Brandon Zimmerman
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Pre-Spring Outlook: Tight Ends
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With the recruits signed, sealed, and almost delivered it is officially time to look forward to the 2016 football season. While the Buckeyes are already getting ready behind the scenes, things do not start to jump into another gear until the Buckeyes begin their spring practice on March 8th. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be taking a look at each positional group for the Buckeyes and discussing who might start and how the depth chart may shake up. Today, I will be taking a look at the ever enigmatic and often under-utilized tight end position which was vacated by Nick Vannett.
THE PLAYERS
Junior Marcus Baugh arrived in Columbus from California as a four-star recruit and the number three ranked tight end. He has been in the Urban Meyer doghouse more than once
Photo courtesy of elevenwarriors.com
but has really turned the corner over the past two years. Spending the last two years sitting behind steady cogs Jeff Heuerman and Vannett, Baugh has continued to do whatever it takes to get on the field. Last year as the back-up to Vannett, Baugh hauled in two receptions for 32 yards. At 6’5” and 255 pounds, Baugh is the big body Meyer looks for on the edge. If Baugh can continue to grow into the dynamic pass catching threat I feel he can become it may finally be time to put the concerns over throwing to the tight end aside…at least for a year.
Redshirt freshman Rashod Berry is a 6’4” 245 pound former three-star recruit from Lorain, Ohio. Many colleges were up in the air on whether Berry projected more as a defensive end or tight end but Ohio State was adamant about him coming into the program as a tight end. This is a big year for Berry, if he can continue to develop and crack the depth chart he has a chance to succeed at tight end. If he lets the two incoming freshman pass him up, he could get lost in the shuffle and moved to defensive end.
Redshirt freshman A.J. Alexander was brought in last year as a project for the tight end spot and will need to really show improvement this year if he wants to hold off the talented freshmen. Alexander is the smallest tight end on the roster at 6’2” and 235 pounds but has possibly the most athletic ability. Rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, Alexander could easily wind up out at wide receiver if he is not able to crack the depth chart this season. Regardless of where he winds up, Alexander will make an impact for the Buckeyes at some point in his career.
Freshman Jake Hausmann comes to Ohio State from Cincinnati as the number four ranked tight end in the 2016 class. Hausmann is a 6’4” 230 pound dynamic receiver who is
a four-star recruit according to 24/7 Composite rankings and the 120th best recruit nationally. Hausmann has all the tools to make an immediate impact with his above average catching and blocking ability.
Freshman Luke Farrell is the number five ranked tight end in the 2016 class and brings another big athletic body to the tight end room. At 6’6” and 240 pounds he already is one of the biggest players the Buckeyes have had at this position in a while. Farrell comes to Columbus by way of Perry, Ohio.
Much like Berry, freshman Kierre Hawkins comes to Ohio State as a three-star athlete from Ohio looking for a position in college. Hawkins offer list is relatively small and is highlighted by the likes of Illinois and Kentucky but if Urban offered we should all expect this kid to blow up in the near future. To start off his career, Hawkins will be in the tight end room with four other freshmen and Baugh.
PREDICTED DEPTH CHART
Over the past couple of years it has been a constant grind to get any tight end involved into the offense. Meyer has had success with this position in the past but he has yet to find a way to get this position involved on a consistent basis. Over the past two recruiting cycles, Meyer has brought in five tight ends in an effort to fix this problem. The Buckeyes are getting two very special players in Hausmann and Farrell which will pay immediate dividends for the offense. I’m excited to see Baugh start and play full time for the first time in his career. I think he will really surprise people with his athleticism and be an all-conference player before it is all said and done.
OUTLOOK SCHEDULE
Quarterbacks – 15 Feb
Running Backs – 17 Feb
Wide Receivers – 19 Feb
Tight Ends – 22 Feb
Offensive Line – 24 Feb
Defensive Line – 26 Feb
Linebackers – 29 Feb
Secondary – 2 Mar
Special Teams – 4 Mar
The post Pre-Spring Outlook: Tight Ends appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With the recruits signed, sealed, and almost delivered it is officially time to look forward to the 2016 football season. While the Buckeyes are already getting ready behind the scenes, things do not start to jump into another gear until the Buckeyes begin their spring practice on March 8th. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be taking a look at each positional group for the Buckeyes and discussing who might start and how the depth chart may shake up. Today, I will be taking a look at the ever enigmatic and often under-utilized tight end position which was vacated by Nick Vannett.
THE PLAYERS
Junior Marcus Baugh arrived in Columbus from California as a four-star recruit and the number three ranked tight end. He has been in the Urban Meyer doghouse more than once
Photo courtesy of elevenwarriors.com
but has really turned the corner over the past two years. Spending the last two years sitting behind steady cogs Jeff Heuerman and Vannett, Baugh has continued to do whatever it takes to get on the field. Last year as the back-up to Vannett, Baugh hauled in two receptions for 32 yards. At 6’5” and 255 pounds, Baugh is the big body Meyer looks for on the edge. If Baugh can continue to grow into the dynamic pass catching threat I feel he can become it may finally be time to put the concerns over throwing to the tight end aside…at least for a year.
Redshirt freshman Rashod Berry is a 6’4” 245 pound former three-star recruit from Lorain, Ohio. Many colleges were up in the air on whether Berry projected more as a defensive end or tight end but Ohio State was adamant about him coming into the program as a tight end. This is a big year for Berry, if he can continue to develop and crack the depth chart he has a chance to succeed at tight end. If he lets the two incoming freshman pass him up, he could get lost in the shuffle and moved to defensive end.
Redshirt freshman A.J. Alexander was brought in last year as a project for the tight end spot and will need to really show improvement this year if he wants to hold off the talented freshmen. Alexander is the smallest tight end on the roster at 6’2” and 235 pounds but has possibly the most athletic ability. Rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, Alexander could easily wind up out at wide receiver if he is not able to crack the depth chart this season. Regardless of where he winds up, Alexander will make an impact for the Buckeyes at some point in his career.
Freshman Jake Hausmann comes to Ohio State from Cincinnati as the number four ranked tight end in the 2016 class. Hausmann is a 6’4” 230 pound dynamic receiver who is
a four-star recruit according to 24/7 Composite rankings and the 120th best recruit nationally. Hausmann has all the tools to make an immediate impact with his above average catching and blocking ability.Freshman Luke Farrell is the number five ranked tight end in the 2016 class and brings another big athletic body to the tight end room. At 6’6” and 240 pounds he already is one of the biggest players the Buckeyes have had at this position in a while. Farrell comes to Columbus by way of Perry, Ohio.
Much like Berry, freshman Kierre Hawkins comes to Ohio State as a three-star athlete from Ohio looking for a position in college. Hawkins offer list is relatively small and is highlighted by the likes of Illinois and Kentucky but if Urban offered we should all expect this kid to blow up in the near future. To start off his career, Hawkins will be in the tight end room with four other freshmen and Baugh.
PREDICTED DEPTH CHART
- Marcus Baugh
- Jake Hausmann
- Luke Farrell
Over the past couple of years it has been a constant grind to get any tight end involved into the offense. Meyer has had success with this position in the past but he has yet to find a way to get this position involved on a consistent basis. Over the past two recruiting cycles, Meyer has brought in five tight ends in an effort to fix this problem. The Buckeyes are getting two very special players in Hausmann and Farrell which will pay immediate dividends for the offense. I’m excited to see Baugh start and play full time for the first time in his career. I think he will really surprise people with his athleticism and be an all-conference player before it is all said and done.
OUTLOOK SCHEDULE
Quarterbacks – 15 Feb
Running Backs – 17 Feb
Wide Receivers – 19 Feb
Tight Ends – 22 Feb
Offensive Line – 24 Feb
Defensive Line – 26 Feb
Linebackers – 29 Feb
Secondary – 2 Mar
Special Teams – 4 Mar
The post Pre-Spring Outlook: Tight Ends appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...