With the departures of captains Tuf Borland and Justin Hilliard as well as fellow seniors Pete Werner and Baron Browning from last season, Ohio State has a lot of experience and leadership to replace at linebacker.
The Buckeyes won’t be able to build true game experience at that position until they actually start the season on Sept. 2 at Minnesota. Leadership, however, is forged in the offseason, and one linebacker’s name has consistently come up when Ohio State coaches and other linebackers have been asked who’s emerged as a leader over the last eight months: Teradja Mitchell.
When asked about who were stepping up as team leaders last week, Ryan Day singled out Mitchell as one of several players who had done so this offseason, saying he is “very impressed with Teradja Mitchell’s approach.