3. Breakout wide receiver
Losing Michael Thomas was somewhat expected for the Buckeyes after the 2015 season as the junior led Ohio State with 56 catches for 781 yards and nine touchdowns. However, Jalin Marshall’s departure was a little more painful.
Marshall, a redshirt sophomore, was expected to become the No. 1 target for J.T. Barrett in 2016, but his decision to leave, purely based on potential, was quite surprising. He finished the 2015 season as a dynamic playmaker, but only had 36 catches for 477 yards and five touchdowns.
Quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller and tight end Nick Vannett are also departing, leaving running back Curtis Samuel as the lead returning receiver, catching 22 passes for 289 yards and two scores last year. Obviously, he’ll be staying in the backfield, but there’s a possibility he might be used primarily on passing downs.
With a depleted receiving corps, Urban Meyer will have to rely on a ton of young, unproven, yet talented pass-catchers. Dontre Wilson looks to start as the slot receiver-type and has the most experience of any returning wide out, catching seven passes for 63 yards a year ago.
Keep an eye on redshirt sophomore Noah Brown to have a breakout season as well. He missed all of 2015 with an injury, but should be the top target in the passing game. Also, don’t sleep on true freshman Austin Mack.
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