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
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
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