#1 Ohio State Opens Season at Virginia Tech on Labor Day Game to be televised at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and the Watch ESPN app

Transcription

1 OHIO STATE ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Fawcett Center, 6th Floor 2400 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, Ohio s. OHIO STATE FOOTBALL Week 1 #1 Ohio State at Virginia Tech Monday, Sept. 7,, 8 p.m. ET Lane Stadium (66,233), Blacksburg, Va. THE BROADCASTS TV: ESPN Chris Fowler (Play-by-Play) Kirk Herbstreit (Analyst) Heather Cox (Sideline) Radio: WBNS FM (97.1 The Fan) The Urban Meyer pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Paul Keels will call the action with former Buckeye Jim Lachey and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. The game can also be heard nationally on Westwood One Sports and Sirius-XM channels 84 with Scott Graham and Derek Rackley on the call. #1 Ohio State Opens Season at Virginia Tech on Labor Day Game to be televised at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and the Watch ESPN app TEAM COMPARISON (2014 stats) Head coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes open the season on Labor Day night at Virginia Tech. Record , 8-0 B1G Record...7-6, 3-5 ACC AP Rank...1 AP Rank...RV Pts/Gm Pts/Gm Rush Yds/Gm Rush Yds/Gm Pass Yds/Gm Pass Yds/Gm Total Off/Gm Total Off/Gm Total Def/Gm Total Def/Gm INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (2014 leading returners) RUSHING RUSHING #15 Ezekiel Elliott #4 J.C. Coleman yds, 18 TD, 125 ypg yds, 3 TD, 41.0 ypg PASSING PASSING #16 J.T. Barrett #12 Michael Brewer , 34 TDs, 10 INTs , 2692 yds 2834 yds, ypg 18 TD, 15 INT, ypg RECEIVING RECEIVING #3 Michael Thomas #1 Isaiah Ford yds, 9 TDs, 53.3 ypg yds, 6 TD, 54.5 ypg DEFENSE DEFENSE #37 Joshua Perry #40 Deon Clarke 124 tkls, 73 solo, 8.5 TFL 74 tkls, 11 TFL, 5 sks, 1 INT THE SERIES Monday will be the second meeting in the series as Virginia Tech won, 35-21, in week 2 last season at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. OhioStateBuckeyes.com FIRST AND 10 The Buckeyes are opening on the road (on an opponent s home field) for the first time since the 1998 opener at West Virginia (W, 34-17). Ohio State enters the game having won 13 in a row overall, the longest active streak in the nation. Ohio State also has won 13 consecutive road games, the longest active streak in the nation. Its last road defeat came on Nov. 26, 2011 at Michigan. Ohio State is 34-2 in its last 36 season-openers. Both of those 0-1 starts took place in the Kickoff Classic at the old Giants Stadium to Miami, Fla., and 1986 to Alabama. Ohio State is the first school to be voted unanimous No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press poll with all 61 first-place votes. Urban Meyer enters the season with the highest winning percentage (.845) among active coaches with at least 10 years head coaching experience. Meyer is 50-5 in his career in games played in August and September. Meyer is 13-0 in season openers as a head coach. Ohio State returns 16 starters from last season seven on each side of the ball and two specialists. Ohio State has thrown a TD pass in 23 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history, trailing only a 24-game streak of TD passes by teams. SCHEDULE/RESULTS Date Opponent TV Time/Result 9/7 at Virginia Tech ESPN 8 p.m. 9/12 Hawaii TBA 3:30 p.m. 9/19 Northern Illinois TBA 3:30 p.m. 9/26 Western Michigan TBA TBA 10/3 at Indiana TBA TBA 10/10 Maryland TBA Noon 10/17 Penn State ABC/ESPN 8 p.m. 10/24 at Rutgers ABC/ESPN 8 p.m. 11/7 Minnesota ABC/ESPN 7/8 p.m. 11/14 at Illinois TBA TBA 11/21 Michigan State TBA TBA 11/28 at Michigan TBA TBA 12/6 B1G Championship 1 FOX 8 p.m. 1 B1G Championship; Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Assoc. Director, Football SID...Jerry Emig emig.2@osu.edu; (c) Assoc. Director, Secondary FB SID...Adam Widman widman.12@osu.edu; (c) Official Web site...ohiostatebuckeyes.com Facebook... Facebook.com/Buckeyes Instagram...@Brutus_Buckeye #GoBucks

2 OHIO STATE MEDIA AVAILABILITY 31 MON 1 TUE 2 WED 3 THUR 4 FRI 5 SAT 7 MON 11 a.m. ET Weekly release posted at OhioStateBuckeyes.com 11:45 a.m. ET Coach Meyer press conference (WHAC Team Room) 12:15 p.m. ET Asst. Coaches available (WHAC Team Room) 12:30 p.m. ET Player interviews (WHAC Indoor Field) 1:36 p.m. ET Coach Meyer on Big Ten teleconference Jerry Emig (emig.2@osu.edu) or Adam Widman (widman.12@osu.edu) for call-in number 6:30-8 p.m. ET Return out-of-town calls for requested players 6:15 p.m. ET Coach Meyer postpractice update; selected players available (WHAC Indoor Field) Noon ET Coach Urban Meyer Call-In Show (97.1 FM The Fan in Columbus, or No media availability No media availability 6 SUN No media availability OSU at Virginia Tech 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Postgame Interviews Ohio State locker room is closed. Coach Meyer and selected assistants and players will be brought to the interview area following a cooling-off period. The Woody Hayes Athletic Complex (WHAC) is located at 535 Irving Schottenstein Drive, Columbus, Ohio, Coach Meyer s Monday press confereces are held in the WHAC Team Room. Parking is available on the north and west sides of the building. Please enter through the Biggs Atrium on the north side. A complete transcript of Coach Meyer will be available online at com after each Monday press conference and after home games. THE COACHES SETTING THE STAGE No. 1 Ohio State will take on Virginia Tech in the final game of College Football s opening weekend on Labor Day evening at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. The two teams are meeting for the second consecutive season as the Hokies won in Columbus last season, (complete recap on page 18) McMillan. Three starters return in an experienced secondary in sophomore CB Eli Apple and junior safties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell. Expected to start at the other corner opposite Apple is sophomore Gareon Conley. And back to anchor the kicking game are kicker Sean Nuernberger and punter Cameron Johnston. (complete player bios on pages 19-32) Urban Meyer...Coach...Frank Beamer Cincinnati...Alma Mater...Virginia Tech 38-3 (4th)...Record at School (29th) ts (14th)... Career Record (35th) Career Record vs. Opponent Career Record vs. Coach Contact Us Contact Us all 5 Football Football ) nia kies Tech (7-6) Hokies (7-6) TEAM COMPARISON (2014 stats) Contact Us le/results l s Trends Team Game Statistics By Conf Roster Game Team Game Team Ranking List By Statistics Scoreboard Game Trends Ranking Game Team National By Final Trends Game Trends Team Ranking Conf Final Trends Team List Team Conf Scoreboard Final Team Trends List National Scoreboard Conf Team List National Scoreboard National ry s Ranking Summary dule/results h games 01/12/Team Stats - Team Through Stats games - Through Team 01/12/ Stats games - Through 01/12/ games 01/12/ Opponent Result Rank Opponent Stat Result Value Avg. Stat Result NCAA Stat Statistic Rank Value Rank Value Avg. Rank Value /2014 m & MaryW 34 William - 9 & Mary Total W 9 34 Offense Total W Offense 34-9Total Total Offense Offense hio /2014 St. W - Ohio 21 St. Rushing W Offense Rushing W 35 Offense - Rushing 21 Rushing Offense Offense /2014 Carolina L 21 East - 28Carolina Passing 51 L Offense Passing L 21 Offense - 28 Passing Passing Offense Offense /2014 gia ncytech L 24 Georgia - 27 Tech Team L Passing 27 Team Efficiency L 24 Passing - Passing 27 Team Efficiency Passing 89Efficiency /2014 ern Mich. W 35 Western - 17 Mich. Scoring W Offense Scoring W 35 Offense - Scoring 17 Scoring Offense Offense orth /2014 Carolina W - North 17 Carolina Total 19 W 34 Defense Total W Defense 34-17Total Total Defense Defense /2014 ttsburgh L Pittsburgh 21 Rushing 34 L Defense Rushing L 16 - Defense 21 Rushing Rushing Defense Defense ed /2014 i (FL) L 6 Miami - 30 (FL) Passing 28 L Yards Passing Allowed L 6 - Passing Yards 30 Allowed Yards Passing Allowed Yards 25Allowed /2014 ncy n College Defense L 31 Boston - 33 College Team 13 L Passing 33 Team Efficiency L Passing 31-33Defense Efficiency Team Passing Defense 14Efficiency Defense uke /2014 W - Duke 16 Scoring 26 W Defense Scoring W 17 Defense - Scoring 16 Scoring Defense Defense L 3-6 Turnover 32 L Margin Turnover L 3-6Margin Turnover Turnover Margin Margin T-89 /2014 ake Wake Forest T T n Pct (2OT) 3rd (2OT) 3 Down Conversion 3rd (2OT) Down 3rd Down Pct Conversion Conversion 3rd Down Pct Conversion Pct Pct /2014 n ia Pct W 24 Virginia th 32 W 24 Down Conversion 4th W Down 4th 24 - Down Pct 20 Conversion Conversion 4th Down Pct T-58 Conversion Pct Pct T T nnati n Pct Defense Cincinnati 3rd 16 Down Conversion 3rd 3rd Down Pct Conversion Defense 3rd Down Pct. Conversion Defense Pct Defense /2014 W W W napolis, Annapolis, Md. n Pct Defense 4th 64 Down Conversion 4th 4th Down Pct Conversion Defense 4th Down Pct. Conversion Defense Pct Defense Red 48 Zone Offense Red Zone Red Offense Zone Red Offense Zone T-34 Offense T T T-77 Red Zone Defense Red Zone Red Defense Zone Red Defense Zone Defense T T T Net 5 Punting Net Punting Net Net Punting Punting Punt 18 Returns Punt ReturnsPunt Punt Returns Returns T T T Kickoff Returns Kickoff Returns Kickoff Kickoff Returns Returns First 3 Downs 386 Offense First Downs First Offense First Downs Downs 70 Offense First 94 Downs 283 Defense First Downs First Defense Downs First Allowed Downs 10 Defense r Game Fewest 50 Penalties 5.60 Fewest Per Fewest Penalties Game Penalties Fewest Per Game Per Penalties Game 109 Per 7.54 Game s Per Game Fewest Penalty Fewest Yards Per Penalty Game Fewest Yards Per Penalty Per Game 92 Yards Per 92 Game Time 25 of 31:30 Possession Time of Possession Time of Time Possession of Possession 32 31: : :24 ing Summary View Complete View Ranking Complete Summary Ranking View Complete Summary Ranking Summary Individual Leaders Individual Leaders Individual Leaders ayer Stat Value Stat Player Stat Player ValuePlayer Value Value ekiel Elliott APY 2,114 Isaiah Ford APY Isaiah 709 Ford 709 an Nuernberger 13 nn Bell Int 6 Int Kyshoen Jarrett IntKyshoen JarrettKyshoen 3 Jarrett 3 3 A GLANCE AT THE BUCKEYES The defending national champions return 45 letterwinners from last year s team, including 16 starters: seven on offense, seven on defense and two specialists. Ohio State returns 88 percent of its offensive production after returning only 12 percent last season Contact from Us the 2013 team. Back are four starting offensive linemen with 75 career starts between them in senior Taylor Decker, junior Pat Elflein, senior Jacoby Boren and sophomore Billy Price. Expected to step into the starting role at right tackle will be fifth-year senior Chase Farris. Also returning are QBs J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones. Barrett was 11-1 as a starter last season while winning Big Ten quarterback and freshman of the year honors before going down with an injury in week 12 vs. Michigan. Jones stepped in for the injured Barrett and led Ohio State to three postseason wins vs. Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon while winning Big Ten championship game MVP honors. Returning in the backfield is junior RB Ezekiel Elliott who rushed for 696 yards and eight TDs in the three postseason games while winning MVP honors of both the Sugar Bowl and the national championship game. Junior WR Michael Thomas is back after leading the Buckeyes in catches last season with 54 catches for 799 yards and 9 TDs. Returning at H-Back will be sophomore Jalin Marshall and junior Dontre Wilson along with returning veteran Braxton Miller who is making the switch from QB after a shoulder injury forced him to miss all of Defensively, Ohio State returns junior All- American DE Joey Bosa, who was named the Big Ten s defensive player and lineman of the year. He returns alongside senior DL Adolphus Washington. At linebacker, Ohio State returns sophomore Darron Lee, the Sugar Bowl defensive MVP, and senior Joshua Perry to play alongside sophomore Raekwon SIX CHOSEN TO CAPTAIN THE BUCKEYES Six Buckeyes have been selected by vote of their teammates to serve as captains for the Ohio State football team: senior center Jacoby Boren, senior left tackle Taylor Decker, fifth-year graduate QB/H-Back Braxton Miller, senior linebacker Joshua Perry, fourth-year graduate Tyvis Powell and thirdyear junior J.T. Barrett. Team members voted for captains and head coach Urban Meyer introduced them to the team after practice on Aug. 28. Miller becomes just the ninth player in Ohio State history to be named a two-time team captain. He also served as a 2014 captain and was one of eight game captains in FIRST UNANIMOUS AP PRESEASON NO. 1 The Associated Press pollsters selected Ohio State as the unanimous No. 1 with all 61 first-place votes going to the Buckeyes, marking the first time since the preseason poll started in 1950 it has ever had a unanimous preseason No. 1 team. Ohio State has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll more than any school in the nation; 839 times and nearly 50 weeks more than the team with the second-most appearances. Ohio State is ranked No. 1 by the AP for the 96th time. Only two schools, Oklahoma (101) and Notre Dame (98) have been the AP s No. 1 team more weeks than Ohio State. MEYER 13-0 IN SEASON OPENERS Head coach Urban Meyer is 13-0 all-time in his head coaching career in season openers with an average margin of victory of 29.3 points. Last season the Buckeyes defeated Navy in the opener, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. APY Isaiah Ford 709 FGM FGM Joey SlyeFGMJoey Slye Joey 20Slye

3 MOST WINS IN A SEASON (Since 1937) 14 Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn, Boise State, Alabama, Ohio State, BYU, 1996 OHIO STATE AT NIGHT Ohio State is officially in night games (those starting after 5 p.m. local time), including records of in road (22-10) or neutral field (12-9) night games. Last season Ohio State played in a schoolrecord eight night games WITH MORE THAN A WEEK TO PREPARE Coach Urban Meyer is 40-3 in games in which he has more than one week to prepare for an opponent. This figure includes season openers, games after an off week and post-season games. MEYER: WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACH Urban Meyer enters the season his 14th as a collegiate head coach with the highest winning percentage among active coaches with at least 10 years head coaching experience:.845. His percentage is fourth-best all-time among head coaches at FBS institutions, trailing only Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and George Woodruff. WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES Minimum 10 years as head coach at FBS institution 1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Nick Saban, Alabama Gary Patterson, TCU Mark Richt, Georgia Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Bobby Petrino, Louisville Steve Spurrier, South Carolina Les Miles, LSU Bronco Mendenhall, BYU WINNINGEST COACHES ALL-TIME Minimum 10 years as head coach at FBS institution 1. Knute Rockne, Notre Dame Frank Leahy, Notre Dame George Woodruff, Penn Urban Meyer, Ohio State Barry Switzer, Oklahoma Tom Osborne, Nebraska Fielding Yost, Michigan Percy Haughton, Harvard Bob Neyland, Tennessee Bud Wilkinson, Oklahoma STREAKING: 13-CONSECUTIVE WINS Ohio State is riding the nation s longest winning streak: 13 consecutive games dating to last season. The streak is the 16th of at least 10 games in Ohio State s history. Ohio State Winning Streaks (Buster) (vs. Michigan State, 34-24) (at Michigan, 24-12) (vs. Florida, 41-14) (at Wisconsin, 17-10) (tied Auburn, 0-0) (Ohio Medical, 11-6) (current) (tied at Wisconsin, 7-7) (Purdue, 35-13) (at Michigan, 31-23) (vs. USC, 17-16) (vs. UCLA, 23-10) (at Stanford, 6-0) (Illinois, 28-21) (Michigan, 13-9) (Notre Dame, 18-13) THREE 20-GAME WIN STREAKS FOR MEYER In 2013 Urban Meyer became the first head coach at the highest level of the collegiate coaching ranks (major college, Division I, FBS, etc.) to have three winning streaks of at least 20 games. A total of 41 head coaches at this level have lead a team to a winning streak of at least 20 games. Nine of those coaches have had two winning streaks of at least 20 wins. Meyer is the first to add a third such winning streak to his name. Multiple 20-Game Win Streak Coaches Urban Meyer 24 Florida (2010) & Ohio State ( ) 22 Florida ( ) 20 Utah ( ) & Florida (2005) Walter Camp 28 Yale ( ) 27 Yale ( ) Robert Neyland 22 Tennessee ( ) 20 Tennessee ( ) Tom Osborne 26 Nebraska ( ) 22 Nebraska ( ) Joe Paterno 23 Penn State ( ) 20 Penn State ( ) Barry Switzer 28 Oklahoma ( ) 20 Oklahoma ( ) Bud Wilkinson 47 Oklahoma ( ) 31 Oklahoma ( ) George Woodruff 34 Pennsylvania ( ) 31 Pennsylvania ( ) Fielding Yost 29 Michigan ( ) 26 Michigan ( ) AND ONLY ONE THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK Urban Meyer has had just one losing streak reach three games in his 168-game head coaching career: in 2010 at Florida. He has had only four multi-game losing streaks in all, with all of them two-game streaks except for the 2010 trio while at Florida. The others: in 2002 at BG; 2007 at UF; and 2013 at OSU. ALL-TIME APPEARANCES AT NO. 1 IN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL RK SCHOOL TIMES 1. Oklahoma Notre Dame OHIO STATE USC Alabama...73 ALL-TIME APPEARANCES IN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL RK TEAM APP 1. OHIO STATE Michigan Oklahoma Notre Dame USC All AP Polls released, including Preseason Polls, from 1936-present UNIVERSITY/TEAM INFORMATION Location...Columbus, Ohio Population million Founded Joined Big Ten First Year of Big Ten Football Enrollment...63,058 Nickname... Buckeyes Colors... Scarlet and Gray Marching Band... The Ohio State University... Marching Band TBDBITL President... Dr. Michael V. Drake Vice President/Director of Athletics... Gene Smith Senior Woman Administrator... Miechelle Willis Faculty Representative...John Bruno Website...OhioStateBuckeyes.com TEAM HISTORY First Year of Football All-Time Record (Years) (126th) All-Time Big Ten Record (Years) (102nd) Big Ten Championships (Last)...35 (2014) All-Time Bowl Record National Championships...8 Consensus All-America Selections First Team All-Big Ten Selections COACHING INFO Head Coach...Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, 1986) Record at Ohio State (3rd year) Career Record (13th year) National Championships... 3 (2006, 2008 & 2014) Conference Championships , 2004 at Utah; 2006, 2008 at Florida, 2014 at Ohio State NFL Draft Picks First-Round NFL Draft Picks All-Americans First Team All-Conference Players Academic All-Conference Players ASSISTANT COACHES Luke Fickell... Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Ed Warinner... Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Chris Ash...Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Tim Beck...Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Larry Johnson... Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Line Tony Alford...Asst. Head Coach/Running Backs Kerry Coombs...Cornerbacks/Special Teams Tim Hinton...Tight Ends/Fullbacks Zach Smith...Wide Receivers Mickey Marotti... Asst. AD for Football Sports Performance 3

4 ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL Rk. Team (1st votes) Record 1. OHIO STATE (61) TCU Alabama Baylor Michigan State Auburn Oregon USC Georgia Florida State Notre Dame Clemson UCLA LSU Arizona State Georgia Tech Ole Miss Arkansas Oklahoma Wisconsin Stanford Arizona Boise State Missouri Tennessee Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 100, Texas A&M 61, Oklahoma State 46, Virginia Tech 42, Utah 36, Penn State 20, Louisville 12, Cincinnati 8, Nebraska 6, Kansas State 5, Florida 4, NC State 4, Texas 3, BYU 2, Northern Illinois 2, Michigan 2, California 1, Western Kentucky 1, West Virginia 1. USA TODAY COACHES TOP 25 POLL Rk. Team (1st votes) Record Points 1. Ohio State (62) TCU (1) Alabama (1) Baylor Oregon Michigan State Auburn Florida State Georgia USC Notre Dame Clemson LSU UCLA Ole Miss Arizona State Georgia Tech Wisconsin Oklahoma Arkansas Stanford Arizona Missouri Boise State Tennessee Others receiving votes: Mississippi St. 164, Texas A&M 149, Oklahoma St. 89, Virginia Tech 70, Utah 40, Kansas State 37, Nebraska 27, Louisville 27, Minnesota 25, Penn State 20, South Carolina 18, Miami (FL) 16, Texas 8, Illinois 7, Duke 6, Air Force 5, Louisiana Tech 5, Marshall 4, Utah State 4, W. Virginia 3, NC State 3, BYU 3, N. Carolina 2, Florida 2, Georgia Southern 2, UCF 1, Cincinnati 1, Kentucky 1, Maryland 1, Michigan 1, Washington 1. opponents in Bold TOP 25 POLLS 6TH DOUBLE DIGIT WIN STREAK Urban Meyer s teams have produced six winning streaks of at least 10 games. He has had a winning streak of at least 10 games at all four of his head coaching positions and each of his three Ohio State teams have had a season-long winning streak of at least 12 games. Urban Meyer Overall Winning Streaks 25 Florida (2010) & Ohio State ( ) 22 Florida (2008 & 2009) 20 Utah (2003 & 2004) & Florida (2005) 13 Ohio State (2014-current) 11 Florida (2006 and 2007) 11 Bowling Green (2001 & 2002) Meyer Single-Season Win Streaks 13 Ohio State (2014) 12 Ohio State (2013) 12 Ohio State (2012) 12 Florida (2009) 12 Utah (2004) 11 Ohio State (2014) 10 Florida (2008) 8 Bowling Green (2002) 14 WINS: TIED FOR MOST IN OHIO STATE HISTORY Urban Meyer has not only led Ohio State to the most victories over a three-year span 38 between but his team s 14 wins last season tied for the most in a single season with the 2002 team s 14 wins on its way to the national championship that year. Ohio State: Most Wins in a Season (Urban Meyer) (Jim Tressel) (Urban Meyer) (Urban Meyer) (Jim Tressel) FOUR 13-WIN SEASONS FOR MEYER Urban Meyer has four 13+ win seasons on his coaching resume: 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2014 (14 wins). He is the only major college coach since the NCAA began tracking statistics in 1937 to have four seasons of at least 13 wins. Most Seasons 13 Wins (or more) 4 Urban Meyer; 2006, 2008, 2009, Nick Saban; 2003, 2009, Chris Peterson; 2006, Tom Osborne; 1994, 1997 ROAD WIN STREAK TOPS IN THE NCAA Ohio State has won 13 consecutive games on the road (games on an opponents home field), the longest such streak in the nation. Florida State has won 12 consecutive road games with Missouri (10) next and followed by UCLA, which has seven consecutive road games. SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH Virginia Tech, receiving votes in both major polls this week, is coming off a 7-6 season with a 3-5 mark in the ACC in They capped the season with a win over Cincinnati in the Military Bowl. The Hokies return quarterback Michael Brewer, a Texas Tech transfer who passed for 2,692 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 INTs for the Hokies last season. Also back are receivers Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips, who combined for 96 receptions totaling 1,207 yards and nine TDs. Also back is TE Bucky Hodges who caught 45 passes for 526 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. Defensively, the Hokies return four defensive linemen who have earned All-ACC recognition in their careers. Tackle Luther Maddy returns from a medical redshirt alongside Corey Marshall. Dadi Nicolas and Ken Ekanem combined for 18.5 sacks and 33 tackles for a loss last year, the most productive D-line tandem in the ACC. Also back is All-American cornerback Kendall Fuller and linebacker Deon Clarke, the leading tackler last season with 74 stops, 11.5 TFL and five sacks. Head coach Frank Beamer is in his 29th season at Virginia Tech with a record of entering Monday. He has led the Hokies to 22 consecutive bowl appearances, four ACC titles, five ACC Coastal Division crowns, three BIG EAST Conference titles, six BCS appearances and a trip to the national championship game. Under his guidance, the Hokies have finished in the Top 20 in 16 of the past 22 seasons, including four top-10 finishes during the last 11 years. OHIO STATE VS. THE ACC Ohio State is all-time against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference: Boston College 3-0 Clemson 0-2 Duke 3-1 Florida State 0-3 Georgia Tech 0-0 Louisville 2-0 Miami (FL) 2-2 North Carolina 3-1 North Carolina State 2-0 Pittsburgh Syracuse 4-2 Virginia 1-0 Virginia Tech 0-1 Wake Forest 0-0 Total CAREER STARTS ALONG THE O-LINE Ohio State returns a total of seven starters on the offensive side of the ball. But no unit is more experienced than the offensive line, with four starters back from last year s team with a combined 75 starts among them. They are anchored by senior captain and third-year starter Taylor Decker, who has 29 career starts heading into the season. Junior guard Pat Elflein has 16 career starts while senior center Jacoby Boren and sophomore guard Billy Price each have 15 career starts. Fifth-year senior Chase Farris has earned the starting right tackle position. 4

5 ELLIOTT: FIRST WITH BACK-TO-BACK 200s Last season Ezekiel Elliott became the first Buckeye running back in Ohio State history to rush for 200-ormore yards in consecutive games. The sophomore gashed Wisconsin, and it s No. 8 rush defense, for 220 yards on 20 carries in the Big Ten championship game, and then he came back to rush for a second consecutive career best with 230 yards on 20 carries against Alabama and its No. 2 rated rush defense. But he didn t stop there, as Elliott put Ohio State on his back in the national championship game vs. Oregon, recording career highs of four touchdowns on 36 carries for 246 yards. He did not have a negative rush in that game. All told, Elliott rushed for 696 yards on 76 attempts (9.2 ypc) and scored eight touchdowns in the three postseason games. 23 CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH TD PASS Dating to the 2013 season and including quarterbacks Braxton Miller, Kenny Guiton, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones in the mix, Ohio State QBs have thrown a touchdown pass in 23 consecutive games. This TD streak is second-longest in school history, trailing only a 24-game streak of touchdown passes by quarterbacks on the teams. J.T. Barrett threw a TD in all 12 regular-season games before his injury and Cardale Jones threw at least one in all three postseason games. Only four times 2014, 1997, 1995 and 1979 has an Ohio State team had TD passes in every game during the season. RUN STATS ARE ALSO FUN STATS Not to be outdone by the passing game, Ohio State s rushing game has produced a touchdown in 23 consecutive games and in 40 of 41 games coached by Urban Meyer. The only game Ohio State has not scored a rushing touchdown under Meyer: the 2013 Wisconsin game when Braxton Miller threw four touchdown passes in the win. The Buckeyes have featured one of the most potent rushing attacks in the country since Coach Meyer s arrival and most notably since the start of 2013, averaging yards per game on the ground, seventh best in the FBS and fourth among Power 5 conference schools. Ohio State s 6.3 yards per rush during that time frame ranks second only to Wisconsin (6.8). Team Rushing Last 2 Seasons (Power 5 Teams) 1. Georgia Tech ypg 2. Wisconsin Auburn Ohio State Oregon Avg.Yds Per Rush Last 2 Years (Power 5 Teams) 1. Wisconsin 6.8 ypc 2. Ohio State Auburn Oregon 5.8 Georgia Tech 5.8 THE PLAN IS TO WIN Ohio State has better than a 90-percent winning rate under Urban Meyer. Only one school Florida State has a better winning percentage than Ohio State since the start of the 2012 season. Best Records Florida State Ohio State Alabama Oregon Louisville AND SCORE! Since Coach Meyer s arrival in 2012, Ohio State s offense has been one of the most potent in the country. The Buckeyes are one of just five FBS teams from a Power 5 conference to average at least 40 points per game since the start of the 2012 season and are one of four Power 5 teams to average at least 40 points since the start of last season. FBS Scoring - Since Baylor 50.3 ppg 2. Oregon Ohio State Marshall Florida State 42.7 FBS Scoring - Since Baylor 48.4 ppg 2. Oregon Marshall Ohio State Florida State 41.5 MOVING THE CHAINS Last season, after the week 2 loss to Virginia Tech, Ohio State s offense went on to secure the secondhighest third-down conversion rate in the FBS at 55.7 % (97 of 174). School Percentage 1. Georgia Tech Ohio State Marshall Michigan State Alabama SINCE 2005 WITH PUNT BLOCK Urban Meyer s teams are 22-0 since the 2005 season when blocking a punt. In 2013 Ohio State blocked three punts: Bradley Roby (2) vs. Indiana and at Northwestern and Doran Grant vs. FAMU. Last season, Ohio State blocked one (Jeff Greene vs. KSU). 60 BLOCKED KICKS Urban Meyer-coached teams, from 2001 to the present, have blocked 61 kicks. Meyer s Buckeyes have blocked 10 kicks over the past four-plus seasons. (Source for the first 51 blocks: U of Florida stats) Buckeyes Building Blocks: Adolphus Washington (PAT vs. UCF) 2. Orhian Johnson (PAT vs. UAB) 3. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Michigan State) 4. Travis Howard (Punt vs. Indiana) 5. Garrett Goebel (PAT vs. Purdue) 6. Johnathan Hankins (FG vs. Purdue) Doran Grant (Punt vs. FAMU) SEASON/CAREER STARTS OFFENSE Receiver (15 career starts) 2014 Career Michael Thomas Corey Smith 1 1 Quarterback (49) 2014 Career J.T. Barrett Cardale Jones 3 3 Braxton Miller* Tight End (3) 2014 Career Nick Vannett 1 3 Offensive Line (75) 2014 Career Taylor Decker Pat Elflein Billy Price Jacoby Boren Running/H-Back (19) 2014 Career Ezekiel Elliott Dontre Wilson 3 5 Curtis Samuel 1 1 DEFENSE Defensive Line (57) 2014 Career Joey Bosa Adolphus Washington Tommy Schutt -- 3 Joel Hale Linebacker (41) 2014 Career Joshua Perry Darron Lee Chris Worley 1 1 Cam Williams -- 1 Cornerback (15) 2014 Career Eli Apple Gareon Conley 1 1 Safety (36) 2014 Career Tyvis Powell Vonn Bell Cam Burrows 1 1 *Played QB from , sat out 2014 with an shoulder injury 5

6 FUTURE OHIO STATE SCHEDULES 2016 Sept. 3 Bowling Green Sept. 10 Tulsa Sept. 17 at Oklahoma Sept. 24 Off Oct. 1 Rutgers Oct. 8 Indiana Oct. 15 at Wisconsin Oct. 22 at Penn State Oct. 29 Northwestern Nov. 5 Nebraska Nov. 12 at Maryland Nov. 19 at Michigan State Nov. 26 Michigan Dec. 3 Big Ten Championship Game 2017 Sept. 2 at Indiana Sept. 9 Oklahoma Sept. 16 Army Sept. 23 UNLV Sept. 30 at Rutgers Oct. 7 Maryland Oct. 14 at Nebraska Oct. 21 Off Oct. 28 Penn State Nov. 4 at Iowa Nov. 11 Michigan State Nov. 18 Illinois Nov. 25 at Michigan Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship Game 2018 Sept. 1 - Oregon State Sept. 8 - Rutgers Sept at TCU Sept TBA Sept at Penn State Oct. 6 - Indiana Oct Minnesota Oct at Purdue Oct Off Nov. 3 - Nebraska Nov at Michigan State Nov at Maryland Nov Michigan 2019 Aug TBA Sept. 7 - Cincinnati Sept at Indiana Sept TCU Sept at Nebraska Oct. 5 - Michigan State Oct Off Oct at Northwestern Oct Wisconsin Nov. 2 - Off Nov. 9 - Maryland Nov at Rutgers Nov Penn State Nov at Michigan 2020 Sept at Oregon 2021 Sept Oregon 2022 Sept. 3 - Notre Dame Sept at Texas 2023 Sept. 9 - Boston College Sept Texas Sept at Notre Dame 2024 Sept. 2 - at Boston College 8. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Northwestern) 9. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Indiana) Jeff Greene (Punt vs. KSU) OHIO STADIUM NO. 1 IN ATTENDANCE Ohio State lead the nation in home attendance last season for the first time since 1973 with an average of 106,296 fans attending each game in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State finished the regular season with five record crowds, including a stadium record 108,610 against Michigan in the regularseason finale Home attendance Average ,296 Ohio State (Ohio Stadium) ,123 Texas A&M (Kyle Field) ,909 Michigan (Michigan Stadium) ,723 LSU (Tiger Stadium) ,534 Penn State (Beaver Stadium) Top 5 Ohio Stadium crowds ,610 vs. Michigan; Nov. 29, ,362 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 27, ,517 vs. Virginia Tech; Sept. 6, ,961 vs. Illinois; Nov. 1, ,795 vs. Rutgers; Oct. 18, MEYER ASSISTANTS TO HEAD COACH Urban Meyer has had 12 of his assistant coaches move on to head coaching jobs with 10 of them still a head coach. Meyer Assistants to Head Coaches Steve Addazio: Boston College, 3rd year Gary Andersen: Oregon State, 1st year Tim Beckman: Illinois ( ) Gregg Brandon: Bowling Green ( ) Tom Herman: Houston, 1st year John Doc Holliday: Marshall, 6th year Dan McCarney: North Texas, 5th year Dan Mullen: Mississippi State, 7th year Mike Sanford: Indiana State, 3rd year Charlie Strong: Texas, 2nd year Kyle Whittingham: Utah, 11th year Everett Withers: James Madison, 2nd year ELLIOTT WINS 85TH AAU SULLIVAN AWARD RB Ezekiel Elliott was named the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States in April, taking home the 85th AAU James E. Sullivan Award in New York City, presented since 1930 to the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Just the eighth football player to win the award, Elliott joins an illustrious list of previous winners which include Bobby Jones (1930), Doc Blanchard (1945), Wilma Rudolph (1961), Bill Bradley (1965), Mark Spitz (1970), Bill Walton (1973), Carl Lewis (1981), Joan Benoit (1985), Janet Evans (1989), Peyton Manning (1997), Michael Phelps (2003), Tim Tebow (2007), Shawn Johnson (2008), Missy Franklin (2012) and dozens of others. FIVE BUCKEYES ON 75TH ANNIVERSARY ALL- AMERICA TEAM Five Ohio State Buckeyes are represented on the Football Writers Association of America s 75th Anniversary All-America Team. Leading the way for the Buckeyes are three first-team members: running back Archie Griffin, offensive lineman Orlando Pace and defensive back Jack Tatum. Georgia s Herschel Walker joins Griffin as the other first-team running back while Pace is joined along the offensive line by Alabama s John Hannah, USC s Ron Yary and a pair of Nebraska Cornhuskers: Will Shields and Dave Rimington. Tatum is joined in the defensive backfield by Ronnie Lott of USC, Deion Sanders, from Florida State, and Michigan s Charles Woodson. Ohio State offensive lineman John Hicks is represented on the FWAA s second-team with the rest of the unit consisting of Bill Fralic (Pittsburgh), Calvin Jones (Iowa), Jonathan Ogden (UCLA) and Chuck Bednarik (Penn). Linebacker Chris Spielman is a third-team All- America linebacker alongside Jack Ham, from Penn State, and Lee Roy Jordan, of Alabama. BUCKEYES PERFECT IN BIG TEN PLAY, AGAIN By finishing 8-0 in conference play in 2014, Ohio State became the first Big Ten team since Minnesota from to go undefeated in regularseason conference play three consecutive years. The Buckeyes also became the first Big Ten team to win every game (undefeated and untied) in Big Ten regular season games three consecutive years. Conference Games Win Streaks 24 Ohio State, 2012-current 20 Ohio State, Michigan, Ohio State, Ohio State, Ohio State, All-Time Big Ten Win Streaks 29 Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota, Ohio State under Urban Meyer & 8-0 in Big Ten Leaders Div & 8-0 in Big Ten Leaders Div & 8-0 Big Ten Champion 6

7 MEYER CONTRACT EXTENDED THROUGH 2020 SEASON The contract for Urban Meyer was extended through the year 2020 in Aptil and will make him the highest paid coach in the Big Ten Conference in terms of annual compensation. Meyer s previous contract ran through the 2017 season and would have paid him $4.9 million for. The new terms and extension, retroactive to Feb. 1,, give Meyer a six-year contract through the 2020 season with an end date of Jan. 31, Meyer will make $5.8 million in total compensation for and, with annual raises, will average at least $6.5 million per year over the next 0six years. MEYER INSTITUTES REAL LIFE WEDNESDAYS Winning games, competing for championships and developing outstanding young men to succeed in life is what Urban Meyer came home to Ohio to do as coach of the Buckeyes. The wins and championships are well documented. The efforts that Meyer and his staff engage their student-athletes in to ensure they are prepared for life after football are equally important and impressive. Wednesday afternoons in the winter and spring are a time for guest speakers CEOs, wealth management experts, professional athletes, senior leaders from athletics, national media and former Buckeyes to address the team in a life experiences forum initiated by Meyer called Real Life Wednesdays. A month after Ohio State s championship game win, JPMorgan Chase & Company chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon visited and addressed the team on leadership. Dimon s discussion with the team was the first this year of about a dozen such lectures and activities for the Ohio State players to learn from in the program. The goal each year is to introduce the team to influential individuals who can share insight into succeeding in life after football is over. Other speakers typically address the job interview process, finances, starting and building a successful business, parenting and other career endeavors. This year there will be an application part to the lectures vs. just theory. If a financial manager comes in to talk about credit scores, the players are going to actually learn what their scores are. They are also going to learn about lease payments for cars and apartments and how people get into trouble with leases. INTERNSHIPS & JOB FAIRS The players continue to develop their minds and portfolios for life after football. Everyone gets a binder and prepares or updates their resumes. The month of May is an opportunity for internships for juniors and seniors 23 players completed an internship last year and there have been field trips to various businesses that interest the players. Additional speakers will come through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to speak during a spring practice or at a team meeting. Past guests have included Lou Holtz, NFL coaches Marvin Lewis, Chip Kelly and Greg Schiano, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and retired Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell. The third-annual football Job Fair took place on May 29. More than 50 companies across all sectors, including hospitality, law enforcement, broadcasting, medical sales, athletic administration, finance and business, will send human resource representatives to meet with and ask questions of the Buckeye student-athletes. Contacts are made. Relationships are built. Life after football is in motion. 7

8 BUCKEYE PRESEASON HONORS HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST Jalin Marshall, H-B Dontre Wilson, H-B MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST Ezekiel Elliott, RB Cardale Jones, QB J.T. Barrett, QB Braxton Miller, QB/H-B BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST Joey Bosa, DE Joshua Perry, LB RIMINGTON AWARD WATCH LIST Jacoby Boren, OL MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST Nick Vannett, TE RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST Cameron Johnston, P NAGURSKI AWARD WATCH LIST Vonn Bell, S Joey Bosa, DE Darron Lee, LB Joshua Perry, LB Adolphus Washington, DL THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST Vonn Bell, S OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST Taylor Decker Pat Elflein Adolphus Washington LOMBARDI AWARD WATCH LIST Joey Bosa Taylor Decker Pat Elflein Darron Lee Adolphus Washington BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST Michael Thomas DAVEY O BRIEN AWARD WATCH LIST Cardale Jones DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST Ezekiel Elliott WALTER CAMP AWARD WATCH LIST J.T. Barrett Cardale Jones Joey Bosa Ezekiel Elliott Braxton Miller CAMPBELL-ROSE AWARD WATCH LIST J.T. Barrett, QB Dontre Wilson, H-B PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS SPORTING NEWS Ezekiel Elliot, RB Taylor Decker, OL Joey Bosa, DE Darron Lee, LB ATHLON SPORTS Ezekiel Elliott, RB Pat Elflein, G Taylor Decker, OT Joey Bosa, DE PHIL STEELE Ezekiel Elliott, RB Joey Bosa, DE ESPN The Magazine Joey Bosa, DE Taylor Decker, OT Pat Elflein, OG Ezekiel Elliott, RB CBS SPORTS Ezekiel Elliott, RB Pat Elflein, OG Vonn Bell, S Joey Bosa, DE ESPN.com Vonn Bell, S Joey Bosa, DE Pat Elflein, OG Ezekiel Elliott, RB SI.com Vonn Bell, S Joey Bosa, DL Pat Elflein, G Ezekiel Elliott, RB GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS Offense LT LG C RG RT TE QB RB WR WR WR/HB at Virginia Tech Hawaii Northern Illinois Western Michigan at Indiana Maryland Penn State at Rutgers Minnesota at Illinois Michigan State at Michigan Defense DE DT DT DE LB LB LB/DB CB S S CB at Virginia Tech Hawaii Northern Illinois Western Michigan at Indiana Maryland Penn State at Rutgers Minnesota at Illinois Michigan State at Michigan 8

9 A RECORD-BREAKING 2014 SEASON! BUCKEYES SET OR TIE 74 RECORDS IN CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON The 2014 College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State Buckeyes rewrote their own school records book and altered a plethora of other records during their chase for the eighth national championship in school history. When the clock hit 00:00 just past midnight eastern time the evening of Jan. 12, coach Urban Meyer s team had not only realized its dream of a successful chase to a national crown, but did so in impressive fashion along the way by setting or tying 74 season or game records, including NCAA, Big Ten Conference, Big Ten championship game and bowl records. Records Set or Tied in 2014 by Ohio State NCAA, Big Ten and Ohio State *Records Tied Team (26) NCAA Records 14 - *Wins, season 15 - *Games played, season Big Ten Conference Records 24 - Consecutive Big Ten wins 45 - First downs, game 1,099 - Total offensive plays, season 7,674 - Total offensive yards, season First downs, season 4 - Turnovers forced in Big Ten championship game 3 - Interceptions in Big Ten championship game Program Records 14 - *Wins, season 15 - Games played, season 24 - Consecutive Big Ten wins 4 - Consecutive games 50-plus points 4 - *Consecutive games 500+ yards total offense Passes completed, season 3,707 - Passing yards, season 42 - Passing touchdowns, season 1,099 - Total offensive plays, season 7,674 - Total offensive yards, season Points scored, season 90 - Touchdowns, season First downs, season Total offensive attempts, game (vs. Cincinnati) 45 - First downs, game (vs. Cincinnati) 28 - First downs in bowl game (vs. Oregon) Misc. 0 - Pts allowed in FBS/Power 5 championship game Individual (48) QB J.T. Barrett Big Ten 45 - Touchdowns responsible for, season 7 - Freshman of the week awards, season Ohio State 45 - Touchdowns responsible for, season 34 - Touchdown passes, season 3,772 - Total yards, season Career completion pct. 6 - Touchdown passes, game (vs. Kent State) 6 - Touchdowns responsible for, game (vs. Kent State) Career passing yards per game 12 - Consecutive passes completed, season Passing efficiency, season 11 - *Most wins by first-year starting QB Average total offensive yards, season Average total offensive yards, career 11 - Games gaining 200 or more yards total offense 7 - Games gaining 300 or more yards total offense 1 - Games gaining 400 or more yards total offense Rushing yards by an Ohio State QB, game 86 - Longest rush by an Ohio State QB DT Michael Bennett 2 - Fumbles forced in Big Ten championship game 4 - *TFLs in Big Ten championship game DE Joey Bosa 1 - Fumble return TD in Big Ten championship game RB Ezekiel Elliott Big Ten 81 - Longest rush in Big Ten championship game Rushing yards in Big Ten championship game Ohio State yard rushing games, season 4 - TDs in a bowl game (vs. Oregon) Rushing yards in a bowl game (vs. Oregon) 85 - Longest rush in a bowl game (vs. Alabama) CB Doran Grant 2 - Interceptions in Big Ten championship game P Cameron Johnston Big Ten Punt average in Big Ten championship game 73 - Longest punt in Big Ten championship game QB Cardale Jones Big Ten 3 - *TD passes in Big Ten championship game QB rating in Big Ten championship game 44 - Longest TD pass in Big Ten championship game Ohio State 3 - Post-season wins as starting QB K Sean Nuernberger Big Ten Kicking points, season 89 - Extra points made, season 49 - Most PATs Big Ten games only, season Ohio State Kicking points, season 89 - Extra points made, season 89 - Extra points attempted, season 89 - Consecutive extra points, season *Extra point percentage, season *Extra point percentage, career 6 - Extra points in bowl game (vs. Oregon) WR Devin Smith Big Ten Receiving yards in Big Ten championship game 3 - *Receiving TDs in Big Ten championship game Ohio State Average yards per catch, season 9

10 OHIO STATE ROSTERS No. Name Pos. 1 Braxton Miller*** QB/HB 1 Erick Smith* SAF 2 Marshon Lattimore CB 2 Dontre Wilson** H-B 3 Damon Arnette CB 3 Michael Thomas** WR 4 Curtis Samuel* RB 4 Jerome Baker LB 5 Johnnie Dixon WR 5 Raekwon McMillan* LB 6 Torrence Gibson QB/WR 6 Sam Hubbard DE 7 Damon Webb* CB 8 Gareon Conley* CB 9 Jashon Cornell DL 10 Joe Burrow QB 10 Jalyn Holmes* DL 11 Vonn Bell* SAF 11 Justin Cook QB 12 Cardale Jones* QB 12 Denzel Ward CB 13 Eli Apple* CB 13 Stephen Collier QB 14 K.J. Hill WR 14 Joshua Norwood CB 15 Ezekiel Elliott** RB 15 Cameron Howard SAF 16 J.T. Barrett* QB 16 Cam Burrows** SAF 17 Jalin Marshall* H-B 18 Kato Mitchell WR 19 Eric Glover-Williams CB 19 Joe Ramstetter WR 20 Khaleed Franklin SAF 20 Mike Weber RB 21 Parris Campbell WR 21 Trevon Forte CB 23 Devlin McDaniel WR 23 Tyvis Powell** SAF 24 Rashod Berry TE 24 Malik Hooker SAF 25 Bri onte Dunn** RB 25 Logan Kelleher CB 26 Michael Lawless SAF 26 Patrick Wise RB 28 Warren Ball** RB 28 Michael Cibene SAF 29 Mike Maduko SAF 30 Jared Drake LB 30 Tyler Durbin K 32 Elijaah Goins CB 33 Dante Booker* LB 33 Austin Clutter WR 34 Nick Conner LB 35 Jeffie Johnson RB 35 Chris Worley* LB 36 Zach Turnure LB 37 Joshua Perry*** LB 38 Craig Fada** LB 39 Kyle Berger LB 41 Bryce Haynes*** LS 42 Darius Slade DL 43 Darron Lee* LB 44 Aaron Mawhirter LS 44 Guy Ferrelli TE 46 Cin Quan Haney SAF 47 Justin Hilliard LB 48 Joe Burger** LB 49 Liam McCullough LS 50 Jacoby Boren** C No. Name Pos. Ht. Wgt. Cl./Elig. Hometown/High School 58 Joshua Alabi DT Fr./Fr. Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech 88 A.J. Alexander TE Fr./Fr. Burke, Va. / Lake Braddock 13 Eli Apple* CB Jr./So. Voorhees, N.J./Eastern 17 Damon Arnette CB Fr./Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas 4 Jerome Baker LB Fr./Fr. Cleveland, Ohio / St. Benedictine 28 Warren Ball** RB Sr./Jr.. Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales 16 J.T. Barrett* QB Jr./So. Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider 85 Marcus Baugh* TE Jr./So. Riverside, Calif./J.W. North 11 Vonn Bell** SAF Jr./Jr... Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland 39 Kyle Berger LB So./Fr. Medina, Ohio / St. Ignatius 24 Rashod Berry TE Fr./Fr. Lorain, Ohio / Lorain 33 Dante Booker* LB So./So. Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary 50 Jacoby Boren** C Sr./Sr.. Pickerington, Ohio/Central 97 Joey Bosa** DL Jr./Jr.. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas 76 Branden Bowen OL Fr./Fr. Draper, Utah / Corner Canyon 80 Noah Brown* WR So./So. Flanders, N.J. / Pope John XXIII 48 Joe Burger** LB Sr./Jr.. Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle 56 Matthew Burrell OL Fr./Fr. Woodbridge, Va. / Hylton 10 Joe Burrow QB Fr./Fr. The Plains, Ohio / Athens 16 Cam Burrows** SAF Jr./Jr. Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood Madison 21 Parris Campbell WR So./Fr. Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary 28 Michael Cibene SAF Jr./Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest 82 James Clark WR Jr./So. New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach 33 Austin Clutter WR Fr./Fr. Geneva, Ohio / Geneva 13 Stephen Collier QB So./Fr. Leesburg, Ga./Lee County 8 Gareon Conley* CB Jr./So. Massillon, Ohio/Washington 34 Nick Conner LB Fr./Fr. Dublin, Ohio / Scioto 11 Justin Cook QB So./So.. Philadelphia, Pa./Western Reserve Academy 9 Jashon Cornell DL Fr./Fr. St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall 68 Taylor Decker*** OL Sr./Sr.. Vandalia, Ohio/Butler 5 Johnnie Dixon WR So./Fr. West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer 30 Jared Drake LB Fr./Fr. Westerville, Ohio / Westerville 25 Bri onte Dunn** RB Sr./Jr.. Canton, Ohio/GlenOak 30 Tyler Durbin K Jr./Jr. Fairfax, Va. / Lake Braddock 65 Pat Elflein** OL Sr./Jr. Pickerington, Ohio/North 15 Ezekiel Elliott** RB Jr./Jr.. St. Louis, Mo./Burroughs 38 Craig Fada** LB Sr./Jr.. Columbus,Ohio/Bishop Watterson 57 Chase Farris*** OL th/Gr. Elyria, Ohio/Elyria 77 Kevin Feder OL Fr./Fr. Ramsey, N.J. / Don Boscoe Prep 44 Guy Ferrelli TE So./So. Galloway, Ohio/Bishop Ready 70 Chris Fong DE th/Sr. Troy, Ohio/Troy 21 Trevon Forte CB So./So. Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney 20 Khaleed Franklin SAF Jr./Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Beechcroft 61 Logan Gaskey OL Jr./Jr. Long Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson 6 Torrence Gibson QB/WR Fr./Fr. Plantation, Fla. / American Heritage 19 Eric Glover-Williams DB/CB Fr./Fr. Canton, Ohio / McKinley 32 Elijaah Goins DB/CB Jr./Jr. Concord, N.C./ Cox Mill 89 Jeff Greene WR th/Sr.. Peachtree City, Ga./Starr s Mill & Georgia Tech 53 Davon Hamilton DT Fr./Fr. Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington Central 51 Joel Hale*** DL th/Gr. Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove 46 Cin Quan Haney SAF Jr./Jr. Dayton, Ohio / Chaminade-Julianne 41 Bryce Haynes*** LS th/Gr. Cumming, Ga./Pinecrest Academy 14 K.J. Hill WR Fr./Fr. North Little Rock, Ark. / North Little Rock 77 Michael Hill DL Jr./So. Pendleton, S.C./Pendleton 47 Justin Hilliard LB Fr./Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Xavier H.S. 10 Jalyn Holmes* DL So./So. Norfolk, Va. / Lake Taylor 24 Malik Hooker SAF So./Fr. New Castle, Pa. / New Castle 15 Cameron Howard SAF Jr./Jr. Columbus, Ohio / Gahanna 6 Sam Hubbard DE So./Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop Moeller 35 Jeffie Johnson RB Sr./Sr. Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Bradley 95 Cameron Johnston** P Jr./Jr. Geelong, Australia/St. Joseph s 12 Cardale Jones* QB Sr./Jr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville 86 Dre Mont Jones DE Fr./Fr. Cleveland, Ohio / St. Ignatius 74 Jamarco Jones* OL So./So. Chicago, Ill. / De La Salle 25 Logan Kelleher CB So./So. Cincinnati, Ohio / Moeller 78 Demetrius Knox OL So./Fr. Fort Worth, Texas / All Saints Episcopal 57 Robert Landers DT Fr./Fr. Dayton, Ohio / Huber Heights 2 Marshon Lattimore CB So./Fr. Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville 26 Michael Lawless SAF Jr./Jr. Dover, Ohio/Tuscarawas Central Catholic 43 Darron Lee* LB Jr./So New Albany, Ohio/New Albany 10