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Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
As we head toward fall camp kicking off next week, it is Player of the Year Week here at LGHL, meaning that we are going to be looking at the Buckeyes that we think will have exceptionally impactful seasons in one way or another.
Therefore, for this week’s fan survey, we are asking you to predict who will lead each side of the ball for the Scarlet and Gray. This isn’t necessarily the best players on either offense or defense, but the most valuable, the ones who will define the season.
I couldn’t include every potential player, but I tried to provide as many players as possible. So, check out the offensive and defensive options below and then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Then, if you want to explain your vote or write in someone else, head to the comments. We will reveal the results later this week, so make sure to come back and see who you and your fellow fans chose.
Question 1: Who will be Ohio State’s defensive MVP this season?
I know that the easy answer here is going to be Caleb Downs, after all, he is arguably the best defensive player in all of college football, so he is a safe bet to be the Buckeyes’ defensive MVP. If you vote for the All-American safety, no one would be able to fault you at all.
However, I do think that there are some other compelling options as well, including some that will play closer to the ball and therefore, could have a more consistent impact. Guys like Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who is finally going to get the opportunity to turn his flashes of brilliance as a backup into production as a down-in and down-out starter.
There’s also Sonny Styles, who successfully made the transition from safety to linebacker last year and now looks to be the man in the middle of the OSU D. The uber-talented, but penalty-plagued Davison Igbinosun is going to be focused on erasing his handsy stigma, and if he does, could be the Buckeyes’ next great corner.
Then throw in North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson and a slew of young talents, and there are plenty of credible and exciting options. So, who are you going to pick?
Question 2: Who will be Ohio State’s offensive MVP this season?
Obviously, we are dealing with a similar situation on the offensive side of the ball, where Jeremiah Smith will be the no-brainer pick for many folks. After just one season, the Buckeye wide receiver is already showing historic ability and turning in record-breaking numbers, so J.J. is clearly the leading candidate.
However, when talking about offensive MVP awards, it’s always a wide bet to factor in quarterbacks. Of course, we don’t yet know for sure who will be starting behind center for OSU, will it be the uber-talented sophomore Julian Sayin or the dark horse from South Dakota, Lincoln Kienholz? Which over QB ends up getting the start would obviously be in the running for the team’s offensive MVP.
Then there is a stable of exciting running backs led by West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson and sophomore James Peoples, not to mention the glut of talented receivers populating Brian Hartline’s position room: Mylan Graham, Brandon Inniss, Quincy Porter, Bryson Rodgers, Carnell Tate, et. al. What about the pass-catching tight ends like Purdue transfer Max Klare or Will Kacmarek? Unlikely that a TE will be the MVP, but you never know.
Similarly, while it’s unlikely that an offensive lineman would ever get enough attention to earn the award, there is no undervaluing the impact that a solid o-lineman can have on a team.
So, are we overcomplicating things by looking anywhere other than Jeremiah Smith, or do you think that someone else could be the OMVP this season?
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.