Ohio State Looking to Showcase All Kinds of Speed in 2016 Spring Game

Ohio State got an infusion of speed when head coach Urban Meyer took over the recruiting in 2012, but with preparations for the 2016 season in full swing, the Buckeyes are looking to get even faster.

New names and faces will arrive in Columbus as Ohio State continues its quest to replace eight starters on both sides of the ball. Meyer and the Buckeyes coaching staff are struggling to establish a depth chart with all the youth and injuries, but one thing they can establish is a new pace and identity.

That will be on display on Saturday, when the Buckeyes take the field in Ohio Stadium for the annual spring game.

Defensive Speed

Ohio State’s defense was fast a season ago, and a number of former Buckeyes—defensive backs Tyvis Powell and Eli Apple and linebacker Darron Lee—proved that by running 4.4 40-yard dashes at the NFL combine.

But despite the departure of a number of blazers, there are many who think Ohio State’s 2016 defense will be even faster than the ’15 edition.

“It’s fast, it’s a fast defense,” defensive end Tyquan Lewis said, per Tony Gerdeman of The Ozone. “It’s probably the fastest defense Coach Larry Johnson has ever seen. It’s pretty good.”

Johnson, Ohio State’s defensive line coach, who held the same position at Penn State from 1996-2013, has seen some fast defenses in his day. The new projected starters will have to bring a decided edge for this to be true, but that’s the feeling some have for the new…

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