Ohio State enters the 2007 campaign on the heels of a berth in the BCS National Championship game, though fans are going to have to learn a whole bunch of new names this year.

Gone are Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith along with first-round draft picks Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, Smith’s top two targets in 2006.

The Buckeyes were 12-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play last season under head coach Jim Tressel, who became the second OSU coach in school history to win three Big Ten titles in his first six years in Columbus.

Ohio State returns 11 starters for the 2007 campaign, including five on the offensive side of the ball.

Taking over for Smith as the Buckeyes’ signal caller is 6-foot-5, 243-pound redshirt junior Todd Boeckman, who will get the first crack at running offensive coordinator Jim Bollman’s attack, but warming up in the bullpen is 6-foot-6, 244-pound redshirt sophomore Rob Schoenhoft, and 6-foot-2, 232-pound redshirt freshman Antonio Henton.

Boeckman knows Bollman’s offensive schemes better than anyone since he’s been in the program for five years now, but Schoenhoft has the stronger arm, while Henton is a Smith clone and the best athlete out of the three.

Offensively, Ohio State’s top weapon will be bruising tailback Chris ”Beanie” Wells, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore who was the top rated recruit nationally from the class of 2006.

Wells was a backup to last year’s starter, Antonio Pittman, and gained 576 yards in 104 carries with seven touchdowns.

Though the Buckeyes lost two talented receivers from last year’s team, there’s still loads of talent with several playmakers waiting in the wings.

Ohio State’s top returning receiver is 6-foot-3, 196-pound junior Brian Robiskie, who hauled in 29 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns.

Sure-handed spilt end Brian Hartline, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound sophomore, and 6-foot, 182-pound Ray Small is Ohio State’s main deep threat round.

Small’s high school football coach at Cleveland Glenville, Ted Ginn Sr., has stated that Ray is the most talented receiver he has coached.

The offesnive line is anchored by three returning starters with 6-foot-8, 313-pound junior left tackle Alex Boone, 6-foot-8, 345-pound junior left guard Steve Rehring, and 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior right tackle Kirk Barton.

The strength of the Buckeyes will be on defense as 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior linebacker James Laurinaitis returns after being named an All-American and winning the Nagurski Trophy in 2006.

The OSU linebacker was a defensive force for the Buckeyes in 2006, leading the team with 115 tackles and adding five interceptions with four sacks.

The voting members of the Big Ten media named Laurinaitis the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Depending on who you read, most state that OSU returns just five starters on defense, but that’s a bit misleading.

Sophomore Anderson Russell, a 6-foot, 205-pound free safety, started the first five games last year before going down with a season-ending injury against Iowa, and 6-foot-1, 188-pound sophomore cornerback Donald Washington, though not a starter, saw extensive action in the nickel package.

Arguably the best cover corner in the nation, preseason All-American Malcolm Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound junior, who has been timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

Plus there’s loads of talent waiting in the wings with defensive backs Chimdi Chekwa, Eugene Clifford, Aaron Gant, and Kurt Coleman.

In the linebacking corps along with Laurinaitis, 6-foot-2, 236-pound outside linebacker Marcus Freeman returns, as well as several others with experience in seniors Larry Grant and Curtis Terry, plus sophomores Ross Homan and Austin Spitler.

The biggest holes to fill defensively are at the tackle position after losing last year’s starters Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson. 6-foot-7, 271-pound sophomore Doug Worthington moves from end to tackle, while 6-foot-3, 278-pound sophomore Todd Denlinger takes over the other spot.

Juniors Lawrence Wilson (6-6, 278) and Vernon Gohlston (6-4, 264), who led the Buckeyes last year with 8.5 sacks, anchor the line at the ends.

Ohio State’s schedule and lack of big-name, nonconference opponent sets up the Buckeyes quite well for a team lacking in star power on offense.

Ohio State should be 8-0 before traveling to State College to take on Penn State, and the Big Ten Conference title appears that it will be decided in Ann Arbor the last week of the season.

Tags: Buckeye Football //