2021 Ohio State Offseason Thread

[Cincydawg]

bama, clemson, and THE Ohio State will have new QBs next year, I think Oklahoma (?) and A&M as well, among highly ranked teams.

[FearlessF]

sooners return the rattler

[MaximumSam]

Togiai says adios, Tyreke Smith coming back

[MaximumSam]

Jonathan Cooper says adios

[MaximumSam]

Wyatt Davis headed to the NFL too

[Cincydawg]

OU should be good, I think, I'm generally impressed preseason with teams with solid experienced QBs returning.

I guess we all are.

I've seen some "rankings" and they look like the final rankings jiggled a bit, as usual, teams like CC and Cincy ranked very highly.

[medinabuckeye1]

OU should be good, I think, I'm generally impressed preseason with teams with solid experienced QBs returning.

Maybe this will be OU's year.  I feel like the "Big Three" of Bama, Clemson, and tOSU are all losing a lot.  Unless there is another LSU type surprise* this might be OU's best shot.  

LSU Surprise:
The Tigers went 13-1 in 2011 and near-missed the NC with a 9-6 win over Bama in Tuscaloosa and a 21-0 loss to Bama in the NCG.  Then from 2012 through 2018 they lost three (4x), four (2x), or five games per season and never sniffed the CFP.  Then they had that dominant 2019 National Championship team that flat dominated their opponents en route to 15-0 and in 2020 they fell back to a five-loss team.  

With all of the losses that Bama, tOSU, and Clemson are going to suffer I think there is a pretty good chance that at least one of them will miss the CFP altogether and a solid chance that none of the three will be as strong as Bama (or even tOSU) was this year.  They might not even be as strong as Clemson was this year and that would really open the door for someone else . . . Georgia?  LSU?  Oklahoma?  

[Cincydawg]

The common theme I see of late in the elite teams is a top tier QB.  If you don't have one, you simply can't score with teams that do.  A great defense is not going to hold.

So you end up looking like Georgia, a pretty good team lacking that top tier QB.

[Honestbuckeye]

The common theme I see of late in the elite teams is a top tier QB.  If you don't have one, you simply can't score with teams that do.  A great defense is not going to hold.

So you end up looking like Georgia, a pretty good team lacking that top tier QB.

Agreed.  

Ohio State will be pretty much loaded next year. Offensive Line, WRs, RBs, TEs- but how much development time will the QB get in spring, fall camp and OOC games this year?

The lack thereof KILLED them this season with respect to the secondary.  They played their base almost exclusively with no time to set up and develop the nickel packages or other semi- exotic coverages they needed. 

[MrNubbz]

Togiai says adios, Tyreke Smith coming back

Damn,rosters are becoming so transient,we hardly knew ye Tom - Good Luck

[MrNubbz]

Maybe this will be OU's year.  I feel like the "Big Three" of Bama, Clemson, and tOSU are all losing a lot.I think there is a pretty good chance that at least one of them will miss the CFP altogether  Unless there is another LSU type surprise* this might be OU's best shot. 

Yup could be OU/Cajans year.According to 11 Warriors all of Clemson starters on Defense are returning.They weren't great but it certainly can't hurt them with more PT under their belt

[MaximumSam]

The offense is pretty loaded - they need one of the QBs to be good, but that is always the case.  Clemson and Bammer won a championship with young QBs playing a pretty big role, so it's not unheard of.  The defense, OTOH, looks pretty shaky.  

[Brutus Buckeye]

Day becomes the first OSU HC to go undefeated back to back regular seasons since..... Urban Meyer, 2012 and 13.

Does anyone know the last time it happened before that?

[MaximumSam]

Defensive line

Gone:

Jonathan Cooper and Tommy Togiai have declared. Togiai is the biggest hit because he was pretty strong and it doesn't feel like there is as strong a replacement on the roster.  Cooper had a strong senior season which is nice to see after he battled injury for much of his career.

Unclear of the situation of Antwuan Jackson.  He went through Senior Day and my assumption is anyone going through Senior Day isn't planning on coming back unless they say so, and he hasn't said so.  But there looks to be a spot there for him if he wants to return. (Edit: he did return)

Back:

Defensive end is pretty loaded.  Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith come back as the clear cut starters, and they are a pretty daggum good pair.  Backing them up is Javonte Jean-Baptiste and Tyler Friday, who are both experienced guys who would start for a lot of teams.  They have always rotated in at least four guys, so expect that to continue.  Behind them are youngsters Noah Potter and tight end convert Cormontae Hamilton.  Also in the mix will be true freshman uber recruit Jack Sawyer, the fourth ranked recruit in the nation.  As Woody Hayes said, "if you've got a big gun, use it" so expect to see him out there.  They also have a shot at the 3rd ranked recruit, J.T. Tuimoloau.

Tackle is a little bit more unsure.  The good news is they return Haskell Garrett, who survived a gunshot to the face to have a great season (Edit: I've read he was returning, but I've also read he's still thinking about it, needless to say, him leaving too would be a blow).  Losing Togiai is a blow, though, and we'll see how they replace him.  Taron Vincent is a former five star prospect who will hopefully develop into that ranking.  Jerron Cage is an experienced DT who got plenty of run against Alabama when Togiai was out.  Ty Hamilton seems to be the top guy of the rest, which includes Darrion Henry-Young, Jacolbe Cowan, and Jaden McKenzie.

They have a couple freshmen that might get some run. Mike Hall is a top 50 prospect, while Tyliek Williams is a mammoth out of Virginia who already looks like the biggest DT on the team.