Noah Ruggles, one of the top kickers in the FBS, took the spring off, but he is expected to return this summer, according to Day. Finding adequate replacements for Olave and Wilson also was a priority, although the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards with nine touchdowns, should make things easier.
The addition of McCalister, who started 23 games the past two seasons at Oklahoma State, should help in Knowles' "safety-driven" defense. The Buckeyes ranked ninth in the Big Ten in scoring defense (22.8 points) and total defense (372.6 yards), and they'll have to vastly improve to get back to the playoffs. Spring update: After failing to win a Big Ten title for the first time in coach Ryan Day's three seasons, much of the attention this spring was on the 4-2-5 defense under new coordinator Jim Knowles. Hicks, DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., OLB Gabe Powers, ATH Kaleb Brown, DT Caden Curry
Key additions: S Tanner McCalister, ATH Alex Styles, OLB C.J. Key departures: WR Garrett Wilson, WR Chris Olave, G Thayer Munford, OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, DT Haskell Garrett, DE Tyreke Smith, CB Marcus Williamson Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire 2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns to lead Ohio State's receiving corps. Steen, who started 10 of 11 games at Vanderbilt in 2021, will get a long look at offensive tackle, after starters Neal and Chris Owens departed. Hall, one of the Tide's top young wideouts, was suspended from the team and entered the transfer portal earlier this month. Burton, who played at Georgia last year, is an experienced addition to a wide receiver corps that lost Williams, Metchie and Slade Bolden to the NFL draft. Gibbs, a transfer from Georgia Tech, earned high praise in the spring for his pass catching out of the backfield and ability to pick up the offense. Spring update: Alabama brings back many players from the team that lost to Georgia 33-18 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, and coach Nick Saban has deftly added a few new faces through the transfer portal. Key additions: CB Eli Ricks, WR Jermaine Burton, OL Tyler Steen, DE Jeremiah Alexander, WR Shazz Preston, RB Jahmyr Gibbs Key departures: OT Evan Neal, DL Phidarian Mathis, LB Christian Harris, WR Jameson Williams, CB Josh Jobe, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR John Metchie III, WR Agiye Hall Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
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