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Here’s a glance at seven names to get to know for the 2018 season:
1. Chase Young: The 6-foot-5 sophomore defensive end saw limited action last season as a freshman in the team's deepest position group but looks poised for a breakout season in 2018. He said he could have had six or seven sacks in the spring game if they let plays continue. There was little tackling in the game, and offensive players were whistled down if a defender neared them.
Young ranked eighth in the nation in the class of 2017, according to Rivals.com, and played for a powerhouse program in Dematha Catholic (Md.). He said that prepared him for playing at Ohio State, and he can’t wait to get going this fall.
“I’m already looking at film of Oregon State,” Young said. “I’ll definitely be ready to go.”
2. Luke Farrell: The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end from Perry, Ohio, owns the starting job for now, coach Urban Meyer said. Farrell, who will be a redshirt sophomore, will be challenged in the preseason by Rashod Berry, Jake Hausmann and incoming freshman Jeremy Ruckert.
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“Luke has separated himself as our best performer,” said Kevin Wilson, Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. “Rashod had a minor injury that’s not going to hold him back but limited him the last week.”
3. Thayer Munford: The 6-6, 319-pound defensive tackle earned rave reviews from the coaches and is expected to move into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He may start at left tackle with Isaiah Prince moving to the right side, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said, though that still could change.
“He’s going to be a very good player here,” Meyer said of Munford. “He’s very consistent, one of our more consistent offensive linemen.”
4. Jaylen Harris: Ohio State was already deep at wide receiver because everyone returns from last season. The emergence of Harris, a 6-5, 215-pound sophomore who caught two passes last season, will help. He caught three passes for 39 yards in the spring game, including a 25-yard touchdown from Dwayne Haskins.
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5. Jahsen Wint: The leading tackler in the spring game was this redshirt sophomore, a 5-10, 196-pound safety. He had 11 tackles — more than twice as many as another player — for the Gray team. He's one of a number of players competing to start at safety opposite Jordan Fuller.
6. Tommy Togiai: No one in the class of 2018 has made a quicker impression than Togiai, a 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle. He was the first member of the class to have the black stripe removed from his helmet. It often takes freshman until late August to achieve that feat, which means that a first-year player has proved themselves to the coaches. It happened for Togiai on April 11.
7. Baron Browning: The 6-3, 238-pound linebacker appeared in 12 games last season as a freshman, and with the Achilles tendon injury suffered by Tuf Borland, he has a chance to start this season at middle linebacker.
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