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LB Justin Hilliard (2020 B1G Champ Def POG)

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Sgt Brutus said:
Whatever happened to this guy? Going to be a senior now and he’s not projected to even be a backup linebacker?
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Injuries, injuries and more injuries.
Last year was his first healthy year. I’m sure he’ll be in the rotation at LB this year and a solid leader. But I doubt if he’ll ever live up to his former 5star status from HS.
 
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The favortism rhetoric is overstated as it pertains to the LBs and was wildly different from the DB position. The latter leads to major misrepresentations as though the real talent never got a chance at LB (like with White, or in a different way with Wade early on). Justin played lots of snaps, as did Baron. The struggles as a unit persisted.

Now personally, I think he has the talent, smarts and fit to excel and would be excited to see him seize that position battle and run with it (and to see him push and lead his brothers at that position ). If Tuf does not bounce back physically from his injury (that he gutted his way through), I think Justin is the best fit at MLB and gives a talented but green guy like Mitchell time to grow and learn from him.

Better deployment and coaching can certainly help him realize his potential.

I'm excited to see what a new season and approach can bring for the entire unit.
 
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https://247sports.com/LongFormArtic...ve-up-to-expectations-130023582/#130023582_10

Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State
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(Photo: Joseph Maiorana, USA TODAY Sports)
247Sports Composite Rank: No. 35

Hilliard had a hard time staying healthy early in his career with bicep injuries forcing him to redshirt and then miss all but three games of the 2016 season. But Hilliard's also failed to crack the lineup as an upperclassman. Hilliard had his best season to date in 2018, totaling 20 tackles and a tackle for loss. Yet he remained a rotation player at best in an Ohio State linebacker room that struggled mightily. Everyone is back at linebacker for the Buckeyes, and expect some shakeup there with a new coach (Al Washington) taking over the position. This is now-or-never time for Hilliard and his Buckeye career. He has a new head coach, coordinator and position coach. There’s an opportunity for him emerge as the difference maker many thought he’d be.

You could argue fellow Buckeye five-star linebacker Baron Browning belongs on this list. But I’d expect Browning will respond well this spring given a little more defined consistency in his role.
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Certainly now or never for Justin. He may end his OSU career as nothing more than a special teams player...
 
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