't have any doubt that this team has playoff capability. I just wonder why the Buckeyes appear to be the prohibitive, universal Big Ten East favorites. Is this defense better than Michigan's? Is the offense better than Penn State's? Is the quarterback better than what's lining up with 18 other returning starters in East Lansing? For a program dealing with some turmoil, breaking in a new quarterback and entering ranked 109th in the country in returning production on defense, I'm just not ready to crown them like some others are in the preseason.” — Barton Simmons, CBS Sports

    “They are so darn good at just about every position on the field. You wonder how they lose. Maybe that’s why when they do lose, it’s the end of the world.” — Opposing Big Ten assistant coach in Athlon Magazine

    “Ohio State plays in a loaded division, faces TCU in Texas, and still has as good a chance of anyone of running the table in 2018. This roster is absolutely loaded.” — Bill Connelly, SB Nation

    Facts and figures

    2,029: Combined rushing yards for J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in 2017.

    +1.8: Ohio State averaged 5.3 points per trip inside the 40-yard line and allowed 3.5. The margin was first in the country.

    114: Tackles for loss OSU tallied last season, the most in all of college football.

    6-0: Urban Meyer’s record against Michigan

    2011: The last time Ohio State didn’t win more than 10 games in a season.

    Projected starters

    Offense

    QB: 7 Dwayne Haskins

    Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins combined with Mike Weber to rush for more than 2,000 yards a season ago.
    Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins combined with Mike Weber to rush for more than 2,000 yards a season ago.

    RB: 2 J.K. Dobbins

    WR: 11 Austin Mack

    WR: 1 Johnnie Dixon

    H: 21 Parris Campbell

    TE: 89 Luke Farrell

    LT: 75 Thayer Munford

    LG: 66 Malcolm Pridgeon

    C: 73 Michael Jordan

    RG: 78 Demetrius Knox

    RT: 59 Isaiah Prince

    Defense

    Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa helped the Buckeyes to a national-best 114 tackles for loss last year.
    Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa helped the Buckeyes to a national-best 114 tackles for loss last year.

    DE: 97 Nick Bosa

    DT: 86 Dre’Mont Jones

    DT: 67 Robert Landers

    DE: 2 Chase Young

    WLB: 39 Malik Harrison

    MLB: 5 Baron Browning

    SLB: 20 Pete Werner

    CB: 3 Damon Arnette

    CB: 8 Kendall Sheffield

    SS: 14 Isaiah Pryor

    FS: 4 Jordan Fuller

    Special teams

    P: 91 Drue Chrisman

    K: 96 Sean Nuernberger