Ohio State Football Preview

The Urban Meyer era begins tomorrow in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes hosting the Miami Redhawks at the Horseshoe.

Here is a quick preview of the 2012 edition of the Buckeyes going into the season.

Braxton Miller returns at quarterback after an erratic freshman season that saw the former regime go through games seeming to be almost afraid to put the ball in the air.
Miller seems to be more of a fit in the more wide open offense under Meyer and could blossom this season with the less conservative play calling as well.
Junior Ken Guiton backs Miller up and should see the bulk of the mop up time in the early season.
Freshman Cardale Jones will be the third QB on the depth chart.

Jordan Hall was expected to be the main ball carrier,but a cut tendon in his foot will force Hall to miss most of the first month of the season.
Carlos Hyde will attempt to fill Hall's cleats as a junior as the most experienced backup and may be the goaline back even after Hall's return.
Sophomore Rod Smith and Freshmen Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball will also see action at times....
Senior Zack Boren will return as the starting fullback and may see the occasional pass play out of the backfield.

The biggest questions are at wide receiver after a season that saw several underclassmen disappoint in a season filled them last season.
Sophomore Devin Smith and Junior Corey Brown will get the starting spots after showing glimpses of being playmaking threats last season.
Smith is the bigger and more physical of the pair and had the better numbers last season.
Jake Stoneburner has been moved to the "H back" position in an attempt to get the ball into the 6'5 Stoneburner's hands more often.
Stoneburner should have more physical advantages at that position and could be a huge part of the offense.
Freshman Michael Thomas caught 12 passes in the spring game and the nephew of Keyshawn Johnson might be the top receiver by season's end.
Sophomore Evan Spencer has the edge over fellow sophs Verlon Reed (coming off an knee injury) and lanky 6'6 Tyrone Williams as the final receiver in the five wide sets...


The offensive line returns experience,but not always in their spots from last season.
Four juniors and a senior compose a group with questions,but possibilities.
Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell compose the left side of the line and massive Marcus Hall along with former tight end Reid Fragel line up on the right side.
Center Corey Linsley finishes a group that might have as much to do with an excellent season as any group on the team.....

The defensive line returns three starters and hopes to return a fourth with 2010 starter Nathan Williams hoping to come back from a knee injury suffered in last season's opener.
Senior John Simon is the standout and could make All-American this season.
Simon was the best defensive player on last seasons team and likely will be the same this year.
320 pound junior Johnathan Hankins and  Senior Garrett Goebel will be the interior starters and sophomore Michael Bennett will be on the opposite end from Simon.
Four freshmen will see time with top ten recruit Noah Spence leading the bunch that will form the base of the defensive line future in Columbus.
Tommy Schutt will see time at defensive tackle with Adolphus Washington playing both end and tackle in the rotation.
Chris Carter rounds out the quartet after being converted from offensive tackle...

Sophomore Ryan Shazier was razor sharp as the season wound down and might be the next standout backer with another Soph Curtis Grant getting the nod as the starter in the middle.
Fifth year Senior Etienne Sabino will be the other outside backer with the depth being very young with four freshmen all competing for playing time...

The secondary returns all four starters and backups with experience.
Senior Travis Howard and Sophomore Bradley Roby are back at the corners with Doran Grant being the main backup along with Adam (son of Archie) Griffin also in the hunt for playing time.
The corners look to be a real strength of the team.
Juniors return at both safety spots with Christian Bryant and C.J Barnett manning the stations.
Former starter Orthian Johnson will be the nickel back and Corey Brown will also get some reps as well.

Familiar faces in the kicking game fill the kicker and punter roles with Junior Drew Basil booting the field goals and extra points and Senior Drew Buchanan punting the ball for OSU.
Corey Brown will be the main punt returner with Bri'onte Dunn pairing with Brown on the kickoff return team.

I think the Buckeyes will start slow,but take advantage of a weak non-conference slate to roll up some wins early and the team might not be playing their best football when their first test arrives in late September at Michigan State.
I do think things will click and the final two games will be very interesting as Ohio State travels to Wisconsin for the "Heimberger bowl" and hosting michigan.
Those two games will be the bowl games for the ineligible Buckeyes and they will go a long way for the excitement for Ohio State fans for 2013.....

Projected record: 9-3 5-3 Big Ten....