Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Football: Young Team But Great Leadership

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Ohio State has a great group of captains to lead their young players.

It has been well documented that when the Ohio State football team steps on the field today they will be of the youngest teams in the nation. But they will have some of the best leaders in college football on the field as well.

In a stroke of genius, coach Urban Meyer named J.T. Barrett, Pat Elflein and Raekwon McMillan captains soon after last season ended. It was very important to have that leadership group in place to guide the young players through the winter conditioning and spring ball.

Recently coach Meyer had the players choose the other captains. They chose well. The four other captains are Billy Price, Tyquan lewis, Gareon Conley and Joe Burger.

With Price playing beside Elflein, the two will certainly be a calming influence for the young offensive linemen. This will be the third year the two will have started on the line together.

Defensive end Lewis and cornerback Conley have had similar paths in their time at Ohio State. They each had to bide their time behind others before finally earning starting positions last season as redshirt sophomores.

In 2015, Lewis led Ohio State with 8 sacks, and by the second half of the season, many were saying Conley was as effective at corner as Eli Apple. The two are tremendous examples for the young guys that hard work and perseverance pays off.

Speaking of perseverance, Joe Burger knows a thing or two about that. The fifth year senior has went from a walk on at Ohio State to a scholarship this season and now a captain. Quite a journey.

Burger is similar to Cam Williams who just graduated and was Urban Meyer’s right hand man. A valuable player on special teams who can also be a solid backup linebacker.

With these seven players as captains, the others won’t have to look far for guidance. There are three on offense, three on defense, and one on special teams.

Yes the Buckeye football team that takes the field today will be young, but they will also have great leadership as well.