No Zooming, and Minimal Booming: Shake up Needed at Running Back for the Buckeyes?

By Ronnie Hampston
BleacherReport.com


The Ohio State Buckeyes have a need at the running back position.

Games in the Big Ten are won in the trenches with great offensive line play and strong defensive line play. The Ohio State Buckeyes running game has been average at best.

Boom Herron has ran the ball pretty well this season, but Brandon Saine has been a disappointment so far. Take away his big game versus Marshall and he has been very underwhelming.

Terrelle Pryor is the team's leading rusher and that is a great feat, but that creates more wear and tear on the young quarterback's body.

Saine is the weak link of the backfield between him and Boom Herron. Saine possess great speed and amazing hands for a running back, but he lacks vision and patience when running the ball. The Buckeyes may have the biggest offensive line in the country and there is no excuse why they cannot run the ball effectively.

Jaamal Berry is unproven, but seems to add a spark to the offense when he is on the field. When given the opportunity this season, he has answered the call.

Berry is an undersized back, but he will not be another Maurice Wells (OSU RB, 2006-2009).

The combination of Pryor, Berry, and Herron running the ball will be very effective and it is a preview of what next season's backfield will look like.

Saine should not be an outcast from the offense, however.

He is a valuable asset, but he should be used as a gadget player to utilize his speed and his ability to make plays in the open field. Saine can also fill the void as a third receiver and a third-down back.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and head coach Jim Tressel need to re-evaluate the running back situation and insert Berry into the lineup.

As a fan I may be hitting the panic button a little too soon, but something needs to be done, before we play tough games against Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, and the team up North.

Other than Pryor, the backs aren't getting it done, but there is still time this season for improvement in the running game.

Jim Tressel must challenge his offensive line and his running backs to elevate their play in the crucial part of the season.

The Bucks will need to do something soon, because they cannot afford to lose Terrelle Pryor.

If he gets injured carrying the ball, which could very well happen if he continues to take multiple hits game after game, the season will be all-but over.


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Ohio State—Illinois: Week 5 Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

Big Ten conference play begins this week as the No. 2 Buckeyes travel to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Illini are 2-1 (2-0 at home) so far this season—their only loss to unbeaten, 4-0 Missouri—but their two wins have been against in-state directional schools, Northern and Southern Illinois.

Ron Zook's sitting on a white-hot hot seat and with four of Illinois' next six games against top 25 teams, the Zooker might find himself unemployed come early November.

Ohio State (4-0) is coming off a 73-20 domination of Eastern Michigan and are 19-point favorites this weekend.

Ohio State has proven they are loaded with talent on both sides of the football.

Illinois is not on the same level as the Buckeyes on paper, but they too have some talented key players to watch.


Illinois—By the Numbers

Quarterback Nathan Sheelhaase has passed for 380 yards with three touchdowns, three interceptions, and his current QB rating is 117.2. He has also rushed for 204 yards and a score.

Mikel Leshoure has rushed for 100-plus yards in his last four games. He is the leading rusher for the Illini with 398 yards on 58 carries for an average of 6.9 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns. Stopping Leshoure and forcing Sheelhaase to throw should be the primary focus for the Buckeye defense.

Statistically, A.J. Jenkins is the only wide receiver worth mentioning. He has 12 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Every other Illini wideout has less than 50 yards receiving.

Overall, Illinois ranks 112th in passing yards per game (130.0), 18th in rushing yards per game (229.00), 70th in points scored per game (25.3), and 27th in points allowed per game (16.0).


Ohio State—By the Numbers

QB Terrelle Pryor has positioned himself at the top of most everyone's Heisman favorites list. Pryor has 939 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes to just two interceptions, 269 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also has a 20-yard touchdown reception. His QB rating is 167.2.

Pryor's current projected stats for the entire season are 2,817 passing yards, 807 rushing yards, 42 total touchdowns versus only six interceptions.

Although Pryor is the leading rusher for the Bucks, Dan Herron, Jaamal Berry, and Brandon Saine aren't too far behind.

Herron has gained 192 yards rushing with four touchdowns. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also has seven receptions for 109 yards.

Jaamal Berry has made the most of his limited opportunities. In addition to his kick return duties, he has carried the ball 15 times for 177 yards and has one touchdown. His impressive average of 11.8 yards per carry is definitely the main reason Buckeye fans are at a loss as to why he is not getting more touches out of the backfield.

Saine has 169 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and he also has eight catches for 67 yards with two touchdown receptions.

After his career day last week against the EMU Eagles, Dane Sanzenbacher is now the Buckeyes leading receiver with 20 catches for 316 yards and five touchdowns.

Devier Posey has 15 catches for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Tight end Jake Stoneburner, who missed last weeks game with an ankle injury, has nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Word is he may not play this week either.

As a team, Ohio State is 29th in passing yards per game (266.5), 14th in rushing yards per game (240.3), 3rd in points per game (49.3), and 19th in points allowed per game (14.5).


Ohio State—Illinois: History Lesson and Other Tidbits

• Ohio State leads the all-time head-to-head series 61-30-4.

• Ohio State has won the last seven meetings in Champaign, dating back to 1993.

• Ohio State is 22-2 against unranked conference opponents dating back to 2005.

• Ohio State is 28-8 since 2001 in conference road games under Jim Tressel.

• Ohio State is 5-2 overall and 3-0 on the road vs. Illinois under Jim Tressel.

• Ohio State coach Jim Tressel (98-21) is just two wins shy of his 100th at Ohio State.

• Ohio State's defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 27 games.

• Ohio State boasts an all-time record of 151-22-5 in September games.

• Terrelle Pryor is now 23-3 as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

• The home team is just 2-8 in the last 10 meetings of the series.

• Illinois has scored 10 or less points in seven of the last 13 meetings.

• Illinois' last win over Ohio State was in 2007, a 28-21 win over the then-No. 1 ranked Buckeyes.

• Illinois coach and Ohio native Ron Zook is 23-40 overall at Illinois (2005-2010) and just 1-4 against Ohio State over that span.

• Zook has a 5-4 record vs. top 5 teams, however, he is only 9-28 overall against ranked opponents in his career.


Summary and Prediction

Ohio State should have little or no trouble in this game. Last year, the Buckeyes shutout Illinois 30-0. Ohio State is even better than they were last year.

Illinois, not so much.

Running back Mikel Leshoure is the best player the Illini have.

Contrarily, their passing game poses very little threat, although QB Sheelhasse has had some success running the ball, but, he hasn't faced a defense like OSU's either.

All that being said, let's keep this short and get to the key points.

Stop the run—force Illinois to pass—create turnovers—win the game.

The end.


(Modest) Final Score Prediction
=========================
Ohio State 45
Illinois 20


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Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan: Week 4 Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

The No. 2 Buckeyes have another "scrimmage" this week as they welcome in the Eastern Michigan Eagles to Ohio Stadium.

Just like the Ohio Bobcats who Ohio State hosted (and defeated 43-7) one week ago, the Eagles will also receive a payment of $850,000 from Ohio State for their visit to Columbus.

Unlike their namesake, these Eagles have not been flying very high as of late if ever, and they aren't exactly going to be spreading their wings in this matchup with the No. 2 Buckeyes.

Ohio State (3-0) is the favorite to win the Big 10 and is considered a legitimate BCS national title contender, while EMU (0-3) just hopes to win more than three games.

There is no comparison between these two programs and their 2010 expectations, but we'll go ahead and do it anyway for the greater good, and stuff...


Eastern Michigan—By the Numbers

EMU has used two quarterbacks this season, Alex Gillett and Devontae Payne.

Gillett has thrown for 350 yards and four touchdowns, with three interceptions. He has also rushed for 172 yards and has a QB rating of 119.7.

Payne has 148 yards passing with an interception and no touchdowns for a QB rating of 90.5.

Running back Dwayne Priest has rushed for 199 yards (on 50 carries, a 4.0 yards per carry average) and has scored three touchdowns.

The Eagles leading receiver is Kinsman Thomas with six receptions for 197 yards and two scores.

Ben Thayer has caught 10 balls for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Donald Scott has 3 catches for 72 yards with a touchdown, and Josh LeDuc has made 9 receptions for 58 yards with one touchdown.


Overall, EMU ranks 86th in passing yards per game (189.9), 71st in rushing yards per game (142.00), 91st in points per game (21.0), and 108th in points allowed per game (37.0).


Ohio State—By the Numbers

Terrelle Pryor had his first two turnovers on the year last week vs. Ohio on two ill-advised passes. He forced the ball into coverage mainly because the game was never close, but he must not get used to having that luxury with Big Ten play looming.

This week, however, he has little to worry about against Eastern Michigan.

To date, Pryor has 715 passing yards, six touchdown passes, two interceptions, 165 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His QB rating is 156.6.

Over 12 games, Pryor is projected for 2,860 passing yards, 660 rushing yards, 32 total touchdowns versus only eight interceptions.

Although Pryor is the leading rusher for the Bucks, Brandon Saine and Boom Herron are close behind.

Saine has 158 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and he also has five catches for 49 yards with two touchdown receptions.

Herron has gained 137 yards rushing with three touchdowns. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Jaamal Berry has seen limited action but that should change this week as the potential blowout ensues. So far, he has carried the ball 11 times for 103 yards. His average of 9.4 yards per carry is definitely the main reason Buckeye fans want to see him on the field more.

Devier Posey leads Ohio State with 13 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Dane Sanzenbacher with 11 catches also for 208 yards and one touchdown.

Tight end Jake Stoneburner has nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Dan Herron has four receptions for 79 yards.

As a team, Ohio State is 33rd in passing yards per game (254.3), 25th in rushing yards per game (206.3), 16th in points per game (41.3), and a still misleading 9th in points allowed per game (12.7) due to the three scores the Buckeyes special teams untits have allowed. Take away those 21 points and the Buckeyes are actually only allowing 5.7 points per contest.


Ohio State—Eastern Michigan: History Lesson and Other Tidbits

• This will be the first-ever meeting between Ohio State and Eastern Michigan.

• Ohio State is 38-8 overall vs. non-conference opponents under Jim Tressel.

• Ohio State is 51-2 in their last 53 non-conference home games.

• Ohio State is 59-7 at home overall since 2001.

• Ohio State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 24 games.

• Ohio State is 16-0 vs. current MAC teams since 1992.

• Ohio State has won 56 consecutive non-conference home games against unranked teams.

• Jim Tressel is 1-4 all-time vs. EMU as head coach at YSU.

• Eastern Michigan lost 16-0 to Ann Arbor High School in 1892.

• Eastern Michigan is coached by former Louisville and Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English.

• Eastern Michigan has never been ranked in a major college football poll.

• Eastern Michigan is currently on a 15-game losing streak, and their overall record since 2006 is 8-40.

• Eastern Michigan is 0-26 all-time against current Big Ten teams, losing by an average of 28 points.

• Eastern Michigan is 0-7 vs. ranked opponents since 1992, losing by an average of 42 points.


Summary and Prediction

What is there to summarize?

The Buckeyes should win and win big without so much as breaking a sweat.

This game really should be about sitting the starters after halftime and getting to see what some of the young guys can do in the second half as conference play is set to begin next weekend. It will be good to know which of them can be counted on if needed down the stretch.

This is yet another one of those games where no matter how bad coach Tressel tries to not run up the score, scoring at least 40-50 points is inevitable.

After just falling short late in the game last week, it would be a little surprising if the "D" doesn't finally pitch their first shutout of the year in this one.

Of course, that is once again assuming the special teams units don't blow it this week.


Final Score
==========
Ohio State 55
Eastern Michigan 0

Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan
Kickoff is Saturday 9/25 at 3:30PM

LIVE In-Game Blog Chat Starts at 3:15PM
Chat Here While You Watch the Game on ABC!

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Big Ten Football: Power Ranking The Conference Running Backs Going Into Week 4

If QBs made the rankings, there is no doubt that UM's Denard Robinson and OSU's Terrelle Pryor would be in the top 10.

But since these are the best RBs in the Big Ten, they aren't eligible.

It is still worth mentioning that Robinson leads the conference with 559 rushing yards and Pryor is the leading rusher for the Buckeyes with 165.



No. 10 - Dan "Boom" Herron - Ohio State

Boom was the hot hand for the Buckeyes vs. the Miami Hurricanes in week 2, but overall, he and the rest of the Buckeye backs need to run the ball more effectively.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor is always going to scramble and make plays when a play breaks down or he can't find an open receiver, but he should not be leading this team in rushing.

Herron earns the No. 10 ranking this week, but redshirt freshman Jaamal Berry has Buckeye fans clamoring to see more of him, which could mean less P.T. for Herron over the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.


No. 9 - Darius Willis - Indiana

The Hoosiers run a spread offense and they have an excellent QB in Ben Chappell, so they don't run the ball that much.

Despite that fact, Willis is a solid ball carrier that makes the most of the touches he does get.

Through week 3, he has scored two touchdowns and rushed 27 times for 132 yards.

The next two weeks, IU plays Akron and then Michigan.

Akron allowed almost 300 yards on the ground to Kentucky last week, and UMass gained over 200 yards rushing against Michigan.

Coach Bill Lynch should take advantage of these weak run defenses and let Willis carry the rock a lot in both games.

If he does, it's almost a guarantee that Willis will get near the century mark and score once or twice in both games.


No. 8 - Michael Shaw - Michigan

If Shoelace, aka Denard Robinson, is going to survive the season, especially once Big Ten play begins, he has to be able to rely on Shaw to step up more in the running game.

Last week Shaw finally showed up against UMass, but he has to be able to do the same against better competition for Robinson's sake and for the entire team's sake.

Through three games, Shaw has scored four touchdowns and accumulated 186 rushing yards on 32 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

Most of his numbers came in the UMass game. If he can't replicate that performance in-conference, Robinson and UM may be in big trouble, and soon.



No. 7 - Brandon Saine - Ohio State

Saine is definitely not your typical No. 1 back that Ohio State is used to having, i.e. a Beanie Wells / Eddie George type power back.

But what Saine is is a hybrid tailback / h-back / slot receiver and as that, he's one of the best in the league.

He can break a big run from time to time, be doesn't always seem to have the best vision moving down field.

He has 33 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He has also caught five passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

What separates Saine from his teammate Herron is that Saine is faster and has great hands making him a near perfect threat in the slot or out of the backfield, while Herron seems to have better field vision when running the ball.

If there were such a place as Buckeye football Utopia, Saine would play almost exclusively at WR and Herron would be the No. 1 back, but superstar-in-the-making Jaamal Berry would share carries with Boom.


No. 6 - Duane Bennett - Minnesota

Running back Duane Bennett might just be the only bright spot in an otherwise dark and dismal season so far for the (1-2) Golden Gophers.

With a new stadium that just opened last season came higher expectations for this program, but so far the results have fallen far short of those.

Coach Tim Brewster is on a very hot seat and he might not make it through the season.

Bennett , however, is doing what he can to help the team win and save his coach from the axe.

He is averaging nearly 100 yards per game with 297 yards on 55 carries through the first three games. He has scored twice and is averaging 5.4 yards per rush.

Minnesota faces Northern Illinois on Saturday so expect another big day for Bennett.

He's on pace for close to 1,200 yards but it's unclear who might be the coach when and if he reaches that milestone late in the season.


No. 5 - Adam Robinson - Iowa

Last season, Adam Robinson became the Hawkeye's starter when Jewell Hampton was injured during the fall. It's deja vu all over again, kind of.

Robinson was already entrenched as the starter this season even though Hampton returned to the team healthy. News recently broke that Hampton now has a torn acl and will miss the remainder of this season.

Hampton was averaging close to 10 carries per game so it makes sense that Robinson's workload will increase going forward.

As of now, Robinson has 48 carries for 270 yards for an average of 5.6 yards per carry and he has scored four touchdowns.

This week Iowa hosts Ball State. Robinson is a safe bet to gain 100-plus yards and he should also find the endzone at least once or twice.


No. 4 - Mikel Leshoure - Illinois

Leshoure has been quite the surprise for the Illini so far this season.

Through his first three games, Leshoure has carried the ball 58 times for 398 yards for a 6.9 yards per carry average. He has gained more than 100 yards in every game so far and has scored three touchdowns.

If not for the fact that QB Nathan Scheelhaase has rushed 40 times for over 200 yards, Leshoure could possibly be leading the conference in rushing.

If coach Ron Zook is smart and hopes to have any chance at saving his job, he better hitch his wagon to Leshoure and ride him every week until the cows come home.








No. 3 - Le'Veon Bell - Michigan State

In the wake of recent events, it goes without mentioning that every college football fan should be hoping for a full and speedy recovery for MSU coach Mark Dantonio who suffered a heart attack after the Spartans pulled off that overtime thriller against Notre Dame. Get well soon Coach D!

One of the main reasons the Spartans are 3-0 is the play of freshman RB Le'Veon Bell.

Last week he gained over 100 yards with a touchdown against the Irish and on the year, he has 37 carries, 304 rushing yards, a hefty average of 8.2 yards per carry, and four touchdowns.

This week, MSU welcomes in Northern Colorado. Another 100-plus yards and a couple of scores can safely be expected.





No. 2 - John Clay - Wisconsin

Deciding on the top two places and whom to rank one and two was a tough decision. It was very close because the two players selected really are practically interchangeable.

In the end, John Clay, the reigning Big Ten POY, was ever-so-slightly edged out by the back that earned that top slot. It really was a coin flip, but the numbers never lie and that is why Clay lands at No. 2.

He's done as expected on the young season rushing for 383 yards on 62 carries for an average of 6.2 per, and has scored five touchdowns.

Despite his play, the Badgers have surprisingly struggled to their 3-0 record with unimpressive wins against UNLV and San Jose State, and a 1-point escape due a missed extra point try by Arizona State that would have forced overtime.

This week Austin Peay comes calling so expect a big game from Clay and everyone else from Wisconsin.

Of course, James Madison did beat a sluggish Virginia Tech two weeks ago, so we'll have to see which Badger team shows up.


No. 1 - Edwin Baker - Michigan State

Who?—you may be asking...

Well, if you haven't been paying attention to the stats, you might be surprised to see Baker at No. 1.

He's not a household name, but he should be, and probably will be soon if he continues to produce as he has been.

So far, Baker has carried the ball 46 times for 390 yards for a whopping 8.5 yards per carry, and he has scored four touchdowns.

When you look at the talent on this Michigan State team, it seems clear that the Spartans are underrated.

Kirk Cousins is one of the top QBs in the conference.

Keyshawn Martin, B.J Cunninghamm, and Mark Dell are probably the best trio of receivers on one team in the conference.

And then besides Baker, his backfield running mate, Le'Veon Bell made this list at No, 3, and in case you missed it, they are both averaging over eight yards per carry!

In the past, the higher the expectations, the more the Spartans seem to underachieve.

This could be the year they finally break through. They have the talent and a very good coach once he returns.

After hosting Northern Colorado this week, the following two weeks will validate or potentially expose MSU as they host No. 11 Wisconsin, then travel to Ann Arbor to play their in-state arch-rivals, No. 21 Michigan.

Go Sparty, go!


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Just Spit-Ballin': How Ohio State Can Alleviate Their Most Pressing Concerns

Three weeks into the 2010 season finds Ohio State undefeated as expected, and for the most part, they have proven to be worthy of their No. 2 ranking, but they do have a few flaws.

There is always room for improvement and the Bucks can ill-afford to become complacent if they want to truly be a legitimate BCS title game contender.

First off, the disturbingly obvious inefficiencies on special teams are still a huge concern.

Through their first three games, OSU has allowed a blocked field goal, a blocked PAT, and one punt and two kickoff returns for touchdowns, one of which ultimately didn't count, but still.

DeVier Posey's older brother Julian returned a kickoff 99 yards for an apparent touchdown for OU before an illegal block penalty negated the return.

Sure it didn't count, but just the fact that the Bobcats technically were the third straight Buckeye opponent to score a special teams touchdown against OSU is very disconcerting.

It is even more concerning considering that fixing this problem had to be a primary focus over the past week or two.

It may be as simple as just a personnel issue, or something bigger. That's up to Tressel and his staff to figure out. The bottom line is it has to be fixed, whatever it is, and whatever it takes.

The other challenge facing Tressel and company is a two-headed monster.

First, they need to find a consistent No. 3 wide receiver threat to help free up Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher.

The play of tight end Jake Stoneburner has helped with that cause somewhat, but with Terrelle Pryor really coming into his own as a passing QB, a true third option at receiver would greatly benefit the Buckeye passing game.

The second part of this equation is finding a way to get sophomore Jordan Hall, and especially redshirt freshmen Jaamal Berry more touches out of the backfield. As of now, each have returned kicks and punts, but have seen little action at tailback.

The solution—move Saine to wide receiver. This would kill two birds with one stone.

Tressel is loyal to his upperclassmen, almost to a fault, so Dan Herron could still technically be the "starter", but everyone, including Tressel, knows that he's not a guy that can carry the ball 25-plus times a game.

Making this move would give the Buckeyes a legit No. 3 wideout, a veteran starter at running back, and it would then allow Hall and Berry more opportunities to carry the rock.

As mentioned, Pryor continues to prove he's more than just a scrambler and the defense appears to be one of the best Tressel has ever had, having only allowed 17 points over these first three weeks.

Kicker Devin Barclay has been solid as well.

The offense is close and the defense is there.

Figuring out the special teams situation and finding that reliable third receiver could mean the difference between a good year, or a legendary one for the Buckeyes.

Better protection and blocking in the middle on field goals and PATs, as well as improved kick and punt return coverage, in addition to shifting Saine to [more of] a receiver role and thus allowing an increased role for Hall and/or Berry will increase the odds for Ohio State to win all of their games, and further establish and solidify their position as one of the best teams in the nation.

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Ohio State-Ohio University: Week 3 Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

After a week, and really an entire preseason, full of hype leading up to last Saturday's Ohio State-Miami game, the No. 2 Buckeyes have what many consider another "scrimmage" this week as they welcome in the Ohio University Bobcats to Ohio Stadium.

As one of the top grossing football programs in the country, the Buckeyes traditionally play two state schools as part of their four-game, out-of-conference schedule.

This permits Ohio State to play two additional home games in addition to their four annual Big Ten home games, while also allowing their opponent to literally "cash in" as a guest of the Buckeyes. This year for example, Ohio will receive a payment of $850,000 from Ohio State for their visit to Columbus.

In summation, it goes like this pretty much:

Hey Ohio, this is Ohio State calling. We were wondering if you would be interested in coming to Columbus and playing us in 2010. Playing in front of 105,000 fans in The Horseshoe will be an experience your players will never forget. It also provides another home date for us in which we will almost certainly pound your team into the ground in embarrassing fashion, but look at it this way—at least we'll pay you quite handsomely so it's totally worth it...

You may remember the Buckeyes getting caught looking ahead to their upcoming meeting with No.1 USC in Los Angeles back in 2008. The week before when they hosted the Bobcats, they trailed 14-12 with just 14 minutes left in the game. Thanks to a short touchdown run by Brandon Saine and a 69-yard punt return by Ray Small, the Buckeyes escaped with the 26-14 win.

Fast-forward back to 2010.

Ohio State (2-0) is the favorite to win the Big 10 and is considered a legitimate BCS national title contender, while Ohio (1-1) was picked to finish second in the MAC-East behind Temple.

There is really no comparison between these two programs and their 2010 expectations, but they are playing each other, so we'll go ahead do it anyway, just because.


Ohio University—By the Numbers

Quarterback Boo Jackson (no, not Bo) has had a rough start to the 2010 season. So far vs. Wofford and Toledo, he has only thrown for 234 yards with just one touchdown to four interceptions. He does have one rushing touchdown as well.

This is just a guess, but it is a fairly safe bet to assume that Jackson's touchdown total will remain the same, but the number of interceptions he has thrown will almost certainly increase against the very opportunistic Buckeye defense (just ask Jacory Harris).

Running backs Vince Davidson and Ryan Boykin have combined for 153 yards and one rushing touchdown—not exactly setting the world on fire either.

Continuing the trend of under-impressiveness is leading wide receiver Riley Dunlop, who has a whopping 57 yards receiving and one touchdown catch.

Overall, Ohio ranks 111th in passing yards per game (119.0), 79th in rushing yards per game (138.0), 85th in points per game (23.0), and 30th in points allowed per game (15.0).


Ohio State—By the Numbers

After two games, Terrelle Pryor has not been perfect, especially in the short-passing game, but he has amassed 480 passing yards, thrown four touchdown passes, rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown, and most importantly, has not turned the ball over even one time. He may or may not remain on that pace going forward, but just for the record, over 12 games that projects out to 2,880 passing yards, 780 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns.

Running backs Brandon Saine and Boom Herron have each gained 110 yards on the ground with Herron scoring once and Saine twice. Herron has 56 yards receiving and Saine has 36 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry each had big returns for the Buckeyes against the Hurricanes in an otherwise dismal special teams effort, and both should continue to return kicks and each should also see some time at tailback in the third or fourth quarters the next couple of weeks.

Wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher leads the Buckeyes with 150 yards and a score, followed closely by DeVier Posey with 146 yards and two TD catches. Taurian Washington, who was supposed to be the third receiver, must have fell off the Earth. Outside of being a Spring football Legend the last couple of offseasons, he has not caught one meaningful pass in his entire Buckeye career. Hopefully Corey Brown or Chris Fields can get on the field in the next couple of games and show that they are ready to be the No. 3 man.

As a team, Ohio State is 45th in passing yards per game (241.0), 22nd in rushing yards per game (230.5), 22nd in points per game (40.5), and a very misleading 33rd in points allowed per game (15.5). Marshall scored one special teams touchdown and Miami scored twice on returns. Take away the 21 points the kicking teams allowed and the Buckeyes defense is actually only allowing five points per game.

The three special teams blunders have been the only real weakness this team has shown. Hopefully Coach Tressel and company have dedicated a significant portion of practice time to correcting those issues.


Ohio State—Ohio: History Lesson and Other Tidbits

• This will be the seventh meeting between Ohio State and Ohio.

• Ohio State is 6-0 all-time vs. Ohio, having outscored the Bobcats 161-30.

• Since 2001 under Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 37-8 vs. non-conference opponents.

• Overall since 2001, Ohio State is 58-7 at home.

• Ohio State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 23 games.

• Ohio State is 41-0-1 vs. instate schools since 1922.

• Ohio is coached by former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich, who has a 32-31 record at the school since taking over in 2005.

• Since 2005, Ohio is 0-3 under Solich against top 25 teams and just 2-9 overall vs. schools from a BCS conference.


Summary and Prediction

The Buckeyes won't overlook the Bobcats this year like they did in 2008. Next week is another "scrimmage" against Eastern Michigan in case you were wondering.

This game should again go the way of the Marshall game, meaning even despite the fact that Coach Tressel never runs up the score on lesser opponents for those so-called all-important style points, it's hard to imagine the Buckeyes won't score at least 40 points, while the "D" either pitches a shutout or only gives up one or two scores (via special teams?) at most.

Assuming the special teams units don't blow it this week, the verdict is in.


Final Score
==========
Ohio State 42
Ohio 0


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Ohio State-Miami: Week 2 Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

The much-anticipated Ohio State-Miami (FL) rematch is nearly upon us.

The last meeting came in January, 2003 when the underdog Buckeyes outlasted the heavily favored Hurricanes 31-24 in double-overtime to capture the 2002 BCS title.

Both teams expect to challenge for their respective conference championships this season, but each also have their eye on another trip to Arizona and a BCS championship game berth.

As of right now, the No. 2 Buckeyes are in better position for the latter than are the No. 13 Hurricanes, but an upset win in Columbus this Saturday would legitimately catapult Miami into the top 10 or even the top five.

Of course, coming away with a win is going to be a huge challenge for Miami. Non-conference opponents don't usually fare too well against the Buckeyes in The Shoe.

Miami is a fast team with their fair share of talented players at most every position on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately for the Canes, so too are the Buckeyes—even more so actually..

There are two ways to look at recruiting rankings—quantity vs. quality.

For example, in 2008, Miami signed 33 players compared to Ohio State only signing 20. Both Scout and Rivals ranked the Miami class ahead of the Ohio State class even though the average star rating for Miami players was 3.33, while the average star rating for Ohio State per recruit was 3.9.

In this case, bigger recruiting classes clearly do not equal better recruiting classes.

Here are how the two schools stack up against each other in recruiting when the quality of class is measured as opposed to just the number of recruits that committed to each school.

Each team currently has players on their squads that were members of one of their classes between 2006 and 2010, so those are the years that will be used in the chart below.

Year   OSU Class Rank     Ave. * / Recruit    MIA Class Rank     Ave. * / Recruit

====   ==============     ================    ==============     ================



2006       7th                  3.60               10th                3.41



2007       5th                  3.73                7th                3.72



2008       2nd                  3.90               17th                3.33



2009       4th                  3.80               15th                3.37



2010       8th                  3.47               30th                3.03

As you can see, Ohio State has out-recruited Miami in all five seasons. 2006 and especially 2007 were comparable, but the last three classes weren't very close, as all were significantly in favor of Ohio State.

Miami fans will want to point out that while recruiting numbers and rankings do matter, they are not everything since not all highly touted recruits live up to expectations, while less-heralded prospects sometimes prove to be diamonds in the rough.

Point taken.

So let's get down to it and look at what does, and will, matter most when these two titans clash this coming Saturday.

Here's a good place to start

Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor and Miami's Jacory Harris

Both Ohio State and Miami opened the 2010 season with decisive victories last Thursday night. The Buckeyes cruised to a 45-7 win over Marshall, while the Hurricanes shutout Florida A&M University, 45-0.

The stats each school has compiled so far are from one game vs. inferior opponents, so while they may or may not indicate what we could expect to see on 9/11, they're still worth mentioning.


Miami—By the Numbers

QB Jacory Harris showed no signs of any lingering issues from off-season thumb surgery. In just two quarters, he completed 12/15 passes (80%) for 210 yards and three touchdowns, for a QB rating of 263.6. Harris took care of business and could be poised to lead his team to the ACC title, and maybe more. If he can produce similar results against one of the nation's better defensive units, his name could start moving up closer to the top of the 2010 Heisman watch list.

Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson led Miami with six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Only two other Miami receiver had more than 30 yards, but both had less than 45.

Running back Lamar Miller led the Canes in rushing with 65 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Damien Berry caught a 32-yard touchdown pass and had another 45 yards rushing. Mike James had six caries for 36 yards.

As a team, Miami totaled 405 yards, while holding A&M to 110 yards and just eight first downs the entire game. The shutout was the first by a Miami defense since 2006.

For the record, FAMU is a FCS school, so while Miami looked impressive, those individual and overall team statistics might not be very similar to their offensive and defensive totals when they meet the Buckeyes this weekend.


Ohio State—By the Numbers

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor continued to play as he did in the 2010 Rose bowl. In just a tad over three quarters of work, he completed 17/25 pass attempts (68%) for 247 yards and three touchdowns, for a QB rating of 190.59. The majority of his passes were perfectly on target and he seemed very comfortable not scrambling, but rather remaining in the pocket and finding his receivers.

Wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher led the Buckeyes with three catches for 113 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown that was perfectly placed in stride by Pryor. Two of DeVier Posey's four receptions for 41 yards went for touchdowns. Tight end Jake Stoneburner caught three balls, also for 41 yards.

In only one half of play, running back Brandon Saine carried the ball nine times for 103 yards and found the endzone twice. Four backs in all averaged more than six yards per carry. Jaamal Berry had seven carries for 80 yards. Dan Herron rushed for 44 yards on seven carries and Jordan Hall added 32 yards on just five carries.

As a team, Ohio State totaled 529 yards, while holding Marshall to 199 yards and 11 first downs the entire game. The OSU defense pitched a shutout as well, but was charged with a special teams touchdown that Marshall scored after returning a blocked 53-yard field goal try.


Ohio State—Miami: History Lesson and Other Tidbits

• This will be only the fourth ever meeting between Ohio State and Miami.

• Ohio State is 2-1 all time vs. Miami with the lone defeat, a 23-12 loss coming in 1999, and the two wins coming in 1977, a 10-0 shutout, and in 2003, the classic 31-24 double-overtime thriller for the BCS title.

• Since 2001 under Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 36-8 vs. non-conference opponents.

• Overall since 2001, Ohio State is 57-7 at home.

• Ohio State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher over its past 22 games.

• Miami is 26-16 all-time vs. Big Ten opponents, but only 1-4 in road openers.

• Miami has improved every season under Randy Shannon, winning five games in 2007, seven games in 2008, and nine games in 2009.

• Since 2007 under Shannon, Miami is 4-6 against top 25 opponents, but only 1-5 against top 25 opponents on the road, having only defeated then-No. 18 FSU in Tallahassee in 2009.


Summary and Prediction

Miami is fast, but so is Ohio State.

Miami has recruited well, but Ohio State has recruited better.

Miami has a very good quarterback, but so does Ohio State and theirs can also hurt you running the ball.

Miami may just have the best group of receivers in the nation, but Ohio State's group isn't far behind, just younger and less experienced.

Miami has one of the best defensive fronts you will find, but Ohio State's might just be the best in the country.

Miami has a pretty good offensive line, but the Ohio State o-line is one of the top five lines in the nation.

Miami has one of the better secondaries in the country. Ohio State's secondary has a couple of new faces, but could still be one of the best when it's all said and done.

Miami finally has a good coach in Randy Shannon who has their program heading in the right direction. Ohio State has Jim Tressel, the best coach in the Big 10, who also happens to be one of the best six or seven coaches in all of college football.

It could be close, and a back-and-forth shootout, but this Buckeye squad will be fired up, and so will 105,000+ Buckeye fans. They will be too much for the Hurricanes in the second half and should win by at least two scores.

Final Score
==========
Ohio State 30
Miami 14

After the ludicrous 9-3 W/L record for Ohio State prediction of yours, suck on that Brian Griese...



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Week One, Post-Marshall Wrap Up: What We Learned About Ohio State

Week one of the 2010 Ohio State football season is in the books and much of the speculation and lingering questions about the Buckeyes have finally been answered.

After watching the Buckeyes dominate Marshall, there are six things that should now be evident beyond a shadow of a doubt.


Number One

Entering the season, special teams play was, and still is, the glaring weakness and No. 1 concern on this team.

There is the less-than-stellar punt and kickoff return averages for one. Then the two nearly missed PATs (one was partially blocked yet still made it through the uprights), and who could forget the blocked 53-yard field goal try that was returned 57 yards by Marshall for the only (gift-wrapped) points the Thundering Herd would score all night.

With only eight days to go before the Hurricanes arrive in Columbus, the Bucks absolutely better work out the special team kinks or those types of potential mistakes and shortcomings against Miami may prove much more costly.


Number Two

No surprise here—The Buckeye defense is very, very good.

Sure, it was against Marshall, but a shutout is a shutout and that's what this defense did, only to have it tossed away by the kicking team on the aforementioned field goal debacle.

Ohio State's defense limited Marshall to just 44 yards on the ground and 199 total for the game. Linebacker Brian Rolle had an interception and returned it 30 yards for what is sure to be the first of many pick-six INTs for this unit.

In addition to the Rolle interception, the Herd also lost two fumbles.

Expect more of the same from this defense in every game all year long.


Number Three

The running back pecking order is set at the very top, but the number two slot could be up for grabs.

Brandon Saine had a great game and proved he has all makings of a legit No. 1 featured back. Saine, who did not play in the second half, rushed nine times for 103 and two touchdowns.

Backup Boom Herron didn't have a bad game by any means with 44 yards on only seven carries. The dilemma, however, for Herron is that fans who have already been clamoring for redshirt freshmen Jaamal Berry to get an opportunity, watched as the speedy and elusive Berry dazzled the Ohio Stadium crowd with 80 yards, also on just seven carries.

Coach Tressel has always been very loyal to his upperclassmen, almost to a fault, but the bottom line here is the best players who give the team the best chance to win need to play, period.

Starting in 2011, Berry could be the next great tailback at Ohio State, and his week one performance might force Tressel to reevaluate and rearrange the depth chart behind Saine.


Number Four

Terrelle Pryor silenced his critics that still believed he was not a legitimate passing quarterback. He picked up right where he left off in the 2010 Rose Bowl, hitting 17 of 25 passing for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

Pryor connected on a couple of very well thrown deep balls, including a 65-yard touchdown pass to senior Dane Sanzenbacher.

His mechanics, footwork, and release are all without a doubt much improved. The scary fact for defenses that will have to face the Buckeyes and defend against Pryor is he will continue to get better every week.

Pryor had only eight carries in the game and a handful of those were only due to sacks he took where he decided to just eat the ball rather than making a bad decision or forcing a throw that could result in giving up possession.

There's still some room for him to grow, but the evolution of Terrelle Pryor from a dual-threat scrambling QB to a passing, pro-style, pocket QB is nearly complete.


Number Five

Dane Sanzenbacher caught three balls for 113 yards and a touchdown. His play often brings back fond memories of former Buckeye Anthony Gonzalez.

He proved that despite DeVier Posey being Pryor's favorite target, he is a very capable No. 2 receiver alongside Posey and that the notion that Ohio State has no other talented wideouts other than Posey has been greatly exaggerated.

Behind Sanzenbacher, it's true that the receiving corp are young and inexperienced, but what they lack in experience, they make up for in talent, and experience will come.

Sophomore tight end Jake Stoneburner also caught three passes and could be increasingly used as the Buckeyes' secret weapon in the passing game as the season progresses.


Number Six

Next Saturday, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Miami Hurricanes will meet for the first time since their controversial 2003 Fiesta Bowl battle that saw the Buckeyes outlast the Hurricanes 31-24 in double overtime to win the BCS championship.

Both teams opened the season in similar fashion with easy wins as Ohio State defeated Marshall 45-7, while Miami shutout FCS-foe Florida A&M, 45-0.

Quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Jacory Harris had comparable individual first-game stats.

Both teams also have good backs, good o-lines, and good defenses.

This game should be great to watch and could be a back-and-forth shootout, with the team that has the ball last coming out on top.

Miami is the undisputed underdog, but you wouldn't know it by listening to or reading what their fans have to say about the game and about the Buckeyes.

See for yourself.

And even though it has been eight years, Miami fans have been preaching about revenge and redemption for that 2002 loss on message boards all across the Internet.

Referee Terry Porter haunts the dreams of every Miami fan, even though "the call" was correct.




They might (cough,...will) have to wait until next year in Miami for another shot at getting even...

For more on the upcoming OSU-Miami game, be sure to watch for the Ohio State-Miami: Game Preview, History Lesson and Prediction article here on BlockONation early next week.


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Ohio State-Marshall 2010 Season Opener: Preview, History Lesson, And Prediction

Game Preview

The 2010 Ohio State football season is set to kickoff next Thursday night (9/2/10) at 7:30PM on the Big Ten Network as the Buckeyes host the Thundering Herd from Marshall University.

The Herd are coming off of a disappointing 7-6 season and are now under the direction of new head coach, Doc Holliday.

It could be understating the situation to say that Marshall is not currently a very good football program. Basically, the program has been down ever since Byron Leftwich departed in 2003.

They have several big holes to fill where they had talented players last year, or where they were projected to have them in 2010.

Their top rusher in 2009, Darius Marshall, declared for the NFL after the season and just a little over a week ago, it was announced that QB Willie Korn, a once-highly-regarded transfer from Clemson is now leaving Marshall for DII North Greenville after being told he would be moved from quarterback to safety.

Contrarily, Jim Tressel's Buckeyes are coming off an 11-2 season which culminated with their 26-17 Rose Bowl win over then-No. 7 Oregon, a game which has been billed as Terrelle Pryor's coming out party.

The Buckeyes did lose a handful of very good players from last year's team, but they return 16 starters and many of the projected new starters were used as part of a two-deep rotation so they are not raw and inexperienced.

As (unintentionally) disrespectful as this is going to sound, the fact is that even Ohio State's third or fourth string players could almost certainly defeat the first team squad from this Marshall team.

Since this is the season opener, I will mention a few of the key players from each team and list their respective stats from 2009. This section will be slightly different in future "preview article" editions over the coming weeks as the season progresses.


Marshall—By the Numbers

QB—Brian Anderson (6'3, 213) - Senior

In 13 starts, Anderson had 2,646 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a QB rating of 118.96. He was also sacked 24 times.


RB—Martin Ward (5'9, 201) - Sophomore

As a backup in 2009, Ward rushed for 393 yards and three scores, all while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.


WR—Antavious Wilson (6'0, 196) - Sophomore

Wilson led the Herd in receiving last year with 60 receptions for 724 yards and three touchdowns. He played in all 13 games a year ago, and in two of those games he had over 150 yards receiving.


WR—Aaron Dobson (6'3, 203) - Sophomore

Appearing in only six games last season, Dobson caught 15 balls for 358 yards and four touchdowns.


LB—Mario Harvey (6'0, 250) - Senior

Harvey led the Marshall defense in 2009 with 117 tackles and 7.5 sacks and he also had 1.5 tackles for loss.


LB—Kellen Harris (6'3, 232) - Junior

Harris recorded 71 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss as well as one-half of a sack.


FS—Omar Brown (5'11, 194) - Junior

Brown's 73 tackles are second only to Harvey's 117 among returnees. He also has 10 passed defended ans two interceptions.


Ohio State—By the Numbers

QB—Terrelle Pryor (6'6, 235) - Junior

Pryor led the Buckeyes both through the air and on the ground, passing for 2,094 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushing for 779 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also threw 11 interceptions, a feat that he preferably not repeat or exceed in 2010.


RB—Brandon Saine (6'1, 220) - Senior

Saine is a dual-threat back who rushed for 739 yards and four touchdowns with a 5.1 yards per carry average. He also caught 17 passes for 224 yards and two scores—not bad considering he was part of a running-back-by-committee approach used last season in Columbus.


RB—Dan Herron (5'10, 202) - Junior

In eight full games, Herron rushed for 600 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season, but potentially see his role (and stats) diminished in 2010. With the emergence of a healthy Brandon Saine, as well as talented youngsters Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry, and Carlos Hyde all looking to earn their share of playing time, Boom could be relegated to just a 3rd down and/or goal line back.


WR—DeVier Posey (6'2, 213) - Junior

Posey led Ohio State in receiving with 60 catches for 828 yards and eight touchdowns. He had over 100 yards receiving twice last year, and he caught the fourth quarter touchdown that sealed the victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl.


WR—Dane Sanzenbacher (5'11, 180) - Senior

Sanzenbacher wasn't that far behind Posey with six touchdown grabs and 570 receiving yards last season. His value and stats could increase this year as OSU is talented, but young and inexperienced, and in at least one case inconsistent, at the wide receiver position after he and Posey.


TE—Jake Stoneburner (6'6, 245) - Sophomore

Stoneburner had just two catches for 30 yards in 2009, but all indications from the Spring game are that he will be used as an extra receiver quite often in addition to his blocking duties.


DT—Cameron Heyward (6'5, 290) - Senior

Heyward came back for his senior year to "be the best" and to hopefully win the Big Ten and a national title. He posted 46 tackles with 3.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. Although the stats don't tell the full story or include how often he was double-teamed, he will need to nearly double those numbers this year to truly be considered the best ever lineman at Ohio State. I'm not sure that he can, but he might. He's that good.


LB—Ross Homan (6'0, 230) - Senior

Homan quietly led the Buckeyes in tackles with 108 in addition to his two sacks and five interceptions. I see no reason why he won't post similar stats in 2010.


LB—Brian Rolle (5'11, 220) - Senior

Rolle emerged as a star immediately last year when he became the hero against Navy in the too-close-for-comfort 2009 opener. He recorded one sack and was second on the team in tackles just behind Homan with 95, seven of them for loss. Another big year out of Rolle should be on tap.


Ohio State—Marshall: History Lesson and Other Tidbits

• This will be only the second ever meeting between Ohio State and Marshall.

• Ohio State defeated Marshall 24-21 on a last play, 55 yard FG in 2004.

• Ohio State has won 31 straight home openers by an average of 20 ppg.

• Since 2001 under Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 35-8 vs. non-conference opponents.

• Overall since 2001, Ohio State is 56-7 at home.

• Marshall is 0-5 all-time vs. Big Ten opponents.

• Marshall has lost 10 straight road openers by an average of 23 ppg.

• Marshall is 1-13 all-time and has lost 9 straight vs. ranked FBS opponents.


Summary and Prediction

We know No. 2 Ohio State is highly regarded and should have a very potent offense to compliment one of the stingiest and best defensive units in the nation.

We also know that no matter how you slice it, Marshall is clearly considered a cupcake in anyone's opinion unless if you are asking a coach, player, or fan of the Herd.

Like I said before, I am not trying to be overly disrespectful to the Marshall program, but it has seen its' better days.

The 2004 game was a fluke, so with all that being said, it is time for my not-so-surprising final score prediction.

Let it be known that I wouldn't be shocked by a shutout, and even though Ohio State could easily break 50+ points, Tressel is a classy coach that tends not to run it up just for "style points" like the Urban Meyer's of the world.


Ohio State 45
Marshall 3


Sidenote

I am having surgery next week so I might not be able to sit at the computer for an extended period of time, meaning I may or may not publish any articles for the next couple of weeks. It will depend on how I am recovering (hopefully fast) and the level of pain and discomfort (hopefully very little or none) I am experiencing post-op.


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Vlogging and Blogging The Buckeyes: A Top to Bottom Preview of Ohio State's 2010 Running Back Stable

Every Buckeye fan knows that Ohio State has a lot of depth at the running back position, but others outside of the Buckeye Nation don't know about these young men as we do.

As Fall camp is soon to be nearing completion, and with the start of the season just two weeks away, it seemed like a fitting time to let everyone know just how deep and talented (albeit raw in some cases) the 2010 Buckeyes will be by taking a look at each of our backs that will have a chance to contribute on the field this season.



Brandon Saine

Not staying healthy has always been the knock on Saine, but entering this season, all systems are go for Zoom.

There is still likely to be somewhat of a running back by committee approach, but Saine is expected to get the lion's share of the workload.

A year ago, a relatively healthy Saine posted 963 rushing and receiving yards combined, scoring four touchdowns on the ground and two through the air.

This season, not only will he carry the ball, but as evidenced by the Oregon game, he will also be used as a receiver out of the backfield and from the slot at times.

For Saine, plays like the one at 1:25 of this video should become a regular occurrence this season.



If (big if) he can remain healthy, Saine is going to be used a lot like Reggie Bush was at USC, (sans the free house and cash in return) so don't be surprised when he has a big year for the Bucks.



Dan Herron

Two words come to mind when thinking of Boom—very dependable.

By all accounts, Boom is a very hard worker and a great team mate. In 2009, Herron gained 600 yards on the ground for a 3.9 yards per carry average and scored eight total touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving).

On occasion, he has shown the ability to break a big run, but he's also been somewhat inconsistent at times. One minute he's breaking through for a big gain, then the next it's as if he trips over a blade of grass with nothing but wide open space ahead of him.

Hopefully we see more of what we saw against Michigan in 2008 from Boom this season and the next.



He needs to be more patient and let the play develop instead of running straight into a pile of bodies before the hole opens up. His field vision could also use some fine-tuning.

Doing those things should hopefully (for his sake as far as playing time goes) help him move his game to the next level.



Jordan Hall

The former HS teammate of QB Terrelle Pryor out of Jeannette, Pennsylvania filled in for the then-injured Saine and Herron and showed that he is strong, fast, and explosive out of the backfield.

Somewhat of an afterthought in the class of 2009, the undervalued Hall proved his worth when he had his opportunity and at least for now has been rewarded accordingly as the third running back in the pecking order.

In the six games he saw action in last season, Hall gained 248 yards on 48 carries for an average of 5.2 yards per carry, which was a higher ypc average than both Saine and Herron.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video specifically of Hall from last year at Ohio State, but he played very similarly for the Buckeyes as he did for his HS team, the Jayhawks.

He was pretty solid on defense too as you'll see. It probably won't happen, but I wonder if a position change could be in his future given our depth at running back?

Here are a few highlights from his Jeannette days.



If Hall can hold off the surging and highly-touted Jaamal Berry for the No. 3 back behind the oft-injured Saine and Herron, he could find himself playing a key role for the Buckeyes in 2010 and could emerge as an unlikely star.



Jaamal Berry

Miami Palmetto's Jaamal Berry was the most prized recruit in the Ohio State 2009 recruiting class. Saying he was/is considered a can't miss star-to-be is almost an understatement.

But not every highly-regarded prospect lives up to the sometimes ridiculous hype and expectations. The jury is still out on Berry as he took a redshirt in 2009 after battling a nagging leg injury all season.

Although by most accounts coming out of camp, Berry sits at No. 4 behind two upperclassmen and fellow 2009 recruit Jordan Hall on the depth chart, many believe he also won't be down there for long.

He is a game breaker, possessing moves that have been compared to those of Barry Sanders and also is a literal speed-burner with another gear, allowing him to blow past defenders.

Obviously he has not seen any on-the-field action in the Scarlet and Gray as of yet, but take a look at this impressive highlight reel of him from his HS days.



After watching the video, I think it is easy to see why Buckeye fans are chomping at the bit to see Berry on the field this season and for the next three to four years.

He may have to bide his time as the third or fourth option in the crowded Buckeye backfield this season, but he won't be held down for long if he even comes close to performing near the level of expectation we have for him.



Carlos Hyde

Originally a member of the 2009 recruiting class, Carlos was one point shy on the A.C.T. of meeting the academic standard for admission to OSU.

So instead, he followed the path former Buckeye great and 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George took to Columbus by spending a year at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. With the plethora of backs already on campus and in the class of 2009, that might have been the best situation for Hyde.

At 6-1, 230, the former Cincinnati, Ohio native is a big, powerful back who has been compared to both Eddie George (6-3, 235) and Beanie Wells (6-1, 235). He clearly has the physical tools just as they did and if he can carry the rock like those two did, look out!

Like Berry, Hyde has not seen any live game action for the Buckeyes, but he too has a very impressive highlight reel from his days at Naples HS in Florida—take a look.



As you can see from the highlights, Hyde is big, strong, and fast for his and Buckeye fans are very excited to see him on the field as sokn as possible.


Others worth noting

Roderick Smith out of Fort Wayne, Indiana is considered the top recruit from the 2010 class but he is yet to make it on campus. He might be wise to take a similar path as Hyde did and save a redshirt year and a year of eligibility by working out his academic issues then joining the Buckeyes in 2011.

Now-former Buckeye Jermil Martin officially transferred to Ashland University recently because of the abundance of backs ahead of him at OSU. He decided on AU so that he can play right away instead of sitting out a season per NCAA rules.

Also worth mentioning are fullbacks Zach Boren and Adam Homan. Both are great blocking backs, but Boren has also been making his case to actually carry and catch the ball on occasion as well so keep an eye out for that.

There is no shortage of depth, talent, or speed at the running back position in Columbus and it is easy to see why we Buckeye fans feel that we (not USC or Alabama or Florida) have the best stable of backs top to bottom in the nation.


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