For the last time until this coming fall, we get to see the Ohio State Buckeyes football teams in The Horseshoe.
The annual Scarlet and Gray game started off with a BOOM! as tight end Nate Roberts committed before “kickoff,” and safety Cody Haddad after the game started. Then the attention turned to on the field action, which we were all excited to see.
So many new additions to this team, along with returning stars have many expecting a deep run in the expanded College Football Playoff. The spring game gave us a glimpse to what kind of team we will see this coming season and here are my takeaways from today’s Ohio State action.
Will Howard was the first quarterback
Yes, Howard handed the ball off in a wing-T formation, but he was still the first quarterback to take snaps. You have to make the assumption that he is first on the depth chart as spring ends. This was the idea all along when he transferred in from Kansas State. It will be interesting to see how head coach Ryan Day handles the competition as the season gets closer to its actual start.
Jeremiah Smith was not with the first group
After all the massive hype we have seen on social media with Smith making exceptional catches, he was not on the field early. It’s hard to imaging that he won’t play a lot, with the possibility of cracking the starting lineup eventually. This should not do anything to stop the excitement of what Smith will be, he did make the first catch of the second series. He would later get reps with the first team, and multiple jump balls in the end zone. He’s going to have big impact on the offense this season.
Emeka Egbuka was taking kickoff returns and Jeremiah Smith on punt returns
It’s been a long time since Ohio State has returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown and with the talent this team has at its skill positions, it’s a wonder why the drought has been so long. It’s great to see that Day is putting two of his best playmakers at those positions. There surely will be a rotation, but getting the right players back there will help the Buckeyes special teams this fall.
Caleb Downs is elite
We all knew that already, but seeing him out there in The Horseshoe was different. It’s real, Caleb Downs is a Buckeye. Obviously we weren’t able to see the real extent of the impact that he will have, considering it was pretty much two-hand touch while he was on the field. Wearing the No. 2 reminds me of another former All-American, Mike Doss, and the impact he had for Ohio State. If the Buckeyes get the same results as they did with Doss, call it a massive win.
The secondary is elite
Downs is the star, but the rest of the group isn’t far behind him. Jermaine Mathews Jr., Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, and Jayden Bonsu all flashed during the game. We already know how great Denzel Burke is, same with Lathan Ransom. Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Jaylen McClain, and Brenten “Inky” Jones, picked off passes showing the younger depth as well. They made it tough on the Ohio State offense while the first team was still getting reps. BIA is back.
This defense will be among the best in the country again
We really didn’t get to see this defense in full force due to the nature of the spring game format, but what we did see was big time performances. Jack Sawyer registered a “sack”, the two early interceptions and the coverage was impressive. There wasn’t much to see from the linebacker group, but that group should be fine.
The running back room will be fine
It was a bit concerning when the Dallan Hayden transfer news came out, but after seeing the younger backs in spring action, this unit should be fine. Obviously we didn’t see much of the starters in TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but the reps that James Peoples, Sam Williams-Dixon and TC Caffey got were more than impressive. Each of them scored a touchdown and both will play a good amount this fall. The depth and explosiveness is there beyond the top two.
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