Ohio State Buckeyes Roster 2019 Buckeyes Roster

Head Coach: Urban Meyer        2017 Salary: $6,431,240        Offensive Coordinator: Dyan Day/Kevin Wilson       Defensive Coordinator: Alex Grinch/Greg Schiano         

Stadium: Ohio Stadium       Surface: Turf        City: Columbus        State: Ohio

The Buckeyes find themselves slotted at the 5-position for the second consecutive season. In the coaches' poll, the team is ranked at the 3rd slot, even gaining a favorable 1st place vote. This ranking is for good reason as this program has finally developed a roster to their liking. Although off-season headlines haven't shined light on the program, this is white noise for a team that is looking to take the Big Ten. One area where the team succeeded most this off-season was by bringing in one of the nation's top recruiting classes.

The team brought in 5 of the nation's top 50 players, a class commitment that has become a staple to success at Ohio State. In total, the team grabbed 27 enrollees, finishing with the 2nd rated recruiting class in 2018. This ranking was the same in 2017, which bodes well to the development of young talent. All of the players within the 2017 class will be entering their sophomore seasons or will become redshirts for additional eligibility. Whatever the case may be, these talents are now ready to touch the surface of the starting lineup. It couldn't come at a better time for a program that is in a transitional period. On defense, the team loses 5 of their lineman upfront, 2 of their starting linebackers, and goes down to one returning starter within the secondary. This is a major filler area for the team, but their prospects are heavy in the departments mentioned. Placing an immense amount attention to game planning and learning the system is what the defense has preached all off-season. The team also said goodbye to their 4-year, on-and-off starter, J.T. Barrett. Barrett's career with the Buckeyes is one of love-hate. His overall record, 49-6, would be considered successful across the sport, but fans of the university only shoot for one outcome: the championship. Despite the critics, he leaves behind a legacy that won't easily be replaced. His replacement is a raw talent that has a year of knowledge under his belt. Dwayne Haskins has a little Barrett in him. He has speed, possesses proper footwork, but excels in regions Barrett could only dream of. He has an arm, drawing comparisons to former Ohio State product, Cardale Jones. Drawing talent from both of these legends within the program is something the team hopes can translate into wins. The defense will be the team's biggest barricade to a playoff run. Replacing that much starting talent is not something that takes place overnight, let alone a single off-season. The rostered players will have to be quick-on-the-feet and learn how to adapt to adverse situations. While the schedule looks friendly for continuing a season high on the ranking system, consistencies will be the number one preventer or successor of this team in 2018.