The Ohio State Buckeyes were facing a serious rebuild on defense heading into the 2016 season. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash had moved on to take the head coach job at Rutgers. Graduation and the NFL draft had claimed a combined seven starters from the year before, giving the Buckeyes a new look all the way around. Perhaps the most grievous losses were the guys leaving eligibility on the table to turn pro: safeties Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell, cornerback Eli Apple, linebacker Darron Lee, and defensive end Joey Bosa. On a macro perspective, this only helps the Buckeyes to be a destination for more NFL-caliber talent. But it makes it tricky to consistently field experienced and skilled defenses that work well together in team concepts. When Ash left, Urban Meyer replaced him with former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano. The Buckeyes filled out their defensive backfield…
Continue Reading: How Ohio State will reload after churning out another group of NFL defenders
