COLUMBUS, Ohio — His words may not have done it, but Urban Meyer’s facial expression said enough.
Told that 13 of his 24 combined starters are currently classified as freshmen or sophomores, the Ohio State head coach looked down at the podium in front of him, briefly allowing himself to take his eye off the present in order to focus on the future.
“You said 13 of the 24?” Meyer responded, seeking clarification. “Wow.”
It is indeed accurate, making the Buckeyes the youngest team in the Big Ten in terms of starters. Nevertheless, Ohio State still finds itself in the hunt for an appearance in the first ever College Football Playoff—a sign of just how bright the Buckeyes’ future may be.
Because regardless of how the rest of the 2014 campaign shakes out for Ohio State, there should be no shortage of talent returning to Columbus for the following season.
Assuming that everybody on the Buckeyes roster maintains their eligibility, Ohio State is slated to return 15 combined starters (eight on offense, seven on defense) in 2015 in addition to current key defensive subs Raekwon McMillan and Armani Reeves.
That list includes four starting offensive linemen, the Buckeyes’ current leading rusher and receiver, All-American defensive end candidate Joey Bosa and eight of OSU’s top 10 tacklers.
Oh, and there’s that pesky quarterback position, which remains the largest question mark for the Buckeyes in their immediate future.
Whether Braxton Miller returns from a…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Experience for Underclassmen Will Pay off in Future
