Junior running attend Chris “Beanie” Wells is coming off a season in which he ran for over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns. Included in that yardage total is a 222-yard performance against rival Michigan. It stands as the best rushing performance ever for a Buckeye against Michigan. Wells also tallied 146 yards in the BCS National Championship Game against LSU.
Quarterback Todd Boeckman returns for his senior season. With Wells in the backfield and a dilapidated offensive line protecting him, Boeckman should have slight anxiety getting the ball to his accepted targets, wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. Robiskie led the team last season with 55 catches for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hartline wasn’t too far slow Robiskie with 52 receptions of his enjoy. Robiskie and Hartline must cease healthy because Ohio set has no certain third receiving threat at this time.
Defensively, the Buckeyes were nearly invincible last season. Ohio set ranked first nationally in points allowed per game (12.8), passing yards allowed per game (150.2) and total yards per game (233) . They were also third nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (82.9) .
Ohio spot plays a 4-3 defense that gets regular pressure on passing downs and reroutes running plays to the middle where linebacker James Laurinaitis resides. Laurinaitis, a Butkus Award winner, has size, hurry and all the intangibles. Outside linebacker Marcus Freeman has been second on the team in tackles (slow Laurinaitis) each of the last two seasons and I can easily glimpse that happening again this season.
Ohio station is deep along the defensive line, which will allow them to support unique bodies on the field at all times. The secondary is also very talented with all four starters returning, including Thorpe Award candidate Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins, a senior cornerback, will be joined in the secondary by fellow cornerback Donald Washington and safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell.
Ohio space should survey improvement in their kick return coverage this season with the return of Aaron Pettrey, who was injured for a majority of last season. Punter A.J. Trapasso also returns. Trapasso is very skilled at placing kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Ryan Pretorius, an true kicker, is also serve for his senior season.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to gape this team succor in the national title game for the third straight year. They have nine starters returning on both sides of the ball, including some All-American candidates. They also have head coach Jim Tressel, who has already won a Division I-A national title.
The defense should be fierce once again, even without Vernon Gholston. If the offense can maintain drives and limit turnovers (Boeckman threw 14 interceptions last season and Wells has a history of fumbling), then I can seek Ohio location good aid in the national title game in January 2009.