Five Position Battles to Watch
Fall camp is underway at last! We’ve looked at each position and highlighted potential breakout players in 2016. And while the next month promises to be competitive across the team, we wanted to highlight five position battles you’ll want to keep an eye on.
1. BACK UP RUNNING BACK: Ryan Nall is firmly entrenched as the Beavers’ starting running back. After him, though, is where things get murky. Coach Andersen recently expressed concern about the other running backs’ spring performances. Tim Cook looks the part but is coming off a major injury. Kyle White seems to be an after thought. Could incoming freshman Artavis Pierce emerge as the No. 2 back?
2. CENTER: Seemingly out of nowhere, Yanni Demogerontas enters fall camp as the starting center. If he struggles, don’t be surprised if Gavin Andrews gets moved over. He’s listed as the backup right now. Also, while highly regarded transfer Brayden Kearsley near the bottom of the depth chart, could it simply be a motivational ploy? If he’s got the talent, he could make a huge push as well.
3. NOSE TACKLE: This arguably could be the most contested position of fall camp. Sumner Houston is listed as No. 1, but there’s very little doubt he will be pushed greatly by Elu Aydon, who at 6-3, 327, is one of OSU’s biggest defensive lineman in recent years, and it’s muscle too! Houston is no slouch, either, so no matter who emerges the Game 1 starter, the Beavers should be in good shape.
4. DEFENSIVE END: Two freshmen, both 3-star recruits, each standing 6-4 and 230+ pounds. Are you excited yet? The battle between Isaac Garcia and Kenny Turnier should be a lot of fun and hopefully, will drag into the first week of the season. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if these two players end up platooning. They could be a great one-two punch.
5. LINEBACKER: Where to start here? When you have incoming talents like Wesley Payne, Shemar Smith, and Andrzej Hughes-Murray, there better be some serious competition! Caleb Saulo is a team captain, and should be safe, but don’t be surprised if 2/3rds or 3/4ths of OSU’s starting linebacker group is comprised of new faces this season. OSU needs to improve on defense, and the LBs could help quickly.
Bonus: Jordan Villamin, Victor Bolden, and Hunter Jarmon are listed ahead of him, and rightly so, but it will be curious to see how Seth Collins fares. Can he play himself into the rotation, or maybe even push Jarmon for his spot? We’ve seen what Collins can do in space and when used creatively, so what’s his ceiling as a full-time receiver? Even if he’s the fourth/fifth WR, he will likely make an impact this year.
Which positions will you be watching extra close this fall camp? Do you agree or disagree with these picks?