The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 143 BY RYAN TICE It doesn't matter that Ohio State produced 12 NFL Draft picks — just two shy of its seven‑round record, set in 2004 — and five first‑round selections (one shy of Miami's 2004 record). Given how they recruit, it's just as irrelevant that they have only six returning starters (not counting specialists) — the fewest among any Power Five team. They will serve as Michigan's biggest road‑ block for a Big Ten title … again. The two combatants in college football's greatest rivalry both enter the season as pop‑ ular top‑five picks nationally, which could set up a season finale with a Big Ten Cham‑ pionship bid and spot in the College Football Playoff on the line. Redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett eases a lot of concerns about the offense, but it won't be an easy path for the Buck‑ eyes, who play at Oklahoma Sept. 17 and at Michigan State Nov. 19 before hosting U‑M. He rushed for 682 yards and 11 scores, while throwing for another 992 yards and 11 touchdowns — against just four intercep‑ tions — while splitting time under center with the NFL‑bound Cardale Jones. Barrett's numbers will be expected to be more in line with 2014, when he came on in relief of Braxton Miller and set a Big Ten re‑ cord with 45 total touchdowns before break‑ ing his ankle against U‑M, which gave Jones his chance. The 6‑2, 225‑pound Barrett is 15‑2 as a starter, and Ohio State was at their best last year with him pulling the trigger. The only other returning starters on that side of the ball are guards Pat Elflein, a two‑ time All‑Big Ten selection moving to center, and redshirt junior Billy Price, a two‑year starter. The top three rushers besides Barrett have departed, and the top four receivers must also be replaced. Versatile junior H‑back Cur‑ tis Samuel (193 yards and two scores) is the top rusher after Barrett and leads all returners with 22 catches, which gained 289 yards and two scores. He and Barrett are actually the only players on the 2016 roster who had more than 100 yards from scrimmage last year. That shouldn't matter — highly rated re‑ cruits have been waiting in the wings for their opportunity, including redshirt fresh‑ man running back Mike Weber from De‑ troit. Fifth‑year senior running back Bri'onte Dunn is another former big‑time prospect, but he has just 287 career rushing yards (al‑ though he does average 6.0 yards per carry). All three levels of the defense boast one returning starter. Up front it's junior Tyquan Lewis, who had 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and a team‑best eight sacks last year. Redshirt junior Sam Hubbard, who came in as a safety, has bulked up into a defensive end and proved he was worthy of more playing time with eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in limited action last year. Both were first‑team All‑Big Ten picks this preseason by Athlon. Junior linebacker Raekwon McMillan will lead from the center of the unit after notch‑ ing 119 tackles in his first year as a full‑time starter. Redshirt junior Gareon Conley is expected to be next in Ohio State's NFL cornerback assembly line; he defended seven passes with two interceptions in his first ex‑ tended opportunity last fall. Special teams is where the Buckeyes return the majority of their contributors. Junior Sean Nuernberger, the 2014 starter, eventually won his job back last fall, making 3 of 4 field goal chances; he is 16 of 24 with 106 extra points in his career. Meanwhile, senior Cameron Johnston averaged 43.9 yards per punt. The Buckeyes didn't make the College Football Playoff during their title defense last year, which means the season was a dis‑ appointment. Maybe no quarterback drama can be the difference this time around be‑ cause the Buckeyes will always be in conten‑ tion with Meyer at the helm, and success un‑ der the three‑time national champion mentor begins with making the final four. However, they could be more vulnerable than usual to their top‑level Big Ten brethren after losing just one regular‑season league game the last four seasons. Notes According to Athlon, one of the big changes from 2014 to 2015 for Ohio State was its big plays — after ranking second nationally with 6.1 20-plus yard gains per game two years ago, the Buckeyes notched just 62 such plays last fall and their clip of 4.8 per contest checked ranked 57th … Urban Meyer's ca - reer record of 154-27 equates to a winning percentage of .851, first among active coaches with at least 10 years of experience on the Football Bowl Subdivision level. ❑ OHIO STATE • NOV. 26 • GAME 12 Buckeyes Will Reload For Another Title Run In 2016 2016 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2015 Result Sept. 3 Bowling Green — Sept. 10 Tulsa — Sept. 17 at Oklahoma — Oct. 1 Rutgers W, 49-7 Oct. 8 Indiana W, 34-27 Oct. 15 at Wisconsin — Oct. 22 at Penn State W, 38-10 Oct. 29 Northwestern — Nov. 5 Nebraska — Nov. 12 at Maryland W, 49-28 Nov. 19 at Michigan State L, 17-14 Nov. 26 Michigan W, 42-13 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 58-48-6 First Meeting: U-M 34, OSU 0 (Oct. 16, 1897, at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: OSU 42, U-M 13 (Nov. 28, 2015, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Urban Meyer, 50-4 at Ohio State (5th year) and 154-27 overall (15th year) Off./Def. Systems: Power spread/Multiple 2015 In Review: 12-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten (T-1st East) Final 2015 Ranking: No. 4 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Star ters: 8 (3 offense, 3 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2015 (Fiesta, vs. Notre Dame, W 44-28) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 36 (2014) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: J.T. Barrett (992 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT) Rushing: J.T. Barrett (682 yards, 11 TD) Receiving: Curtis Samuel (289 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Raekwon McMillan (119) Sacks: Tyquan Lewis (8) Interceptions: Gareon Conley (2) PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: J.T. Barrett, R-Jr., QB — The 2014 Big Ten Quarterback of the Year followed up his debut during OSU's national champion - ship campaign by splitting reps under center last year … Will be unquestioned starter this year … In his career, he has completed 64.2 percent of his 461 throws for 3,826 yards with 45 touch - downs and 14 interceptions … Also has rushed for 1,620 yards and 22 scores. Defense: Raekwon McMillan, Jr., LB — Was a part- time starter as a true freshman in 2014, totaling 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception, which he re - turned for a touchdown … Tabbed as a 2015 All-Big Ten pick — first team by media and second team by coaches … Brings in career totals of 173 stops, 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Junior defensive end Tyquan Lewis totaled 14 tackles for loss and a team-best eight sacks while playing opposite No. 3 overall NFL Draft pick Joey Bosa in 2015. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS