With Ohio State coming off of an 11-2 season, expectations are high in Columbus due to a relatively low turnover from last season’s Playoff team. The Buckeyes bring back eight offensive and seven defensive starters into the 2017 season. There are not many shoes to fill this year but with the excellent recruiting classes of 2016 and 2017, finding a quality replacement should not be too difficult.

On the defensive side of the ball, there is more than enough talent to go around at all three levels. The front line is returning every starter from last year and looks to be tough to stop. However, All-Big Ten First Team linebacker Raekwon McMillan departed, leaving a very large hole in the middle of the defense. The secondary also suffered big losses with Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, and Malik Hooker all entering the draft early. It will be hard to supplant three first-round draft picks in the secondary, but many potential replacements have seen playing time before.

Having an offense led by quarterback J.T. Barrett makes starting a new season a little bit less stressful. Running back/wide receiver Curtis Samuel and center Pat Elflein are the only two players from 2016 that will be missed.

Now a quick look at a few of the ‘new-ish’ players that might make a big impact for the 2017 Buckeyes.

Justin Hilliard (#47) – Linebacker – RS Sophomore

Not necessarily a new player for the Buckeyes, Hilliard has battled through an injury riddled career. He fought through a knee injury at the end of his high school career and two bicep injuries in college.

During the 2016 season, Hilliard saw action in three games, making four total tackles. He shows phenomenal pursuit and can be a big playmaker for Ohio State should he get the chance. While he likely will not start for this team at the beginning of the season, Hilliard should prove very valuable giving one of the starters a breather.

Baron Browning (#5) – Linebacker – Freshman

Another linebacker in the mix is Browning, a freshman out of Ft. Worth, Texas. As one of the highest rated linebacker recruits in recent Buckeye history, big things are anticipated from Browning.

A shoulder injury during spring practice could hamper his freshman season, but when healthy, Browning is a menacing linebacker. He boasts a size and speed combo that is hard to come by at his position. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Browning flies around the field, defending both the pass and the run. In high school, he lined up at all three levels on defense, giving him experience doing both.

Browning has some incredible instincts as well as the ability to deliver a painful blow. Just check out his highlight tape where the first 15 seconds show all.

Denzel Ward (#12) – Cornerback – Junior

Moving into the secondary, the Buckeyes need to replace three first-round draft picks. With names like Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore at cornerback in 2016, it was easy to forget Denzel Ward. All three guys rotated in at corner throughout the season. Ward appeared in all 13 games last season and accounted for 23 tackles and nine pass breakups. Many failed to recognize Ward because he did not play the first snap of a game, but he clearly played a significant role in the 2016 defense.

As one of the team’s fastest players, Ward has the ability to hang with any receiver in the country. Having a cornerback with speed like this can be crucial when facing marquee wide receivers. He plays the ball as well as anyone and should be a reliable part of the 2017 defense.

Erick Smith (#34) – Safety – Senior

Filling the hole left by Malik Hooker at safety is one hefty task for Ohio State coaches. As the starter for just one season, Hooker managed 74 tackles and seven interceptions (returning three for a touchdown).

Erick Smith is another potential ball-hawking safety that the Buckeyes can use in 2017. Smith has made appearances in each of the last three seasons, claiming 35 tackles and one interception. He was also a Top 100 recruit according to most sources as a member of the Class of 2014. Smith has yet to see a large amount of playing time but could see that come his way this season.

J.K. Dobbins (#2) – Running Back – Freshman

Over on the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes already have most of the positions in place from last year. But with every talented recruiting class comes even more competition during practice.

With incumbent running back Mike Weber back for another year, time at the position is limited for guys like Dobbins. Given a chance to impress this fall, Dobbins could hear his name called more frequently as the season moves along. He shows a great combination of speed, power, and agility, allowing him to avoid tacklers or go right through them.

Throughout his high school career, he averaged 10.8 yards per carry. This insane number seems too good to be true but his highlight tape is all the proof you need.

Binjimen Victor (#9) – Wide Receiver – Sophomore

It was no secret that the Buckeyes’ passing game struggled at times last season. With the lack of a deep threat, stronger defenses felt that they could press on the Ohio State offense and limit big plays. J.T. Barrett averaged 6.7 yards per passing attempt last year which ranked 89th out of 124 eligible quarterbacks.

Having a deep threat like Victor on the field will open up the passing game a little more and hopefully make the offense more efficient. He might be the guy that this offense has been missing out wide.

Victor does not have incredible speed but he still has the ability to create space for himself and get open. He has very nice hands, and at 6-foot-4, he can go up and get a jump ball if need be. To the Buckeye fans that got their hopes up for Noah Brown after the Oklahoma game, turn your attention to Binjimen Victor.

Blake Haubeil (#95) – Kicker – Freshman

With the struggles of late season kicking now behind the Buckeyes, a new kicking battle commences. 2014 full-time kicker Sean Nuernberger is back and looking to reclaim the starting job. Incoming freshman Blake Haubeil will do his best to steal that job this summer and early fall.

Haubeil, one of the nation’s top kicking prospects, comes to Columbus with a very strong leg, but some questions about accuracy.

Fans around Columbus were not happy about the way that last season ended and the pressure to find a solid kicker is getting heavier. Haubeil could establish himself as the reliable option this fall and be the guy for years to come.

Despite the many returning starters for the 2017 Buckeyes, these guys will likely play a crucial role in the team’s success.