Ohio State has to identify 16 new starters before kicking off its 2016 campaign against Bowling Green next September, and with that attrition, a number of underclassmen have a golden opportunity to earn spots in the starting lineup.
Urban Meyer signed the country's No. 7 recruiting class after winning the national title last year, but the Buckeyes redshirted 20 of their 25 freshmen because their roster was so loaded.
Those redshirt freshmen could make a huge impact this fall, and Meyer vowed to play more of his first-year Buckeyes on national signing day—when he predicted that 18 of Ohio State's 25 new players will see the field.
Here's a guess at which underclassmen will make the first team to start the year.
Defense
Despite the need for eight new starters on defense, only two will be underclassmen.
The Buckeyes lost three starters on their defensive line and in the secondary, and that's where the pair of underclassmen will emerge. But even those two players—defensive end Sam Hubbard and safety Malik Hooker—are entering their third years of the program as redshirt sophomores.
Hubbard should be a familiar sight for Buckeyes fans. The converted safety prospect bulked up in his first year with the Buckeyes and moved to the defensive line, and during last year's 12-1 run, he backed up Joey Bosa admirably and became a formidable force in the rotation. He ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks, and with Bosa's departure, he's in line to step into a starting role.
Hooker should emerge from a thin group of safeties to join Gareon Conley, Erick Smith and Damon Webb in Ohio State's secondary. Hooker was one of the guys who saw extended action in the Buckeyes' bowl practices last December, and the coaching staff is grooming the hard-hitting safety out of New Castle, Pennsylvania, to play a big part on the defense this fall.
Freshman defensive ends Nick Bosa and Jonathon Cooper, linebackers Justin Hilliard and Jerome Baker and defensive backs Eric Glover-Williams, Denzel Ward and Jordan Fuller are other young players who should factor into the two-deep rotation.
Offense
Ohio State lost all three of its starting wide receivers and one of the most productive running backs in school history, and it'll replace that playmaking ability with a wave of talented underclassmen.
On the perimeter, true freshman Austin Mack will surge as an early enrollee this spring and lock down a starting spot this fall. Redshirt sophomore Noah Brown will accompany Mack. Brown was in line for a breakout year in 2015 before a leg injury in fall camp derailed his season.
In the backfield, redshirt freshman Mike Weber will join J.T. Barrett. The powerful running back is more in the mold of Carlos Hyde than Ezekiel Elliott, and he'll bring the bulldozing running style back to an offense that will need steady production from the ground game in 2016.
A pair of redshirt freshmen will be opening lanes for Weber on the right side in guard Matthew Burrell and tackle Isaiah Prince.
But the Buckeyes will go deep into their roster in 2016 to find as many playmakers as possible. At wideout, redshirt freshmen Torrance Gibson and K.J. Hill and true freshmen Binjimen Victor and Demario McCall will get playing time. And with the No. 2 spot at tight end wide open, true freshmen Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell should battle to see the field.
With only six seniors on the team and 25 upperclassmen total, there will be a lot of opportunities for younger guys to see the field in 2016.
All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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