Denver Broncos 2017-2020 LB - Baron Browning ('20 All-B1G Third Team)

Baron Browning has shown flashes of his five-star potential at Ohio State. Can that become more consistent this season for the talented linebacker?@ZBoren44 breaks it down on #BuckIQ as LB Week rolls on at @LettermenRow: https://t.co/SICl7DETYq

— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) June 20, 2019

 

Baron Browning, LB
Browning already saw semi-regular playing time in Ohio State’s middle linebacker rotation last season, but as the 11th-ranked overall prospect in the entire recruiting class of 2017, Browning was expected to have emerged as a fixture in the starting lineup by now as he enters his junior year.

Instead, Browning’s standing within the linebacker unit and even which position he will line up at remains unclear going into fall camp. He took many of the first-team reps at middle linebacker this spring while Tuf Borland was sidelined by a knee injury, but Borland is the incumbent starter at that position while Teradja Mitchell is also making a push for the starting job at that position.

As physically gifted as Browning is, he’s still capable of emerging as an impact playmaker for Ohio State’s defense over the next two years, but he’s still in the position of having to prove he belongs in the rotation right now. With the linebacker rotation still unsettled, August will be a big month for many players at the position, but it’s especially big for Browning as he enters the back end of his Buckeye career still looking to establish a role for himself.


Despite arriving at Ohio State as a five-star recruit, Baron Browning enters his third fall camp still trying to establish his role in the Buckeyes' defense.

 

LB Baron Browning
Browning is a wild card in Ohio State’s linebackers room. As Tuf Borland and Teradja Mitchell are set for a battle at middle linebacker under new position coach Al Washington, the former 5-star recruit Browning enters camp with a lot to prove. Malik Harrison already has a starting spot lined up after putting off the NFL for one last season with the Buckeyes. Pete Werner can claim more experience than Browning heading into camp. And the addition of the new Bullet position isn’t clearing the way for Browning. That spot will likely take a linebacker off the field for certain plays so Brendan White can assume the free-roaming role.

Browning was highly regarded when he committed to Ohio State. He has the capability to make plays for the Buckeyes — if he can break out during camp. If he doesn’t, he might be watching the the other linebackers from the sideline.

 

Ryan Day: "Baron Browning has shown so far that he's really made a lot of progress in a short time, which is exciting."

— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) August 10, 2019

 

Baron Browning is playing mostly at middle linebacker, but moving around some to outside linebacker. "I think Al (Washington)'s doing a good job with him," Day said, in helping him learn the intricacies of the defense and playing the position.

 

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Refreshing to see our linebackers actually look like linebackers out there. pic.twitter.com/PabCKLYtkF

— Buckeye Highlights (@OSUBuckiHighlit) September 1, 2019

 

“I told Coach Washington after the game, that was one of my first games where I didn’t feel nervous before.”

Baron Browning is feeling more confident in his third season at Ohio State, and new linebackers coach Al Washington is a big reason why: https://t.co/B67lZkr6CO

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 5, 2019

 

nice belly-to-back suplex for Baron Browning pic.twitter.com/ROIxJglnYc

— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) September 21, 2019

 

#BuckIQ: Baron Browning is emerging into the kind of hard-hitting, aggressive linebacker Ohio State always imagined he would become, and he's only getting better. @ZBoren44 with the latest:https://t.co/a34H4ATjLi pic.twitter.com/gApmaHHQiB

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) September 24, 2019