Ohio State lost more talent to the 2016 NFL Draft than any college football program in the country, and one of the primary defections was linebacker Darron Lee. The ultra-athletic Lee was selected with the No. 20 overall pick in the draft, and with Joshua Perry also heading to the professional ranks, the Buckeyes will be replacing a great deal of talent at the linebacker spot.
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However, Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports released a ranking of the top 50 linebacking units in the country and, even without Lee and Perry, Ohio State comes in at No. 6 overall.
Losing two standouts like Joshua Perry and Darron Lee would be a huge setback to most Power 5 programs. While both players will be missed, Ohio State has recruited well enough to limit the drop off at this position. And it certainly doesn't hurt the rebuilding effort to have a standout like Raekwon McMillan anchoring the group in a transition year.
McMillan led the Buckeyes with 119 stops last fall and could be the nation's top returning linebacker for 2016. Juniors Chris Worley and Dante Booker are expected to join McMillan in the starting lineup. However, freshman Justin Hilliard and sophomore Jerome Baker will be tough to keep on the sidelines.
The presence of Raekwon McMillan cannot be overstated, as he might be the best returning linebacker in the country. McMillan will be able to cover for the sins of many of his teammates in 2016, and given Urban Meyer's recruiting prowess, that should provide enough time for the highly talented but unproven players around him.
For context, the Buckeyes rank third in the Big Ten on this list, trailing Wisconsin and Michigan State, but that says more about the strength of the conference at the position than anything else. McMillan, Worley, Booker and company will have their hands full when it comes to making up for what Ohio State lost from last season, but the upside is real and the Buckeyes could earn this ranking and then some.
