Right: And Penn State bills itself as Linebacker U? Gimme a break!
Athlon Sports Photo

This is the last in a series of previews on the 11 teams in the Big Ten in the order I predict them to finish.

Ohio State
Predicted finish in Big Ten: First, 8-0

Last year, not wanting to pick Ohio State to win the Big Ten so I wouldn’t appear to be a homer, I choose Michigan. Then the Wolverines went on to lose to teams like Appalachian State and Oregon in the non-conference portion of the schedule and were defeated by Wisconsin and Ohio State to finish tied for second in the league.

The Buckeyes, meanwhile, went on to win their second consecutive outright conference championship and the third in as many years after going 7-1 in the Big Ten last season.

No favoritism this year when I pick Ohio State to claim yet another Big Ten trophy since I have yet to find a publication, web site, or blog that isn’t tabbing the Buckeyes to win the conference.

And there’s a big reason for that. Ohio State returns 18 starters, nine each on both offense and defense.

Head coach Jim Tressel enters his eighth season at the helm in Columbus and has posted a 73-15 overall record and a .830 winning percentage. The Buckeyes have averaged 10 wins over the last seven seasons, and 11 victories in the last three campaigns. Under Tressel, Ohio State has played in three national championship games, winning one. Can you say “dy-nasty?” You will after this season.

Of the two starters not returning on offense, one is the fullback, a position player that’s used only about 20 percent of the time. The other is right tackle Kirk Barton with sophmore Bryant Browning taking off the vacated slot.

All-Big Ten quarterback and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist Todd Boeckman returns for his senior year and his sixth in the program after passing for 2,379 yards with 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in 2007 while leading the Big Ten in passing efficiency with 148.94 rating.

The nation’s top-rated high school prospect and true freshman, Terrelle Pryor, also figures to get few snaps as a change of pace to Boeckman’s drop-back passing style and make plays using his feet and running ability.

Another First-Team, All-Big Ten selection, junior running back Chris Wells, returns after being voted the team’s Most Valuable Player by rushing for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

He has some help in the backfield with senior Maurice Wells, sophomore Brandon Saine, and redshirt freshman Daniel Herron.

Boeckman and Pryor have two very good receivers to throw to with senior Brian Robiskie and junior Brian Hartline. Robiskie had 55 receptions for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Hartline added 52 catches for 694 yards and six TDs plus a punt return for another score.

Someone, though, has to step up as the third receiver and be a vertical threat. It was assumed that junior Ray Small was going to be that guy last season, who caught 20 balls for 267 yards last year. Others also in the mix are sophomores Dane Sanzenbacher (11 REC, 82 YDS, 1 TD), Taurian Washington (3 REC, 47 YDS, 1 TD), along with freshmen DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas.

Though not much of a factor in the passing game, tight ends Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard also return. Nicol, a senior, tallied 16 receptions for 84 yards, and Ballard, a junior, caught 13 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

One freshman who may line up as a slot receiver or tight end is true freshman Jake Stoneburner, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, but can run the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds.

Four offensive linemen return, too, with senior left tackle Alex Boone, senior left guard Steve Rehring, junior center Jim Cordle, and senior right guard Ben Person.

While the offense will be much improved this year, it was the defense that helped the Buckeyes advance to the national championship game, and with nine starters back, the Silver Bullets should be their typical dominating self. This unit was ranked No. 1 in the nation in both scoring defense (12.8 points per game) and total defense (233.0 yards per game) last year.

The biggest hole to fill comes at the defensive end position after Vernon Gholston left after his junior year to enter the NFL draft. Junior Lawrence Wilson returns to the starting lineup after breaking his leg in Ohio State’s season-opener last year against Youngstown State. He will be joined by sophomore Cameron Heyward on the other side. Both sophomore Thaddeus Gibson and junior Robert Rose should also see some playing time.

The linebacking corps is led by returning All-American, Butkus and Nagurski Award recipient James Laurinaitis. The Big Ten defensive player of the year led team with 121 tackles.

Senior WILL linebacker Marcus Freeman also returns after being named to the All-Big Ten coaches’ second-team after recording 112 stops in 2007.

Joining Laurinaitis and Freeman will be sophomore Ross Homan, though senior Curtis Terry and sophomore Tyler Moeller should also see playing time at the SAM backer.

All four starting defensive backs return, though junior cornerback Donald Washington is suspended for the first two games. In his place will be sophomore Chimdi Chekwa. Fourth-year starting cornerback Malcolm Jenkins is arguably the best in the nation.

Ohio State’s only true test this season will be at Southern California on September 13, though games at Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Illinois won’t be blow outs. The Buckeyes finish no worst than 11-1 and could get to the BCS title game even with one loss, as long as there’s no major injuries to key personnel.

Sept. 27 vs. Minnesota, Win
Oct. 4 at Wisconsin, Win
Oct. 11 vs. Purdue, Win
Oct. 18 at Michigan State, Win
Oct. 25 vs. Penn State, Win
Nov. 8 at Northwestern, Win
Nov. 15 at Illinois Win
Nov. 22 vs. Michigan, Win

The Rest of the Big Ten Previews
in the order I predict them to finish:

2. Michigan State, 6-2
2. Purdue, 6-2
4. Wisconsin, 5-3
4. Penn State, 5-3
6. Michigan, 4-4
6. Illinois, 4-4
8. Northwestern, 3-5
9. Iowa, 2-6
10. Indiana, 1-7
11. Minnesota, 0-8

Tags: Big Ten Football, Buckeye Football //