COLUMBUS, Ohio — Throughout its run to last season's national championship, Ohio State found itself having to replace an unprecedented seven players who were starting in the NFL at the time. And while that number likely won't be as high next season, Urban Meyer will again have to replenish the Buckeyes' starting lineup after the departure of multiple NFL-caliber talents from last year's title team.
This week's NFL Scouting Combine indicates as much, with four OSU alums being invited to participate at the annual draft showcase. Wide receiver Devin Smith, defensive tackle Michael Bennett, tight end Jeff Heuerman and cornerback Doran Grant will all attempt to improve their respective draft stocks in advance of this spring's draft.
Meanwhile, Meyer and his staff have been left with the task of replacing eight starters from last season's squad, four of whom figure to be locks to be playing in the NFL next season. That number could very well double by the start of next season as well, with linebacker Curtis Grant, wideout Evan Spencer, right tackle Darryl Baldwin and defensive end Steve Miller each attempting to crack professional rosters.
As Meyer has proved throughout his coaching career, he doesn't rebuild but reloads. Nevertheless, next season will present another unique task in replacing key players as the Buckeyes attempt to repeat as national champions.
Devin Smith
There may not be a more difficult player of Ohio State's departed seniors to replace than Smith, as they simply don't make many like the 6'1", 199-pound deep threat. That's been evidenced in the hype surrounding Smith leading up to the combine, where some have speculated he'll set the high mark in the 40-yard dash.
Catching a combined seven balls for 269 yards and four touchdowns in the Buckeyes' three postseason games, Smith played a crucial role in Ohio State's run to a national title while serving as a safety valve for quarterback Cardale Jones.
While inconsistent throughout the better part of his college career, Smith's game-changing speed and nation's-best 28.2 yards per catch have both ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay currently projecting the Massillon, Ohio, native as a first-round pick.
"He's got good speed, he can stretch the field, and he plays bigger than his listed size on contested balls," Kiper wrote in his most recent evaluation of Smith. "Devin Smith is a guy that probably wasn't utilized as much as he would have been in some other offenses."
That may be the case, but if Jones is going to continue to be the Buckeyes' starting quarterback, they would be best served keeping the deep ball as a mainstay in their offense.
In four years of recruiting, Meyer has done his best to add speed to the OSU roster, but no returning player has shown to possess the playmaking potential of Smith. Michael Thomas led the Buckeyes with 54 receptions in his sophomore season but trailed Smith in both receiving yards and touchdowns.
One player to keep an eye on is Terry McLaurin, who redshirted as a true freshman in 2014. The former 4-star prospect possesses size (6'0", 195 lbs) similar to Smith's and has also been lauded for his ability as a speedster, claiming a 4.40 time in the 40-yard dash.
If McLaurin doesn't prove capable, senior Corey Smith is another option to become the Buckeyes' next deep threat. The Akron, Ohio, native caught just 20 balls in 2014 but showcased his big-play ability with a 50-yard haul in the national title game.
Michael Bennett
Arguably the safest bet of any of Ohio State's draft prospects, Bennett has been on the radar of NFL teams since before the start of his senior season. Initially projected as a lock to be a first-round pick, neither Kiper nor McShay currently projects him to be taken with any of the draft's first 32 picks, although NFL.com's Lance Zierlein and Bucky Brooks both still have Bennett listed as a first-round pick this spring.
A three-year starter who started for the Buckeyes as a freshman in 2011, the 6'2", 288-pound Bennett has been a versatile mainstay on the OSU defensive line for the past four seasons. Possessing the ability to play both on the inside and outside of the line, Bennett tallied 41 tackles in his senior season, 14 of which came for a loss and seven sacks.
"Bennett is a disciplined, intelligent player who is a fit for teams looking for an upfield disruptor," Zierlein wrote in his evaluation of Bennett. "He relies on his initial burst, hand usage and technique to win at the point of attack. Bennett has the potential to dominate sluggish or weak guards."
Also considered one of the leaders of Ohio State's championship team, the void Bennett's leaving will be bigger than his All-American play. Taking that into consideration, one name who comes to mind as a candidate for replacing Bennett is Tommy Schutt, who will be a senior in 2015.
Tallying just 10 tackles in 12 appearances last season, Schutt has been hampered by injuries since arriving in Columbus as a 4-star prospect three years ago. Nevertheless, his status as a senior should give him an edge when it comes to the race to start alongside a pair of potential first-round picks in Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington on the OSU defensive line.
Should Schutt's health not allow him to give 2015 a full-go, names to keep an eye on include redshirt sophomore Michael Hill, redshirt sophomore Donovan Munger and true freshman Robert Landers.
Jeff Heuerman
The heart and soul of the Buckeyes' 2014 championship team, Heuerman is another player whose value to OSU exceeded his stat line.
Troubled by a foot injury at the start of the season and sprained ankle at the end of it, all while dealing with Ohio State's ever-changing quarterback situation, Heuerman totaled 17 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns in 2014. With both the highest bench press and vertical jump on the Buckeyes' roster, Heuerman has the potential to be a workout warrior at the combine and is generally viewed as one of the top tight end's in this year's draft.
"Scouts seem to be unusually intrigued and excited about Heuerman's NFL potential," Zierlein wrote. "He is a vertical pass-catching tight end who can be moved all over the formation."
It's no secret who Ohio State will rely on to replace Heuerman, as the Buckeyes have spent much of the past two seasons lining up in two-tight end sets with Nick Vannett seeing significant playing time. The 6'6", 260-pounder actually posted better stats than Heuerman last season, tallying 19 catches for 220 yards and five touchdowns.
But while senior-to-be Vannett should step right into both Heuerman's starting role and leadership position, it will be interesting to see if Meyer continues to rely on two-tight end formations. If that's the case, then redshirt sophomore Marcus Baugh could enjoy increased playing time while simultaneously adding a new dynamic to the OSU offense.
A former 4-star prospect, Baugh was the first tight end Meyer recruited to Ohio State and is more of a pure pass-catcher than both Heuerman and Vannett. After spending much of 2013 in Meyer's doghouse, the lone catch of his college career thus far came when the 6'4", 252-pounder reeled in a two-yard touchdown in the Buckeye's blowout win over Kent State this past season.
Doran Grant
The most intriguing position battle at Ohio State this offseason will be the race to replace Grant, an All-Big Ten corner who heads to Indianapolis hoping to solidify his draft status. At 5'11" and 193 pounds, Grant, like Heuerman, could qualify as a workout warrior in the coming weeks.
But while Grant attempts to prove that he's deserving of being selected with a mid-round pick, his potential replacements in Columbus are currently vying for his starting spot. The two names that appear to be the best bets to start across from Eli Apple next season are redshirt sophomore Gareon Conley and true sophomore Damon Webb, each of whom played sporadically in 2014.
After being beaten out by Apple in the offseason, Conley served as OSU's third perimeter corner, tallying 16 tackles and two pass breakups. When Apple was questionable with an injury heading into the Big Ten title game, it was Conley who got the start in his place, although his inconsistent play caused him to quickly be pulled.
Webb, meanwhile, showed promise as a freshman, totaling three tackles and one pass breakup in just nine appearances. A 4-star prospect, Webb came to Columbus highly acclaimed from Detroit Cass Tech and could have the leg up in his current competition.
Other names to keep an eye on at Ohio State's cornerback position include redshirt freshman MarshonLattimore, true freshman Eric Glover-Williams and true freshman Jamel Dean.
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Ohio State Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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