Ohio State's linebacker room will have a new look in 2021 as the next wave of talent is finally poised to take over. https://t.co/5rUN4xwgkl— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 17, 2021
Ohio State's roster is taking shape following the recent NFL draft decisions. We look ahead and hand out some early position grades for Ryan Day's 2021 squad. https://t.co/ozdXVECXfi— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 20, 2021 LINEBACKER Al Washington's linebacker room is getting hit harder than any other position group. Pete Werner, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, and Justin Hilliard are all gone as the unit will have an entirely new look in 2021. Dallas Gant, Teradja Mitchell, Craig Young, and K'Vaughan Pope are in line to finally take over with a number of younger backers like Cody Simon also in the mix. There won't be time to mess around here as the Buckeyes get Minnesota and then Oregon to open the season. Grade: B
Ohio State LBer Room for 2021.... Teradja Mitchell- 4* Craig Young- 3* Dallas Gant- 4* Tommy Eichenberg- 4* K'Vaughn Pope- 4* Mitchell Melton- 4* Cody Simon- 4* Reid Carrico- 4* Pete Werner?- 4*
We take a first look at how Ohio State's 2021 depth chart could stack up. https://t.co/EFNeKVBpuS— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 21, 2021 WILL LINEBACKER 1. Teradja Mitchell 2. Cody Simon 3. Mitchell Melton MIKE LINEBACKER 1. Dallas Gant 2. Tommy Eichenberg 3. Reid Carrico SAM LINEBACKER 1. K’Vaughan Pope 2. Craig Young 3. Jaylen Johnson After waiting their turn behind Tuf Borland, Pete Werner, Baron Browning and Justin Hilliard, the fourth-year trio of Gant, Mitchell and Pope will finally get their chances to compete for starting jobs. Mitchell and Gant, in particular, should be frontrunners to start in 2021 after taking second-team reps at the two inside linebacker spots for the past two seasons. But since none of them have started a game at Ohio State, they’ll still have to prove this offseason that they should be in the lineup, with young linebackers behind them looking to steal their starting jobs. Two young linebackers to watch in particular could be Young, who actually played more snaps than Pope this past season, and Simon, who established himself as a regular on special teams as a true freshman. Dallas Gant could finally get his chance to start for the Buckeyes in 2021.
Losing his top four linebackers in 2021, OSU LB coach Al Washington has his work cut out for him in revamping the position room next season.A look at how the #Buckeyes will replace Borland, Browning, Werner and Hilliard:Via @GriffinStrom3:➡️ https://t.co/HY5fJqBBvc pic.twitter.com/tdYC3EuAYO— Big Me Kickoff (@BigMe_Kickoff) January 28, 2021
How will the #Buckeyes replace three-year starter Pete Werner at linebacker? @TonyGerdeman takes a look:https://t.co/rnD1NWgUnq pic.twitter.com/HbWmPQukfv— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) February 11, 2021
Spring Breakdown: Buckeyes need three new starting linebackers https://t.co/7xJzxbcasq— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) March 5, 2021
Spring Forecast: Buckeyes face major reloading test at linebacker https://t.co/3GxoVrdvsD pic.twitter.com/1puWD8QxkI— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 12, 2021
Ryan Day said Ohio State is still talking about incorporating the "bullet" position into the defense. Still viewed as a different role than the Sam linebacker position.
Ryan Day claims the bullet position could be a part of Ohio State's defense this year, saying the coaches have to "figure out how the bullet plays into this season." https://t.co/mAfJ9th04B— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 22, 2021
Ohio State has to rebuild its linebackers room after losing all four starters from a year ago. But one of the key returners will now miss the spring with an injury:https://t.co/fIwF5ojpxT pic.twitter.com/G3oDnwUZac— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 25, 2021
Al Washington, Buckeyes linebackers facing critical spring short-handed https://t.co/wdnnGgrskC pic.twitter.com/I5F0h1ZOtH— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 25, 2021
It’s been a long time coming, but opportunity is finally within grasp for #OhioState’s next wave of LBs."I got to be the leader in the room now, being the older guy. Me, Dallas and K’Vaughan."More on the #Buckeyes' three senior linebackers:➡️ https://t.co/yaWE82ZX6b pic.twitter.com/8QtoogJUXL— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) March 25, 2021
'The unit is looking very, very strong': Buckeyes' starting linebackers will be new, but embrace the high standard https://t.co/HACyhNRHai— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) March 26, 2021
With all the turnover at linebacker this season, how might second-year #Buckeyes Cody Simon and Mitchell Melton impact the rotation? Al Washington likes what he's seen so far.“Those are two just young studs man. They handle themselves like pros.”➡️ https://t.co/dUEJg6XM7c pic.twitter.com/UVNTL1f8NW— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) March 28, 2021
The underclassman linebackers on Ohio State's roster are facing a prime opportunity to rise up the depth chart this offseason. https://t.co/BkWMgp9BmY— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 29, 2021
What a group! #H2 #DevelopedHere #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/nC5yA6nW0c— Al Washington (@CoachWash56) March 30, 2021
He says the biggest concern so far is that the younger players still haven't been able to play a ton of football at college. "Certainly quarterback's one. Linebacker's another." He thought "last Friday we had a pretty good quote-unquote scrimmage." They'll have another scrimmage on Saturday.