After the Texas loss, there were some seniors that stepped up and became huge playmakers and righted the ship. Striker has always been a playmaker, and he has some major upside and a few things on the not so upside. He might be the smallest senior three year starter linebacker in the FBS. But he can be awesome in the pass rush.
Charles Tapper might be a better player and has made more plays in the last two months.
Both G Nila Kasitati and C Ty Darlington made all conference. I don't see them as that level, but apparently others do. Darlington has won all these awards because he's a brilliant student and deeply involved in all sort of community activities. All four of those guys are captains.
The biggest loss will be Shepard, who is the go to guy in the offense. There are two players on the offense that right now, we would not win another game, if we lost them. Shepard is not replaceable. Neither is Mayfield. Baker is a junior. He'll be back.Those five seniors are major factors. Duron Neal is another senior starter at receiver. He's become a reliable player this year, but DC's don't sit up at night worrying about how to defend him. New receiving talent will have to become go to guys. We have none returning. A couple have the skills to be.
We also lose a very quality kick off guy. And maybe the most overlooked senior is the book end to Eric Striker, Devante Bond who was a juco last season. He's had more than one injury problem, but he is often as good and as disruptive as Striker. And he's better against the run.
That's most of what we lose. We also lose the first two OLine back ups who are seniors and both started games this season.
The big plus, assuming the best returner doesn't go to the NFL, is the DLine. We use three players with their hand on the ground and have six quality players to rotate in. They might be the key to the defense. We lose the two senior OLB's, but maybe OUr best defensive recruit a year ago. was there. We know nothing about him. He hasn't played. We'll see.
The two inside linebackers were too small two years ago to really hold up against a quality power running game. Next year they'll be seniors and might be the strength of the team. The DBs last season were a negative. That got turned around this year. We have all conference types at both corners and one safety. The defense got solidified when Steven Parker moved to safety and William Johnson, because the nickel back. The whole secondary returns.
Offensively, we have two great second year running backs. One is a soph, Samaje Perine, and Joe Mixon is a freshman. That should be an elite pair. It took the OC about five game to figure out how to best utilize them in his offense. He figured it out.
Mayfield will return. We have a potentially elite tight end / HBack guy in Mark Andrews. This is the one area where a serious upgrade will be really important. The wides have to threaten the defense in OUr offense. Otherwise, the quarterback gets really beat up.
Both returning OTackles are freshmen. One redshirt, one true frosh. When they became the permanent starters the week after the Texas loss, the offense got it in gear. The best underclass guard will move to center. So the task will be to find two guards. There are several good candidates already on the roster and a couple incoming "with promise."
We have a freshman kicker/punter who is excellent at both, though he's tailed off just a little after a very good first half of the season. OU is a tough matchup for tOSU. But the reverse is also true. One big factor I think, is that Urban Meyer knows our scheme really well.
The game will likely be a battle between two of the best five quarterbacks in the country. How the support staff plays will be vital. If we get our receiving corps solidified, it ought to be a tremendous offense. The defense has to have great DL play to be effect. We have two underclassmen who are very talented and one is a great player, who are both wrapping up their third season. Both would be well served to come back. But if either declares for the draft, it would be a big factor.
If both return, and there is good health, the defense could be elite.
