This really was a special/fun team to watch. I'd probably place the 2002-203 team ahead of this one, but boy have a couple of these players won a special place in my heart. Ezekiel Elliott is my 2b favorite Buckeye RB of all time. 1 Maurice Clarett (I know, I know... but watching him his freshman year lead us to a National Championship, and that strip on Shaun Taylor was so huge in my book). 2a El Guapo. 2b Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott has a chance to lay sole claim to the #2 spot, but his career is still TBD so I'll list him at 2b for now.
Devin Smith. I really think Devin was/is the unsung hero of this team. Such a deep threat. Such a talented WR. I've said it all year long and I'll say it one more time... I really think this kid is made for the next level, and will have a better NFL career than a college career. He could just as easily fizzle out and never make it in the League, but I could see him having 3-5 catches per game in the NFL which is WAY more than anything he's ever really had at Ohio State.
Michael Thomas... He's not on any all-time Buckeye WR list for me yet... but I wouldn't be surprised if he is when it's all said & done. Thomas is the closest thing the Buckeyes have had since Michael Jenkins, in terms of a complete wide receiver.
Taylor Decker. I'm not one to talk much about the Offensive Line, but this kid had a phenomenal season. When you look at Alex Boone and the hype/raw-talent that guy had, and compare Boone's on-the-field performance to Decker, it's not even close. Decker has been SUCH a stout LT for the Buckeyes.
Joey Bosa. Bosa disappointed me a bit towards the end of the season, as I think he kinda disappeared in some of our bigger games against better talent (Wisconsin, Alabama, Oregon), but he's gotta be a fan favorite simply for his early season contributions and his personality. The guy is just one big goof that doesn't take anything too serious, which is kinda refreshing.
Tyvis Powell. Many of you may not remember, but when this kid committed to the Buckeyes back in (I think it was...) Jan 2012 I said this kid was going to be something special. I told you this kid simply "gets it". This kid reminds me a like of Mike Doss. Just complete Hustle. Loyalty. And Respect. (Okay... maybe John Cena). This kid bled Buckeye colors long before he signed his letter of intent. IMO, no one worked harder on this team than Tyvis did. If you remember, he was a lowly 3-star kid (a Tressel guy, if I'm not mistaken), but he worked & played his arse off and led this team to a National Championship from a Leader position much the same Mike Doss did, IMO.
Cameron Johnston. Easily my favorite Buckeye punter ever.
Darron Lee. This kid is going to be a stud. Jason was spot on in identifying this one from early on, just like he was with Ryan Shazier. I think when Lee's career is all said and done, he will have a very similar Buckeye career to that of Ryan Shazier. And ironically, Shazier is probably the guy I see Lee closest to (rather than say AJ Hawk, Laurinaitis, or Bobby Carpenter)
I think Doran Grant is pretty underrated. While no I don't have him anywhere near my list of Favorite Positional Athletes, I do think he was a big reason for this team's success. I do think Eli Apple, however, has shown he can have a promising career, which is excellent news, because now that Grant is gone, OSU is going to need someone who can matchup with the other team's #1 receiver.
I think the 2002-03 team overcame adversity obstacles ON-the-field, whereas this team overcame adversity obstacles OFF-the-field. In 2002-03, it was nail-biter after nail-biter game (think 'Holy Buckeye'). Whereas with this season, the Buckeyes were faced with 'next-man-up' mentality with filling positions for departures Bradley Roby, Ryan Shazier, suspension loss of Noah Spence, and injury losses to Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett.
Not only was last night a huge success ON-the-field, but it was also a huge success OFF-the-field, as the Buckeyes landed not 1, not 2, but 3 (!) big recruiting commits.
1st :: the #3 ATH in the state of Florida for 2017, Shaun Wade, kicked the party off for Buckeyes.
2nd :: After missing out on the #1 RB in 2015 (Damien Harris), the Buckeyes landed the #1 RB in the 2016 class, Kareem Walker
3rd :: The Buckeyes landed the #4 ATH in Florida for 3017, Bruce Judson.
Can't ask for much of a better night than that, can you?! 8-)
I hate turning the attention to Next Year already, partly because I don't want to take this National Championship for granted... I would like to savor it... but when this Offense returns just about every. single. key. player. on offense (except for Devin Smith -- who technically wasn't even a starter -- and Evan Spencer and Jeff Heuerman). 1) I'm not worried about Heuerman. If you really think about it, he really didn't even contribute much to the team this season (only 17 catches for 207 yards and 2 TDs). I think TE reserve Nick Vannett is every bit the player Heuerman is (19 catches, 220 yards, 5 TDs). 2) Evan Spencer, while he had some key clutch off-the-ball plays, he only accounted for 15 catches, 149 yds, and 3 TDs on the season. I think we can easily find someone to fill that gap. 3) RT Darryl Baldwin wasn't anything special. Surely Ed Warinner will be able to find someone / coach someone up to fill that gap. 4) The toughest challenge will be finding someone to replace/fill Devin Smith's role (33 catches, 931 yards, 12 TDs).
So... when you return so much on Offense, how can you help but not look to next season and begin speculating?!?!?!
Not too mention, on Defense, this team only loses 1) DE Steve Miller (who in my opinion was nothing special... someone like Tyquan Lewis and/or Jalyn Holmes should be more than capable of filling that gap), 2) LB Curtis Grant (who will be replaced easily by Raekwon McMillan, and I'm telling you now... McMillan WILL be better than Grant), 3) CB Doran Grant (Eli Apple is going to have to really take a big step forward next season), and 4) DT Michael Bennett (this loss will hurt the most).
That's it. 8 losses. That's all OSU loses. That's insane for a team of this caliber that was so good and only got BETTER.
Yes those losses will hurt, but I think what we lose in losses, the team will experience equal GAINS in the returned leadership & EXPERIENCE! The future is bright!
