The linebacker play at Ohio State has come under fire in recent seasons, but that figures to not be the case in 2020. Truth be known, the improvement was leaps and bounds last year compared to 2018.
Heading into this fall though, it’s a veteran, deep, and versatile group that should be one of the strengths of the defense. Put the second-level guys with the defensive line, and the front seven for the Buckeyes should be an explosive and dominating group.
One of those guys is Peter Werner. He’s a rising junior and has is legendary for his motor and work ethic. He’s also got some very underrated speed and will be one of the staters on the outside — most likely on the strong side.
Up until now, he’s been a little unassuming and underrated, but that could be ending. In fact, according to ESPN, it has Werner as one of the top ten returning off-ball linebackers (subscription required) for the upcoming 2020 season. He checks in at No. 7 on the list.
Here’s what ESPN’s Anthony Treash says about the 6-foot, 3-inch, 239-pounder from Indianapolis:
“Werner took a huge step forward in his junior campaign, raising his PFF coverage grade from 60.8 in 2018 to 74.8 in 2019, the latter figure placing 10th among 48 qualifying linebackers from the Big Ten. He was responsible for just two explosive plays in coverage all season and allowed 15 or fewer yards in all but four of his 14 games played. In the two biggest games of his 2019 season — the Big Ten championship against Wisconsin and the College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson — Werner didn’t allow a single yard in coverage and contributed five defensive stops over those two games. The Buckeyes are seeing a lot of key starters leave for the NFL, but a great one is returning in Werner.”
Ohio State football post-spring 2020 projected depth chart https://t.co/GUjoeAcamP
— Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) March 29, 2020
It should be one of those seasons where Werner breaks out and shows the nation what he can do. They say players make big jumps from their second to third years, and that might be exactly what we see with Werner.
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