Damon Webb should be a star, but who else will step up for the Buckeyes?Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

2016 stats: 5.6 YPA (2nd), 172.2 YPG (7th), 48.9 completion percentage (3rd), 94.37 QB rating (3rd), 0.52 TD/INT ratio (2nd)

Key players: CB Denzel Ward, S Damon Webb, CB Kendall Sheffield, CB Damon Arnette, S Erick Smith, S Jordan Fuller, CB Jeffrey Okudah, CB Joshua Norwood

Ranking seventh or better in all five categories last season, there’s a nearly indisputable case to be made that Ohio State had the best secondary in the nation. If that’s not enough evidence to support the Buckeyes’ claim to that throne, the fact they had three defensive backs taken in the first 24 picks of the draft should be.

Unfortunately, that made Ohio State the toughest team to rank.

The Buckeyes still have starting safety Damon Webb, who had 57 tackles, three passes defended and a pick six last season. There’s also Denzel Ward, who led the team in passes defended (nine) despite not starting a single game—probably because opposing quarterbacks were desperate to throw the ball in his direction to get a break from Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker and Gareon Conley.

Beyond that duo, though, are a lot of unknowns. Damon Arnette had 21 tackles and one interception last year as a redshirt freshman, but it’s likely going to be either him or Kendall Sheffield—incoming transfer and former 5-star recruit at Alabama who played one year at Blinn College—starting at one cornerback spot. And the second safety spot is an even bigger question mark, where Erick Smith’s 33 career tackles in three seasons probably makes him the front-runner for the job.

Here’s the thing, though: Ohio State’s secondary is always strong. Three years ago, the Buckeyes nearly led the nation in interceptions, and not a single one of those picks came from Conley, Hooker or Lattimore. That trio just happened to thrive in a great system, and it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if Ohio State continues to defend the pass at a high level without them.