Ohio State lost its top three wide receivers to the NFL with the departures of Michael Thomas, Braxton Miller and Jalin Marshall, and it's also replacing its starting tight end in Nick Vannett and a reliable outlet from the backfield in Ezekiel Elliott.
With that mass exodus of talent, the Buckeyes are working to reload their passing attack with a deep stable of playmakers who are short on experience.
With a host of unknown quantities at his disposal, who will step up as quarterback J.T. Barrett's go-to receiver?
It starts with a pair of relative vets in Noah Brown and Corey Smith, two wideouts who were supposed to be a big part of last year's passing attack before both suffered season-ending broken legs. Their rehab was long and laborious, but they're healthy and ready to pace a new-look receiver corps.
That's particularly true for Brown, who was surging in fall camp last year before that freak injury derailed his season. The hype surrounding the young pass-catcher was peaking despite the loaded roster he was on.
"I think he was right there with Mike [Thomas]," head coach Urban Meyer said of Brown, according to Tony Gerdeman of TheOzone.net. "Mike was our best receiver, but the guy right behind him was Noah."
Getting a guy of Thomas' pedigree would be a coup for the Buckeyes offense. As a redshirt junior last year, Thomas led the Buckeyes with 56 receptions, 781 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. He wasn't the fastest guy on the team, but he ran the sharpest routes and had the surest hands, which prompted his early jump the the NFL.
That's the kind of player Brown has been in offseason drills this summer.
"He has suction cups for hands," Barrett said of Brown, via Gerdeman. "Throw it anywhere around him, throw it around Noah and he’s going to get it."
The Buckeyes have other options, of course.
There are a host of younger players such as freshmen Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor, K.J. Hill and Torrance Gibson who could make an early impact. Then there are the older wideouts such as Johnnie Dixon, James Clark and Parris Campbell who have patiently sat behind stars such as Thomas and Devin Smith.
The H-back position could provide a huge boost after posting disappointing numbers in the Meyer era.
Dontre Wilson was supposed to be the next coming of Percy Harvin, but injuries have prevented him from being a big part of the offense. That opened the door for Curtis Samuel, who dealt with injuries of his own a season ago, but both are back and healthy for the fall.
But with all of that said, Barrett's go-to target may not be a receiver at all. After years of futility in Ohio State's offense, there's reason to believe this will be the breakout season for a tight end.
Marcus Baugh would be the beneficiary if that were the case.
A breakthrough from Baugh would stop a dreadful stretch for Buckeye tight ends. Since the start of the 2006 season, Ohio State's starting tight end has averaged just 15.8 receptions for 204.2 yards and 2.4 touchdowns per season.
But with co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner getting more involved in the play-calling, Baugh should emerge as a consistent outlet down the middle.
"There are a lot more throws headed [Baugh's] way," Warinner said this spring, according to Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.
Until Ohio State hits the field, though, there will be uncertainty regarding whom Ohio State can depend on in crunch-time situations.
It's clear that the Buckeyes have plenty of talented options on the perimeter—it's just unclear which one Barrett will rely on most this fall.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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