Biggest Question For 3 Ohio State Big Ten Media Days Attendees
The Ohio State Buckeyes will send receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and tight end Cade Stover as well as head coach Ryan Day to Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on July 26.
The trio was impactful in their own respective ways in 2022 as all three are likely high 2024 NFL Draft picks at their respective position. As they look ahead to 2023 though, here are the biggest question for Harrison, Tuimoloau and Stover.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: Have you hit your ceiling yet?
Harrison burst onto the scene in the 2021 Rose Bowl, catching six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns in his first opportunity to be a starting option after Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave sat out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
He proved last year that wasn't a fluke with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns and was in contention for the Biletnikoff Award for the best receiver in the nation.
Aside from just his numbers though, Harrison showed he was head and shoulders above the competition in his route-running, catching, and ability to make the impossible catches possible.
The Philadelphia native returns as the best pass-catcher in college football and a potential No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024. Harrison would say there is, but what else is there for Harrison to improve on when he's already a top talent in the game?
He also doesn't have C.J. Stroud throwing to him. Will that have any effect on his production in 2023?
J.T. Tuimoloau: Have you added the extra step to be able to get to the quarterback?
Ohio State has not had a game-wrecker on its defensive line since Chase Young set the program's single-season sacks record in 2019.
The Buckeyes' sack leaders in those respective years since have been Jonathon Cooper's 3.5 in 2020, Haskell Garrett's 5.5 in 2021 and Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr.'s 4.5 in 2022.
Tuimoloau flashed otherworldly potential against Penn State in which he recorded six tackles, three for loss, two sacks, intercepted two passes, returned one for a touchdown and knocked down another.
Though defensive line coach Larry Johnson said his unit doesn't chase numbers, Tuimoloau needs to get to the quarterback more in 2023, recording just 3.5 sacks in 2022.
His 17 hurries showed he was getting past opposing offensive tackles, but if he can get to the quarterback, it'll take pressure off the Buckeyes' secondary which will need to take a step forward in 2023.
Having Sawyer with his hand in the dirt on the opposite end of the defensive line could help increase Tuimoloau's sack numbers as opposing tackles will have to account for both edge rushers.
Cade Stover: Do you think you're more valuable as a pass-catcher or a blocker?
Last season, Stover had the best receiving season for a tight end since Rickey Dudley in 1995.
He caught 36 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns last season and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
With Ohio State's receiving corps, the tight end position hasn't really been utilized and 2023 shouldn't be any different. It returns two of the top wide receivers in college football in Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, while having depth with Julian Fleming, Jayden Ballard, Xavier Johnson and Carnell Tate.
Stover doesn't need to be a tight end like Georgia's Brock Bowers or Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders but needs to be a check-down outlet in the passing game while blocking linebackers and chipping defensive ends in the ground game.
The Mansfield, OH. native plays with the physicality of his farming background to shed defenders in the trenches and after the catch. It would be interesting to see where Stover thinks he's more valuable: in the pass or run game.
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