It’s J.T.’s TimeIt’s J.T.’s TimeIt’s J.T.’s TimeRedshirt Freshman To Lead Buckeyes Vs. NavyRedshirt Freshman To Lead Buckeyes Vs. Navy

Aug. 29, 2014Aug. 29, 2014

pressure facing him wouldn’t be a prob-lem.

“He’s a calm guy that had a very good practice today, like a really good practice today, and was very businesslike about his approach,” Meyer said in his Aug. 25 press conference. “He’s not someone you have to watch to see their demeanor because it’s the same as it was two weeks ago. We all know what’s coming down the barrel at him, but he’s handled it very well.”

While Ohio State made a firm decision about who would line up to start the game at quarterback, the same couldn’t be said for many other spots on the roster. When the first depth chart was released Aug. 27, several positions were left unresolved, most notably on the offensive line.

Junior Taylor Decker will start at left tackle and will be joined by sophomore Pat Elflein at right guard and fifth-year senior Darryl Baldwin at right tackle. At left guard, redshirt freshman Billy Price and senior Joel Hale were both listed in the top spot, and junior Jacoby Boren and graduate transfer Chad Lindsay shared the top of the depth chart at center.

Ohio State offensive line coach Ed Warinner hinted later that day that the starters for both places had been decided a week before the game but that no offi-cial starter was listed on the depth chart

By Ryan Ginn

For the first time since 1978, a fresh-man will start at quarterback for Ohio State in its season opener.

After senior quarterback Braxton Miller went down with a torn labrum that will sideline him for the entire 2014 season, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett was named the starter in his place. It’s a rare event regardless, but the circumstances are at least slightly different from the previous instance, as Art Schlichter was a true freshman when he got the nod to open Woody Hayes’ final season in Columbus.

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has spent the week comparing the Wichita Falls, Texas, native – who tore his ACL in his senior year of high school – to former Florida quarterback Chris Leak and for-mer Buckeye and fellow Texan Kenny Guiton.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman noted during fall camp that Barrett is behind both Miller and soph-omore quarterback Cardale Jones in terms of arm strength but makes up for it with his cerebral nature. While Barrett has also been described more as a distributor than an outright playmaker in the mold of Miller, the OSU coaching staff has toned down his responsibilities to account for the overload that might come with playing his first college foot-ball game.

“It’s not that capacity-wise he can or can’t handle anything, it’s the adrenaline and the whole mind-set of starting your first game,” Herman said. “He hasn’t real-ly played since the middle of his senior year in high school. Just make sure you keep things as simple as possible for him.

“We don’t do a whole lot on offense despite what some people think we may or may not do. We don’t ask the quarterback to be a rocket surgeon by any stretch of the imagination and never have and never will. Maybe that’s why those guys have played well in our system. But yes, we might actually make a more conscious effort to keep it simple but not a ton less than we already do.”

With his first game week upon him, though, Barrett exhibited signs that the

2 BSB Quickly Aug. 29, 2014 This Week At OSU

Buckeyes To Kick Off Season With New QB

QuicklyQuicklyPublisher ........... Frank MoskowitzAsst. Publisher .....Becky RobertsEditor ...........................Jeff Svoboda

Staff WritersRyan Ginn

Marcus Hartman

InternKane Anderson

Designer/Staff WriterMatthew Hager

PhotographersSonny Brockway

Kevin DyeJosh Winslow

Editorial Offi ceColumbus Sports Publications

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On The Cover:Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback vs. Navy. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Dye)

Check Out Our Premium Websitewww.BuckeyeSports.com

The next print edition of Buckeye Sports Bulletin (Sept. 6 cover date) will be mailed Sept. 2.

Aug. 29, 2014

Channels For Navy Game

The Navy contest will be televised live on CBS Sports Network, not CBS broadcast. Here is a list of some popular cable operators that carry the channel.

DirecTV: 221Dish Network: 158Time Warner Cable: 322/1322 HDAT&T U-Verse: 643/1643 HDBuckeye Cable: 586Armstrong Cable: 175Cincinnati Bell: 603

Aug. 29, 2014 BSB Quickly 3This Week At OSU

a number of areas in which he’s familiar with Navy.

“The mind-set of a Midshipman, the mind-set of the offensive philosophy that they have and how they try to attack you,” he said. “Just having run that offense for 16 years (his other two games against Navy were at Notre Dame), not that exact offense but a very similar style of offense, how they think on offense and how they set you up with play calls.”

Meyer has also done his share of coach-ing against service academies, having seen Air Force back when he was at Colorado State and Utah as well as all three service academies when he was an assistant at Notre Dame.

“Every possession is going to be criti-cal,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect first of all for who they are and what they do because I know how hard it is to get into the academies. I have just a lot of respect for who they are, but you take that out of the equation this time because I think they’re really good, so we have to go play our best to win this game.”

because the difference was marginal and a rotation remains possible.

At cornerback, redshirt freshmen Eli Apple and Gareon Conley are still battling to line up opposite senior captain Doran Grant, although it appears both will play at some point. Junior Armani Reeves, once thought to be a candidate at that position, is slotted into nickel back.

Of course, those players won’t neces-sarily see much action against the triple option that Navy runs. Junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds can throw the ball bet-ter than the average Navy signal caller, but the preference in Annapolis remains to beat opponents through misdirection and clock-chewing drives.

“Every possession is going to be criti-cal when you play West Point or service academy teams like Navy,” Meyer said. “You’ve got to get first downs. You’ve got to march them down the field. You can’t three-and-out against this team, or you’ll have problems. So that’s what’s keeping me up. I think they’ll play really well.”

Meyer has made no secret of the work that’s gone into combating Navy’s attack. The third-year Ohio State head coach said he fought off the instinct to “install, install, install” when it comes to working on his own playbook and spent part of Ohio State’s first fall practice preparing to take on the Midshipmen.

“Day one of training camp, practice No. 1, we had a Navy period,” he said. “That’s not normal.”

Meyer has also sought the counsel of a few head coaches who have faced Navy in hopes of better preparing his team for what might be coming.

“I’ve been working through that, talked to some people that have coached in these situations as a head coach,” he said. “I don’t believe I’ve been in this situation facing a team quite like this. I talked to about two or three of my colleagues who have been in this (situation), and there are some things – game management areas – where we’re going to adjust a little bit.”

He didn’t have to look far to find another voice willing to chime in on facing service academies. Warinner has coached at both Army and Air Force, and the season opener will be the 19th time in his career that he’s faced Navy. In those games, he holds a 13-5 record against the Midshipmen.

When asked what he shared with the rest of the Ohio State staff, he rattled off

This Week’sBSB Reprints

In this issue of BSB Quickly, we turn to the pages of Buckeye Sports Bulletin to look back to the last time Ohio State played Navy, a nail-biter in Ohio Stadium won by the Buckeyes, 31-27, on Sept. 5, 2009.

We also look back 15 years to the 1999 season opener, the last time the Buckeyes opened the season away from Ohio Stadium before this year. The Buckeyes traveled to the Meadowlands to take on Miami (Fla.) in the Kickoff Classic, coming off an impressive 1998 season that saw them finish No. 2 in the polls.

Unfortunately, Ohio lost to the Hurricanes, 23-12, on Aug. 29 to start what would become a 6-6 season – a season that, in some ways, would be the beginning of the end for longtime Buckeye coach John Cooper.

MATTHEW HAGERFIGHTING FOR PLAYING TIME – Redshirt freshman Eli Apple will continue his battle with fellow redshirt freshman Gareon Conley for a starting cornerback spot into the season.

BSB Staff Predictions

Let me start off this explanation by say-ing I fully expect Ohio State to be one of the top teams in the country by the time December rolls around. If the Buckeyes make the Big Ten title game, I expect them to win it.

With that being said, it is not December. It’s August, and we’ve never seen redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett throw a pass in a college game. The last time he stepped on a football field was in October … of 2012. We have seen sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones throw, though. Twice. For a total of 3 yards.

The offensive line situation is still not fully resolved. In Ohio State’s first depth chart, two spots – left guard and center – had players tied at the top spot. Only one team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Tennessee, has an offensive line with fewer combined starts than Ohio State’s 20.

The defense will be without suspended defensive lineman Noah Spence and with-out a pair of first-round NFL draft picks in linebacker Ryan Shazier and cornerback Bradley Roby. They’ll be going up against a disciplined Navy team that appears to be the best of head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure, and they’ll do so in a noon game in Navy’s back yard.

There’s a good chance Ohio State answers all these questions and makes me look foolish. The talent is there at just about every position. But I’ll need to see it to believe it.

Ryan GinnStaff Writer

Final Score Final Score

27 241424

4 BSB Quickly Aug. 29, 2014 Staff Predictions

This is one of the most interesting sea-son openers I can remember for the Ohio State football team.

New quarterback, new defensive scheme, going on the road to open the year – it all leads up to a game that is a little diffi-cult to predict. Usually, the Buckeyes open the year at home with a MAC squad or another lower-level program. It’s as close to an NFL preseason situation as possible.

Playing Navy is hardly a simple tune-up. In fact, I believe there is a chance the Buckeyes will lose this weekend.

Yet while there is a chance, I don’t actu-ally think the Midshipmen will pull off the upset. Navy is a tough out every time it takes the field, as the Buckeyes learned in 2009 when they needed a Brian Rolle interception of a two-point conversion pass to ice a 31-27 victory at Ohio Stadium.

What is arguably most interesting about the matchup is that the new-look Ohio State defense – one that will feature a more aggressive secondary – will face a triple-option, rush-heavy attack. The test for the Buckeyes will be whether they can be disciplined enough to do what is needed to stop talented all-everything quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

As for the offense, I assume the Buckeyes will keep things simple. Offensive coordi-nator Tom Herman essentially said so this week. J.T. Barrett will be eased into the starting role, and I believe the Buckeyes will do enough to win.

Matthew HagerDesigner/Staff Writer

When Ohio State squares up with Navy in Baltimore, I expect the outcome to be somewhat similar to the season opener between these two teams from back in 2009.

While the Buckeyes have a huge advan-tage in talent, the Midshipmen boast a fair amount of experience, returning eight offensive starters and seven on the defen-sive side of the ball. And while Navy may have some sort of revenge on its mind, I’m sure Luke Fickell is doing everything he can to shore up the defense to be ready for the triple option.

With the Buckeyes having four new starters on the offensive line and J.T. Barrett playing his first collegiate game at quarterback, I think things are going to start out pretty slow. With both teams get-ting a feel for each other, I am expecting a quiet first half.

Expect a heavy dose of Ezekiel Elliot and Rod Smith out of the backfield as Urban Meyer tries to find his replacement for Carlos Hyde. Also look for Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall to get their fair share of quick passes or option reads at the “H” position.

I’m guessing the game stays tight through three quarters and Navy will have one big play exposing the defense.

In the end, though, I see the defense lock-ing down Navy QB Keenan Reynolds while Barrett gets the ball in the hands of too many playmakers for the Midshipmen to stop.

Kane AndersonIntern

Final Score

2717

Aug. 29, 2014 BSB Quickly 5Staff Predictions

BSB Staff Predictions

This game is terrifying to me – and that was even before Braxton Miller was lost for the season.

I just don’t think people fully grasp the challenge of playing Navy. There’s the funky flexbone offense that the Buckeyes won’t even come close to seeing the rest of the year. There’s the bend-but-don’t-break defense that lines up in a different style than OSU is used to seeing. And then there’s the fight that Ohio State will surely get out of a Navy squad that is filled with players who will one day be officers in the military.

That challenge has been hard for many schools to take on. Over the past 10 sea-sons, Navy has won 20 games against BCS foes, including wins against marquee names such as Stanford and Notre Dame. The Midshipmen beat Indiana last year on the road and came within four points of winning in South Bend. Navy also lost by less than five points at No. 6 Ohio State in 2009 and at No. 11 South Carolina in 2011.

On top of that, people say this is going to be the best iteration of Navy foot-ball that people have seen under Ken Niumatalolo, who is 49-30 in his tenure at the service academy.

Add in all the question marks and youth on the Ohio State roster and I honestly have no idea how this will go. I think it’s a close game throughout and the Buckeyes squeak it out.

Jeff SvobodaEditor

Final Score

Why does Ohio State continue to schedule the U.S. Naval Academy? I can-not think of a single benefit from having to spend valuable practice time devising a defensive game plan against an offense you will never see again.

And make no mistake: The Midshipmen are no pushover. QB Keenan Reynolds is the best Navy quarterback since Roger Staubach won the 1963 Heisman Trophy. Reynolds ran for 31 touchdowns last year – the most by any quarterback in Football Bowl Subdivision history – and he operates behind an offensive line that returns intact.

Reynolds and his triple-option attack are going to put pressure on Ohio State’s revamped defense, and conditioning will be a key as temperatures are expected to soar into the upper 80s Saturday afternoon in Baltimore.

It is a tall order to ask any college quarter-back to make his starting debut on the road, but if camp talk has any merit at all, J.T. Barrett has the demeanor that will prevent him from getting rattled. A somewhat shaky Navy defense should also help matters.

Navy has never beaten Ohio State in four previous tries, and I don’t expect the Mids to score the upset this time, either. But I don’t expect it to be easy. The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings by a combined total of seven points, and if the OSU players think they can win by just showing up, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening.

Mark ReaManaging EditorEmeritus

Final Score

27 343221

Aug. 29Sept. 5

Sept. 12Sept. 26Oct. 3

Oct. 17Oct. 24Oct. 31Nov. 7

Nov. 14Nov. 21Nov. 28Dec. 5Dec. 9Jan. 6Jan. 9

Jan. 16Jan. 20Jan. 23Jan. 30Feb. 3Feb. 6

Feb. 17Feb. 24

March 10March 24

April 7April 21May 5

May 19June 16July 14Aug. 4

Aug. 11*Plus two TBD.

2014-15 BSB Quickly Schedule

There’s just one player or coach from the 2009 close call vs. Navy still at Ohio State, and defensive coordina-tor Luke Fickell remembers well how the Midshipmen nearly stole the season opener that campaign in Ohio Stadium.

“You think you have a handle on some-thing and then there will be something different,” Fickell said of facing the Mids’ triple option. “As soon as you think you have it, that’s when you really have a problem.”

The good news is the Buckeye staff has plenty of experience lining up against service academy football. Offensive line coach Ed Warinner coached at Army from 1987-99, while head coach Urban Meyer coached against all three service academies while working as an assistant at Notre Dame.

Warinner said that he has used his knowledge of the option attack to give the team keys on how a team such as Navy likes to sequence its plays and plan an attack, and Fickell has plenty of memory of the game from five years ago in which the Buckeyes alternately dominated and were flummoxed by the Navy attack.

The good news is the team appears to have a good plan ready if the words of junior linebacker Joshua Perry are any indication.

“They run a lot of base plays,” Perry said. “You can narrow down their stuff to where 80 percent is about three or four plays, and then they run some other stuff. If you can stop them on that, that’s good. You have to make them turn the page. So you just have to be able to prepare for that. It’s the same thing with formations. They have tendencies within their formations.

“Once you can get past that, you can move on to the physical side. You’re going to get cut so you have to prepare for the cut blocks and those types of things. And the hardest thing to simulate in practice is the speed they run their offense, so you have to prepare for that, too.”

Last year, Navy ran for 325.8 yards per game, second in Division I.

Key Matchup: Ohio State vs.

Navy’s triple option

Big Ten Standings

Conf. All W L Pct. W L Pct.

0 0 .000 1 0 1.000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

West Division Conf. All W L Pct. W L Pct.

0 0 .000 1 0 1.000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

0 0 .000 0 0 .000

East Division

Penn State is ineligible for Big Ten championship

Thursday’s ResultsMinnesota 42, Eastern Illinois 20Rutgers 41, Washington State 38

Friday’s GameJacksonville State at Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

Saturday’s GamesPenn State vs. UCF, 8:30 a.m.* (ESPN2)Ohio State vs. Navy, Noon** (CBSSN)

Indiana State at Indiana, Noon (ESPN News)Northern Iowa at Iowa, Noon (BTN)

Appalachian State at Michigan, Noon (ESPN2)Western Michigan at Purdue, Noon (ESPNU)

Youngstown State at Illinois, 12:05 p.m. (BTN)James Madison at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)Florida Atlantic at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)

California at Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)Wisconsin vs. LSU, 9 p.m.# (ESPN)

* – at Dublin, Ireland; ** – at Baltimore; # – at Houston

6 BSB Quickly Aug. 29, 2014 Matchup/Standings

0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 1 .000

Luke Fickell

AP Top-25 ScheduleThursday’s Results

No. 21 Texas A&M 52, No. 9 South Carolina 28No. 18 Ole Miss, 35, Boise State 13

No. 19 Arizona State 45, Weber State 14Friday’s Games

Jacksonville State at No. 8 Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)Saturday’s Games

No. 5 Ohio State vs. Navy, Noon* (CBSSN)No. 7 UCLA at Virginia, Noon (ESPN)

West Virginia vs. No. 2 Alabama, 3:30 p.m.** (ABC/ESPN2)Rice at No. 17 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Florida Atlantic at No. 22 Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)South Dakota State at No. 24 Missouri, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Arkansas at No. 6 Auburn, 4 p.m. (SEC Network)UC Davis at No. 11 Stanford, 4 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)No. 16 Clemson at No. 12 Georgia, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Liberty at No. 23 North Carolina, 6 p.m. (ESPN3)Louisiana Tech at No. 4 Oklahoma, 7 p.m. (SoonerSports.TV)

Stephen F. Austin at No. 20 Kansas State, 7:10 p.m. (K-StateHD.TV)Fresno State at No. 15 USC, 7:30 p.m. (FOX)

No. 1 Florida State vs. Oklahoma State, 8 p.m.# (ABC/ESPN3)No. 14 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU, 9 p.m.^ (ESPN)

South Dakota at No. 3 Oregon, 10:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)No. 25 Washington at Hawaii, 10:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

* – at Baltimore; ** – at Atlanta; # – at Arlington, Texas; ^ – at HoustonSunday’s Game

SMU at No. 10 Baylor, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)

TV KeyBTN – Big Ten Network • CBSSN – CBS Sports Network • ESPN3 – ESPN3.com (Check listings, blackouts possible) • FS1 – Fox Sports 1

This Weekend In College FootballThe Associated Press Top 25

Rk Team 2013-14 Record Points1. Florida State (57) 14-0 1,4962. Alabama (1) 11-2 1,3613. Oregon (1) 11-2 1,3344. Oklahoma (1) 11-2 1,3245. Ohio State 12-2 1,2076. Auburn 12-2 1,1987. UCLA 10-3 1,1068. Michigan State 13-1 1,0809. South Carolina 11-2 1,01510. Baylor 11-2 96611. Stanford 11-3 88512. Georgia 8-5 84313. LSU 10-3 77614. Wisconsin 9-4 63715. USC 10-4 62616. Clemson 11-2 53617. Notre Dame 9-4 44518. Ole Miss 8-5 42419. Arizona State 10-4 35720. Kansas State 8-5 24221. Texas A&M 9-4 23822. Nebraska 9-4 22623. North Carolina 7-6 19424. Missouri 12-2 13425. Washington 9-4 130

(First-place votes in parentheses) Others receiving votes: UCF 94, Florida 87, Texas 86, Duke 71, Iowa 68, Louisville 48, Marshall 41, Oklahoma State 37, Virginia Tech 26, TCU 23, Mississippi State 22, Michigan 19, Texas Tech 19, Miami (Fla.) 16, Cin-cinnati 15, Boise State 10, Oregon State 10, Northwestern 8, BYU 8, Penn State 5, Vanderbilt 2, Navy 2, Nevada 1, La.-Lafayette 1, Utah State 1.

USA Today/Coaches Top 25

Rk Team 2013-14 Record Points1. Florida State (56) 14-0 1,5432. Alabama 11-2 1,4553. Oklahoma (3) 11-2 1,3824. Oregon (1) 11-2 1,3145. Auburn 12-2 1,2716. Ohio State (1) 12-2 1,2677. UCLA 10-3 1,0858. Michigan State 13-1 1,0509. South Carolina (1) 11-2 1,00910. Baylor 11-2 96511. Stanford 11-3 95512. Georgia 8-5 90513. LSU 10-3 83314. Wisconsin 0-0 65415. USC 9-4 62716. Clemson 11-2 53517. Notre Dame 9-4 50918. Arizona State 10-4 35819. Ole Miss 8-5 34620. Texas A&M 9-4 26621. Kansas State 8-5 25722. Nebraska 9-4 22823. North Carolina 7-6 17524. Texas 8-5 14325. Washington 9-4 142

(First-place votes in parentheses) Others receiving votes: Missouri 126, Florida 122, UCF 102, Missis-sippi State 74, Oklahoma State 56, TCU 54, Michigan 53, Iowa 49, Mi-ami (Fla.) 45, Duke 41, Louisville 32, Marshall 27, BYU 18, Boise State 13, Virginia Tech 12, La.-Lafayette 12, Texas Tech 8, Cincinnati 6, Minnesota 6, Northwestern 5, Fresno State 4, Oregon State 4, Houston 2, Georgia Tech 2, Arkansas 1, Arizona 1, Northern Illinois 1.

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Eli. Hometown/Previous School1 Brendon Clements CB 5-11 188 So. Miami, Fla./Coral Reef2 Parrish Gaines S 6-2 200 Sr. Smyrna, Tenn./Smyrna2 Tim Tupa WR 6-0 190 Fr. Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights3 Lonnie Richardson S 5-11 188 Sr. Chester, Pa./Wallingford Strath Haven4 Jamir Tillman WR 6-4 206 So. Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman4 Isaac Wright CB 5-10 168 Fr. Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook5 Quincy Adams CB 5-11 195 Jr. San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis5 Travis Marshall QB 6-3 200 Fr. Alpharetta, Ga./Chattahoochee6 Kyle Battle CB 6-1 190 So. Temple, Texas/Belton6 Nick Sloan K 6-0 190 Jr. San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch7 Shelley White CB 5-10 190 Jr. Annapolis, Md./Severn Archbishop Spalding8 Colin Osborne SB 5-10 206 Jr. Sykesville, Md./Glenelg8 Alex Duncan CB 5-10 185 Fr. Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill9 Myer Krah CB 5-11 198 Jr. Durham, N.C./Hillside9 Kenneth Mouton QB 6-2 219 So. Naples, Fla./Golden Gate10 John Hendrick QB 6-1 198 Sr. Tampa, Fla./Sickles10 James Munson S 5-8 160 Fr. New York, N.Y./Staten Island Tottenville11 Pablo Beltran P 6-2 225 Sr. Humble, Texas/Atascocita11 Abdul Majeed CB 5-9 185 Fr. Moorestown, N.J./Princeton Hun13 Jordan Drake LB 6-4 220 Sr. Douglasville, Ga./Chapel Hill13 Tyris Wooten WR 6-1 180 Fr. Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage14 Troy Thompson QB 5-11 190 So. Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove14 Jerry Thompson CB 6-0 180 Fr. Memphis, Tenn./White Station15 Lorentez Barbour S 6-1 194 Jr. Louisville, Ky./Male15 Will Worth QB 6-1 210 So. Valrico, Fla./Lithia Newsome16 Gavin Jernigan P 6-3 203 Jr. Lawndale, Calif./Manhattan Beach Mira Costa16 Justin Norton S 6-2 185 Fr. Rowlett, Texas/Dallas Skyline17 Kwazel Bertrand CB 6-0 186 Jr. Antioch, Tenn./Brentwood Academy18 Dexter Bell S 6-3 193 Fr. Imperial, Calif./Imperial18 Tago Smith QB 5-10 201 So. Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County19 Keenan Reynolds QB 5-11 195 Jr. Antioch, Tenn./Madison Goodpasture Christian19 George Schultz CB 5-10 170 Fr. Homestead, Fla./Miami Coral Reef20 Kendrick Mouton SB 6-0 195 So. Naples, Fla./Neumann21 DeBrandon Sanders SB 5-7 160 Jr. Itta Bena, Miss./Lefl ore County22 Toneo Gulley SB 5-8 196 So. Kenosha, Wis./Tremper22 Mike Kelly OLB 6-1 220 So. West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West23 Myles Swain FB 5-11 215 So. Macon, Ga./Mount de Sales Academy24 Randy Beggs S 6-0 185 Fr. Temecula, Calif./Murrieta Vista Murrieta24 Ryan Williams-Jenkins SB 5-8 162 Sr. Helena, Ala./Pelham25 Demond Brown SB 5-9 201 Jr. Glen Burnie, Md./Millersville Old Mill25 Cameron Bryant CB 5-10 186 So. San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa26 Chris High SB 6-0 185 Fr. Oklahoma City, Okla./Douglass26 Daiquan Thomasson S 6-0 205 So. Clayton, N.C./Clayton28 Zach Hester LB 6-2 217 Jr. Lancaster, Ky./Danville Boyle County28 Dishan Romine SB 5-11 185 So. Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual29 Elijah Merchant CB 5-10 180 Fr. Humble, Texas/Atascocita29 Geoffrey Whiteside SB 5-10 177 Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley31 Micah Thomas LB 6-1 235 Fr. Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge31 Shawn White FB 6-1 255 So. Palm Coast, Fla./Matanzas32 Devin Harris CB 5-10 170 Fr. Arlington, Texas/Arlington32 Quentin Ezell FB 6-1 240 Jr. Walkersville, Md./Walkersville33 John Brown III SB 5-9 180 Fr. Durham, N.C./Jordan33 Maika Polamalu LB 6-3 215 Sr. Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove34 Noah Copeland FB 5-10 214 Sr. San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis34 Tony Mack LB 6-1 220 Fr. Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark35 Jahmaal Daniel SB 5-6 160 Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./Sanford35 Nick Martinez OLB 6-2 222 Jr. Elm Mott, Texas/Waco Reicher Catholic36 Quinton Singleton FB 6-0 209 Sr. Davis Station, S.C./Summerton Scott’s Branch36 Jalen Wade LB 6-1 217 So. Spring Hill, Tenn./Thompson’s Station Independence37 Joe Nauert LB 6-2 221 Fr. Paradise Valley, Ariz./Scottsdale Chaparral37 Chris Swain FB 6-1 245 Jr. Macon, Ga./Mount de Sales Academy38 William Tuider OLB 6-2 213 So. Lawrenceville, Ga./Mountain View39 Alex Barta P 6-3 205 So. Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston39 Shakir Robinson S 5-10 197 Sr. Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick40 Kevin McCoy OLB 6-4 205 Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./Byrd42 Darryl Bonner SB 5-7 165 Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./Sanford42 George Jamison S 6-0 197 Sr. Cordova, Tenn./Evangelical Christian43 Austin Grebe K 6-0 192 Jr. Stafford, Va./North Stafford43 Brandon Jones S 6-4 205 Fr. Keller, Texas/Keller44 Josh Brown SB 5-9 180 Fr. Lilburn, Ga./Snellville Brookwood44 Obi Uzoma OLB 6-3 231 Sr. Wake Forest, N.C./Knightdale45 Paul Quessenberry DE 6-2 251 Sr. Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon45 Joshua Walker SB 5-11 190 Fr. Decatur, Ala./Austin46 Chris Johnson OLB 6-1 207 Sr. Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral46 Conrey Meagher WR 5-10 191 Fr. Oxford, Miss./Oxford47 A.K. Akpunku DE 6-3 242 Jr. Arlington, Texas/Cedar Hill47 Justin Artis FB 6-1 195 Fr. Wallisville, Texas/Anahuac48 Josiah Powell OLB 6-3 200 So. Providence, Ky./Madisonville North Hopkins48 Nick Theos SB 5-7 180 Fr. Mount Pleasant, S.C./Charleston Bishop England49 Anthony Lewis LB 6-0 216 Sr. Ogden, Utah/Salt Lake City Cottonwood50 Robert Lindsey OT 6-4 260 Fr. Palm Bay, Fla./Bayside

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Eli. Hometown/Previous School50 Don Pearson LB 6-3 214 Jr. Las Vegas, Nev./Faith Lutheran51 James Britton LB 6-2 223 Sr. Rogers, Ark./Heritage52 Billy Kimball OT 6-3 223 Fr. Memphis, Tenn./White Station52 Amos Mason DE 6-1 250 So. Nashville, Tenn./Brentwood Academy53 Evan Akins OT 6-6 285 Fr. Jenison, Mich./Hudsonville53 Kikau Pescaia OLB 5-11 216 Jr. Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha54 John Ferguson OT 6-4 242 So. Argyle, Texas/Denton Guyer54 Tyler Goble LB 6-2 222 Jr. Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth55 Ted Colburn OLB 6-3 229 So. Northport, Ala./Tuscaloosa County55 Jordan Pittman OT 6-2 215 Fr. Bowie, Md./Hyattsville DeMatha56 Joe Worth LB 6-2 210 Sr. Valrico, Fla./Lithia Newsome57 E.K. Binns OG 6-3 282 Jr. Cape Coral, Fla./Island Coast58 Daniel Gonzales LB 6-2 229 So. Vail, Ariz./Cienega58 Parker Wade C 6-2 265 Fr. Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth59 Ryan Harris LB 5-11 220 So. Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo59 Ronnie Querry LS 6-1 215 Fr. Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler Basha60 Shane Artim DE 6-3 235 Fr. Woodside, Calif./Mountain View St. Francis60 Ben Tamburello OG 6-2 275 Jr. Hoover, Ala./Spain Park61 Brandon Greene OT 6-3 257 Jr. Highland, Calif./Redlands Valley East62 Dylan Fischer NG 6-2 290 Fr. Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista62 Bradyn Heap OT 6-3 281 Sr. South Jordan, Utah/Bingham63 Zach Peck DE 6-3 220 Fr. Windsor, Colo./Windsor63 Blaze Ryder C 5-11 265 Jr. Kaneohe, Hawaii/Honolulu Kamehameha64 Jake Zuzek OG 6-2 290 Sr. Brookhaven, Pa./Philadelphia West Philadelphia65 Joey Gaston OT 6-5 281 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn./Catholic65 Tyler Sayles DE 6-2 240 Fr. Coral Springs, Fla./Deerfi eld Beach66 Jeremiah Robbins OG 6-2 290 So. Arlington, Texas/Arlington66 Sean Spencer DE 6-3 250 Fr. Sharpsburg, Ga./Newnan Northgate67 Nathaniel Otto OG 6-3 267 Sr. Houston, Texas/Clear Lake68 Alex Brown OT 6-3 243 So. West Columbia, S.C./Lexington White Knoll68 Patrick Forrestal NG 6-4 305 So. Albany, Ga./Deerfi eld-Windsor69 Patrick Hoffman OT 6-4 265 So. Audubon, Pa./Wyndmoor La Salle70 Austin Hague NG 6-4 248 Fr. Richmond, Va./Benedictine70 Maurice Morris C 6-2 315 So. La Porte, Texas/La Porte71 Evan Martin OG 6-3 280 Fr. Lee’s Summit, Mo./West72 Adam West OG 6-3 286 So. Spring, Texas/Klein73 Andrew Martin C 6-4 277 So. Decatur, Ala./Decatur74 Rob Dusz NG 6-0 268 So. Scottsdale, Ariz/Saguaro74 Seth White OG 6-3 265 Fr. Smithfi eld, Utah/Sky View75 Tanner Fleming C 6-3 267 Sr. Deltona, Fla./Deltona76 Blake Benjamin OT 6-3 271 Jr. Pomona, Calif./Diamond Ranch77 Trenton Noller OG 6-4 310 Fr. Windsor, Colo./Windsor77 Bernard Sarra NG 6-1 303 Jr. Monessen, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic78 Kyle Cregge OG 6-3 277 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga./Milton79 Blake Copeland OT 6-4 258 So. Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals80 Calvin Cass Jr. SB 5-10 200 So. Sicklerville, N.J./Richland St. Augustine Prep80 Mason Hicks LB 6-1 212 Fr. Lexington, N.C./North Davidson81 Eli Dawson OLB 6-5 235 Fr. Columbus, Ohio/Berlin Center Western Reserve81 Brendan Dudeck WR 6-0 202 Sr. Hamilton Square, N.J./Princeton Hun 82 Winn Howard LB 6-2 210 Fr. Monument, Colo./Palmer Ridge82 Craig Scott WR 6-2 175 Fr. Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill South83 Myles Davenport LB 6-2 225 Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./Sanford83 Marc Meier WR 5-11 188 Jr. Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge84 Chad Lewellyn WR 6-4 180 Fr. Louisville, Ky./Carrollton Christian Academy84 Trey Olsen OLB 6-4 235 Fr. Roseville, Calif./Oakmont86 Dylan Roney OLB 6-2 235 Fr. Plymouth, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central86 Julian Turner WR 6-2 190 So. Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Pepper Pike Orange87 Brandon Colon WR 6-4 205 Fr. Brownsville, Texas/Los Fresnos88 Tyler Carmona WR 6-4 205 Fr. Davie, Fla./Plantation88 Terrence Laster OLB 6-1 210 Fr. Cary, N.C./Panther Creek89 D.J. Palmore OLB 6-3 235 Fr. Bartlett, Tenn./Memphis Christian Brothers89 Thomas Wilson WR 6-1 196 Jr. Brandenburg, Ky./Meade County90 Will Anthony DE 6-1 246 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla./Deltona Trinity Christian Academy91 Aaron Davis DE 6-0 257 Sr. Pearland, Texas/Dawson92 David Gordeuk DE 6-4 247 Jr. Port Matilda, Pa./State College 93 Joe Cardona LS 6-3 236 Sr. El Cajon, Calif./Granite Hills93 Reggie Miles DE 6-5 240 Fr. Woodbridge, Va./Hylton94 Josh Antol LS 6-1 220 So. Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo95 Patrick Cassley K 6-1 200 Fr. Chatsworth, Calif./Encino Crespi95 Chris Nurthen NG 6-3 270 Sr. Phoenixville, Pa./Malvern Great Valley96 Luke Holley P 6-0 170 Fr. Tucson, Ariz./Vail Cienega96 Michael Raiford DE 6-6 280 Fr. Stockbridge, Ga./Conyers Heritage97 Nnamdi Uzoma DE 6-3 230 So. Wake Forest, N.C./Knightdale98 A.J. Barnaby NG 6-1 283 Sr. Deltona, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy99 DJ Grant-Johnson K 6-3 216 So. Hilo, Hawaii/Kea’au Kamehameha Hawaii99 Sean Reaver DE 6-4 255 Jr. Thurmont, Md./Catoctin

2014 Navy Football Roster

2014 Schedule: Aug. 30 vs. Ohio State (at Baltimore) Noon; Sept. 6 at Temple 1 p.m.; Sept. 13 at Texas State 8 p.m.; Sept. 20 RUTGERS 3:30 p.m.; Sept. 27 WESTERN KENTUCKY 3:30 p.m.; Oct. 4 at Air Force 3:30 p.m.; Oct. 11 VMI 3:30 p.m.; Oct. 25 SAN JOSE STATE 1 p.m.; Nov. 1 vs. Notre Dame (at Baltimore) 8 p.m.; Nov. 15 GEORGIA SOUTHERN 3:30 p.m.; Nov. 28 at South Alabama TBA; Dec. 13 vs. Army (at Landover, Md.) 3 p.m.Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo, 49-30, seventh year (all at Navy).

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Eli. Hometown/Previous School1 Johnnie Dixon WR 5-11 198 Fr. West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer1 Erick Smith S 6-0 185 Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville2 Marshon Lattimore CB 6-0 187 Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville2 Dontre Wilson H 5-10 185 So. DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto3 Khaleed Franklin S 6-1 206 So. Columbus, Ohio/Beechcroft3 Michael Thomas WR 6-3 203 So. Los Angeles, Calif./Fork Union (Va.) Mil. Academy4 Curtis Samuel RB 5-11 190 Fr. Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall5 Raekwon McMillan LB 6-2 240 Fr. Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County5 Braxton Miller QB 6-2 217 Sr. Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne6 Evan Spencer WR 6-2 208 Sr. Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills7 Rod Smith RB 6-3 231 5th Sr. Fort Wayne, Ind./Paul Harding7 Damon Webb CB 5-10 181 Fr. Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech8 Noah Spence DL 6-3 252 Jr. Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt9 Tim Scott K 5-11 185 Sr. Norton, Ohio/Norton 9 Devin Smith WR 6-1 198 Sr. Massillon, Ohio/Washington10 Jalyn Holmes DL 6-4 249 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor11 Vonn Bell S 5-11 200 So. Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland12 Doran Grant CB 5-11 193 Sr. Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary12 Cardale Jones QB 6-5 250 So. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville13 Eli Apple CB 6-1 195 R-Fr. Voorhees, N.J./Eastern13 Stephen Collier QB 6-3 215 Fr. Leesburg, Ga./Lee County14 Curtis Grant LB 6-3 240 Sr. Richmond, Va./Hermitage14 Jake Russell P 6-1 198 Jr. Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg15 Ezekiel Elliott RB 6-0 225 So. St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs15 Luke Morgan QB 6-2 225 So. Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon16 J.T. Barrett QB 6-1 225 R-Fr. Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider16 Cam Burrows S 6-0 208 So. Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison17 Rashad Frazier DL 6-4 272 5th Sr. Middletown, Ohio/Middletown17 Jalin Marshall H 5-11 205 R-Fr. Middletown, Ohio/Middletown18 Kato Mitchell WR 5-11 190 Jr. Cleveland, Ohio/John Hay18 Nik Sarac CB 5-9 183 Sr. Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius 19 Gareon Conley CB 6-0 190 R-Fr. Massillon, Ohio/Washington19 Joe Ramstetter WR 6-3 210 So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder20 Devlin McDaniel WR 5-11 200 So. Marion, Ohio/Pleasant20 Ron Tanner S 6-0 205 Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy21 Parris Campbell WR 6-0 188 Fr. Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary23 Tyvis Powell S 6-3 205 So. Bedford, Ohio/Bedford23 Isaiah Williams WR 6-3 192 Fr. Dayton, Ohio/Clayton Northmont 24 Guy Ferrelli TE 6-0 252 Fr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready24 Malik Hooker S 6-1 184 Fr. New Castle, Pa./New Castle 25 Bri’onte Dunn RB 6-0 216 So. Canton, Ohio/GlenOak25 Kevin Niehoff S 6-3 205 Jr. Mason, Ohio/Mason26 Devonte Butler RB 5-7 170 So. Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy26 Armani Reeves CB 5-10 198 Jr. West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial28 Warren Ball RB 6-1 224 So. Columbus, Ohio/DeSales28 Michael Cibene S 6-0 186 So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest29 Caleb Laps RB 6-1 210 So. Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry29 Mike Maduko S 5-9 190 Fr. Naperville, Ill./Lombard Montini Catholic30 Devan Bogard LB 6-0 210 Jr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville32 Russell Doup LS 6-2 198 5th Sr. Mt. Vernon, Ohio/Mt. Vernon33 Dante Booker LB 6-2 220 Fr. Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary35 Jeffi e Johnson RB 5-7 197 Jr. Hilliard, Ohio/Bradley35 Chris Worley LB 6-2 218 R-Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville36 Trey Johnson LB 6-1 225 So. Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett37 Joshua Perry LB 6-4 250 Jr. Galena, Ohio/Lewis Center Olentangy38 Craig Fada LB 6-0 233 Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson39 Kyle Clinton K 6-1 218 5th Sr. Dublin, Ohio/Ohio University41 Bryce Haynes LS 6-4 220 Jr. Cumming, Ga./Pinecrest Academy42 Aaron Mawhirter LS 6-2 230 So. Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins42 Darius Slade DL 6-4 237 Fr. Montclair, N.J./Montclair43 Darron Lee LB 6-2 225 R-Fr. New Albany, Ohio/New Albany44 Kyle Berger LB 6-1 229 Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius44 Chris Rock TE 6-3 275 Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Michigan46 Devin Hill TE 5-10 235 Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Purdue46 Nick Snyder LB 6-1 215 Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South48 Joe Burger LB 6-2 230 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle49 Sam Hubbard LB 6-5 236 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller50 Jacoby Boren C 6-1 285 Jr . Pickerington, Ohio/Central51 Joel Hale OL 6-4 310 Sr. Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove52 Donovan Munger DL 6-4 306 R-Fr. Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights53 Kosta Karageorge DL 6-3 263 Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington54 Billy Price C/OG 6-4 305 R-Fr. Austintown, Ohio/Fitch55 Cam Williams LB 6-1 228 Jr. West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial56 Chad Lindsay OL 6-2 302 5th Sr. The Woodlands, Texas/Alabama

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Eli. Hometown/Previous School 57 Chase Farris OL 6-4 300 Jr. Elyria, Ohio/Elyria59 Tyquan Lewis DL 6-3 260 R-Fr. Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro61 Logan Gaskey OL 6-4 292 So. Long Grove, Ill./Lincolnshire Stevenson62 R.J. Morris OL 6-2 317 Fr. Naperville, Ill./Naperville63 Michael Bennett DL 6-2 288 Sr. Centerville, Ohio/Centerville64 Marcelys Jones OL 6-4 345 Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville65 Pat Elfl ein OL 6-3 300 So. Pickerington, Ohio/North66 Kyle Dodson OL 6-6 310 So. Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Heights68 Taylor Decker OL 6-7 315 Jr. Vandalia, Ohio/Butler 69 Micheil Pruni OL 6-2 315 Fr. Dover, Ohio/New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Cath.

71 Kyle Trout OL 6-6 302 Fr. Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster72 Chris Carter DL 6-4 342 Sr. Cleveland, Ohio/Kennedy73 Antonio Underwood OL 6-2 303 Sr. Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights74 Jamarco Jones OL 6-4 306 Fr. Chicago, Ill./De La Salle75 Evan Lisle OL 6-6 300 R-Fr. Centerville, Ohio/Centerville76 Darryl Baldwin OL 6-6 307 5th Sr. Solon, Ohio/Solon77 Michael Hill DL 6-2 315 R-Fr. Pendleton, S.C./Pendleton78 Demetrius Knox OL 6-3 302 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints Episcopal79 Brady Taylor OL 6-5 293 Fr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready80 Noah Brown WR 6-1 244 Fr. Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII81 Nick Vannett TE 6-6 260 Sr. Westerville, Ohio/Central82 James Clark WR 5-10 182 R-Fr. New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach83 Terry McLaurin WR 6-0 184 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral84 Corey Smith WR 6-0 190 Sr. Akron, Ohio/East Mississippi C.C.85 Marcus Baugh TE 6-4 248 R-Fr. Riverside, Calif./North86 Jeff Heuerman TE 6-5 255 Sr. Naples, Fla./Barron Collier87 Peter Gwilym WR 6-0 195 Sr. Freeport, Maine/Cheverus88 Steve Miller DL 6-3 255 Sr. Canton, Ohio/McKinley89 Jeff Greene WR 6-5 220 Sr. Peachtree City, Ga./Georgia Tech90 Tommy Schutt DL 6-2 300 Jr. Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West91 Aaron Parry DL 6-5 255 So. Zanesville, Ohio/Bishop Rosecrans92 Adolphus Washington DL 6-4 288 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Taft93 Tracy Sprinkle DL 6-3 283 R-Fr. Elyria, Ohio/Elyria94 Dylan Thompson DL 6-4 275 Fr. Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic 95 Cameron Johnston P 6-0 195 So. Geelong, Australia/Newtown St. Joseph’s96 Sean Nuernberger K 6-1 237 Fr. Buckner, Ky./Oldham County97 Joey Bosa DL 6-5 285 So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas98 John Holman DL 6-3 280 Sr. Riverdale, Ga./Mississippi Delta C.C.

2014 Ohio State Football Roster

2014 Regular-Season ScheduleDate Opponent Time/Result (ET)Aug. 30 vs. Navy (at Baltimore) NoonSept. 6 VIRGINIA TECH 8 p.m.Sept. 13 KENT STATE NoonSept. 27 CINCINNATI 6 p.m.Oct. 4 at Maryland TBAOct. 18 RUTGERS 3:30 p.m.Oct. 25 at Penn State 8 p.m.Nov. 1 ILLINOIS 8 p.m.Nov. 8 at Michigan State 8 p.m.Nov. 15 at Minnesota TBANov. 22 INDIANA TBANov. 29 MICHIGAN TBADec. 6 Big Ten Title Game (Indianapolis) 8:17 p.m.

Head Coach Head Coach Urban MeyerUrban Meyer

128-25128-25, 13th season (third at Ohio State, 24-2), 13th season (third at Ohio State, 24-2)

614-488-9957888-842-5877www.ticketsohio.com1350 W. Fifth Ave., Ste. 24

CLT

19 GAREON CONLEY, 6-0, 190, R-FR. OR 13 ELI APPLE, 6-1, 198, FR.

CB

12 DORAN GRANT, 5-11, 193, SR. 26 Armani Reeves, 5-10, 198, Jr.

CB

75 TANNER FLEMING, 6-3, 267, SR.OR 63 BLAZE RYDER, 5-11, 265, JR.

70 Maurice Morris, 6-2, 315, So.

64 JAKE ZUZEK, 6-2, 290, SR.67 Nathaniel Otto, 6-3, 267, Sr.

71 Evan Martin 6-3, 280, Fr.

62 BRADYN HEAP, 6-3, 281, SR.61 Brandon Greene, 6-3, 257, Jr.76 Blake Benjamin, 6-3, 271, Jr.

57 E.K. BINNS, 6-3, 282, JR.60 Ben Tamburello, 6-2, 275, Jr.

72 Adam West, 6-3, 286, So.

65 JOEY GASTON, 6-5, 281, JR.79 Blake Copeland, 6-4, 258, So.76 Blake Benjamin, 6-3, 271, Jr.

81 BRENDAN DUDECK, 6-0, 202, SR.83 Marc Meier, 5-11, 188, Jr.

OR 87 Brandon Colon, 6-4, 205, Fr.

4 JAMIR TILLMAN, 6-4, 206, SO.89 Thomas Wilson, 6-1, 196, Jr.86 Julian Turner, 6-2, 190, So.

Z

88 STEVE MILLER, 6-3, 255, SR. 17 Rashad Frazier, 6-4, 272, 5th Sr.

97 JOEY BOSA, 6-5, 278, SO. 59 Tyquan Lewis, 6-3, 260, R-Fr.

92 ADOLPHUS WASHINGTON, 6-4, 295, JR. 52 Donovan Munger, 6-4, 300, R-Fr.

63 MICHAEL BENNETT, 6-2, 288, SR. OR 90 TOMMY SCHUTT, 6-2, 295, JR.

77 Michael Hill, 6-2, 305, Fr.

DEDTDTDE

XRT

K

P

LG RG

6 NICK SLOAN, 6-0, 190, JR.43 Austin Grebe, 6-0, 192, Jr.

11 PABLO BELTRAN, 6-2, 225, SR.16 Gavin Jernigan, 6-3, 203, Jr.

26 ARMANI REEVES, 5-10, 198, JR.

NICKEL

43 DARRON LEE, 6-2, 228, FR. 35 Chris Worley, 6-2, 222, R-Fr.

38 Craig Fada, 6-0, 233, Jr.

14 CURTIS GRANT, 6-3, 238, SR. 5 Raekwon McMillan, 6-2, 240, Fr.

55 Cam Williams, 6-1, 228, Jr.

37 JOSHUA PERRY, 6-4, 252, JR. 33 Dante Booker, 6-2, 233, Fr.

WLB MLB SLB

SAF SAF

Depth Chart: When Navy Has The Ball

Punt Returners: 21 DeBrandon Sanders, 2 Parrish GainesKickoff Returners: 25 Demond Brown, 28 Dishan Romine

Long Snappers: 93 Joe Cardona, 94 Josh AntolHolders: 11 Pablo Beltran, 43 Austin Grebe

23 TYVIS POWELL, 6-3, 208, SO. 20 Ron Tanner, 6-0, 205, Jr. 1 Erick Smith, 6-0, 198, Fr.

16 CAM BURROWS, 6-0, 210, SO. OR 11 VONN BELL, 5-11, 200, SO.

QB

19 KEENAN REYNOLDS, 5-11, 195, JR.18 Tago Smith, 5-10, 201, So.15 Will Worth, 6-1, 210, So.

SB

29 GEOFFREY WHITESIDE, 5-10, 177, SR.24 Ryan Williams-Jenkins, 5-8, 162, Sr.

22 Toneo Gulley, 5-8, 196, So.

SB

21 DEBRANDON SANDERS, 5-7, 160, JR.25 Demond Brown, 5-9, 201, Jr.

28 Dishan Romine, 5-11, 185, So.

FB

34 NOAH COPELAND, 5-10, 214, SR.37 Chris Swain, 6-1, 245, Jr.

36 Quinton Singleton, 6-0, 209, Sr.

CLT

50 JACOBY BOREN, 6-1, 285, JR. OR 56 CHAD LINDSAY, 6-2, 302, 5TH SR.

65 PAT ELFLEIN, 6-3, 300, SO. 75 Evan Lisle, 6-6, 300, R-Fr.

68 TAYLOR DECKER, 6-7, 315, JR. 73 Antonio Underwood, 6-2, 303, Jr.

54 BILLY PRICE, 6-4, 312, R-FR. OR 51 JOEL HALE, 6-4, 310, SR.

76 DARRYL BALDWIN, 6-6, 307, 5TH SR. 57 Chase Farris, 6-4, 300, Jr.

86 JEFF HEUERMAN, 6-5, 255, SR. 81 Nick Vannett, 6-6, 260, Jr.

TERT

HQB

K

RB

15 EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, 6-0, 225, SO. OR 7 ROD SMITH, 6-3, 231, 5TH SR.

OR 4 CURTIS SAMUEL, 5-11, 196, FR.

P

RGLG

6 EVAN SPENCER, 6-2, 208, SR. 84 Corey Smith, 6-0, 190, Jr. 1 Johnnie Dixon, 5-11, 198, Fr.

WR

2 DONTRE WILSON, 5-10, 188, SO.OR 17 JALIN MARSHALL, 5-11, 205, R-FR.

80 Noah Brown, 6-1, 240, Fr.

16 J.T. BARRETT, 6-1, 225, R-FR. 12 Cardale Jones, 6-5, 250, So.

96 SEAN NUERNBERGER, 6-1, 230, FR. 39 Kyle Clinton, 6-1, 218, 5th Sr.

95 CAMERON JOHNSTON, 6-0, 195, SO. 96 Sean Nuernberger, 6-1, 230, Fr.

Punt Returners: 2 Dontre Wilson, 17 Jalin MarshallKick Returners: 2 Dontre Wilson, 17 Jalin Marshall

Long Snappers: 41 Bryce HaynesHolder: 95 Cameron Johnston, 15 Luke Morgan

Depth Chart: When Ohio State Has The Ball

5 QUINCY ADAMS, 5-11, 195, JR.25 Cameron Bryant, 5-10, 186, So.29 Elijah Merchant, 5-10, 180, Fr.

RCB

1 BRENDON CLEMENTS, 5-11, 188, SO.9 Myer Krah, 5-10, 198, Jr.

7 Shelley White, 5-10, 190, Jr.OR 6 Kyle Battle, 6-1, 190, So.

LCB

45 PAUL QUESSENBERRY, 6-2, 251, SR.47 A.K. Akpunku, 6-3, 242, Jr.52 Amos Mason, 6-1, 250, So.

77 BERNARD SARRA, 6-1, 303, JR.68 Patrick Forrestal, 6-4, 305, So.

74 Rob Dusz, 6-0, 268, So.

90 WILL ANTHONY, 6-1, 246, JR.91 Aaron Davis, 6-0, 257, Sr.

97 Nnamdi Uzoma, 6-3, 231, So.

RE NG LE

2 PARRISH GAINES, 6-2, 200, SR.15 Lorentez Barbour, 6-1, 194, Jr.3 Lonnie Richardson, 5-11, 188, Sr.

17 KWAZEL BERTRAND, 6-0, 186, JR.OR 42 GEORGE JAMISON, 6-0, 197, SR.

3 Lonnie Richardson, 5-11, 188, Sr.OR 26 Daiquan Thomasson, 6-0, 205, So.

FS ROV46 CHRIS JOHNSON, 6-1, 207, SR.48 Josiah Powell, 6-3, 215, So.40 Kevin McCoy, 6-4, 205, Fr.

13 JORDAN DRAKE, 6-4, 220, SR.33 Maika Polamalu, 6-3, 215, Sr.

59 Ryan Harris, 5-11, 220, So.

51 JAMES BRITTON, 6-2, 223, SR.OR 58 DANIEL GONZALES, 6-2, 229, SO.

54 Tyler Goble, 6-2, 222, Jr.

STRSAMMIKE

38 WILLIAM TUIDER, 6-2, 231, SO.OR 44 OBI UZOMA, 6-3, 231, SR.

89 D.J. Palmore, 6-3, 235, Fr.

RAID

WR

9 DEVIN SMITH, 6-1, 199, SR. 3 Michael Thomas, 6-3, 203, So.

89 Jeff Greene, 6-5, 220, Jr.

Navy Earns Respect Off, OnNavy Earns Respect Off, On Field With Near Upset Of OSUField With Near Upset Of OSU

CM

YK

September 12, 2009

$2.00PERIODICAL NEWSPAPER

CLASSIFICATIONDATED MATERIALPLEASE RUSH!!

“For The Buckeye Fan Who Needs To Know More”“For The Buckeye Fan Who Needs To Know More”Vol. 29, No. 1Vol. 29, No. 1

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As Ohio State prepared to kick off its 120th season of football, the Buckeyes spoke at length about how much they respected their first opponent of the year. They respected the way Navy’s athletes played the game, the way they sacrifice for their country, even the way they ran an offense few had seen since the earliest days of their football careers.

Then the game began, and No. 6 Ohio State respected the visiting Midshipmen all the way to a nail-biting, 31-27 victory.

Getting there required withstanding a 13-point Navy charge in the final quarter that was only stemmed by a two-point conversion attempt that backfired and was returned for two points for the Buckeyes, setting the final score. When OSU’s Brian Rolle crossed the goal line with 2:23 remaining, the Buckeyes were one onside kick recovery away from a victory.

Navy’s attempt bounced out of bounds, ending the upset attempt put forth by the first service academy to play in Ohio Stadium since 1931.

“It wasn’t a dazzling fourth quarter for us by any means, but that does not take away from the play of Navy,” OSU head coach Jim Tressel said. “They’re great kids that play hard and have great class.

“I told our guys, ‘You’ll remember this day for the rest of your life. It will remind you how proud you are to be an American, to compete against folks like that and know that our country is in their hands in the future.’ ”

His sentiment summed up a day that at times seemed as much about honoring the visitors as it did about getting the 2009 sea-son started with a win for the Buckeyes.

Those who were part of the crowd of 105,092, a record for a season opener, got their money’s worth from start to finish. In addition to the usual pageantry that goes with a home opener at OSU, the afternoon featured plenty of opportunities to honor Navy. On what was dubbed “Armed Forces Appreciation Day” by the university, the game even featured programs that showed naval personnel alongside an American flag and an upheld Buckeye football helmet.

Inside the program was a list of members of the armed forces who are relatives of indi-

viduals within the OSU football program or

the department of athletics. It also featured a

short story about Tressel’s visit to the troops

overseas during the summer as part of the

2009 Coaches Tour.

“In a couple of team meetings he showed

us some videos and clips and talked about it

and how great it was,” senior captain Austin

Spitler said. “It really shows that there are

so many more important things in this world

than the game of football.”

A packed crowd filled St. John Arena for

the first Skull Session of the year, and they

were treated to a larger than normal show

down on the floor. In addition to the pres-

ence of the OSU alumni band to augment the

ranks of the current marching band, a third

participant joined.

On a section of the risers on the east

side of the arena’s floor were Navy’s drum

and bugle corps, their crisply pressed white

uniforms gleaming in the artificial light and

painting a stark contrast to the overwhelming

scarlet presence that dominated the crowd.

Tressel made a point to thank them

for their appearance, saying, “It’s great to

be a Buckeye and it’s humbling to be an

American.” The standing room-only crowd,

already on its feet, roared its approval.

Outside the stadium, fans of the

Midshipmen mingled with the OSU faith-

ful without any of the frostiness that comes

with playing a Big Ten rival. One elderly

usher, clad in his scarlet polo shirt and a blue

World War II veteran hat, posed for a photo

with six Midshipmen in full uniform. They

paused for a second as the usher called for

his wife to join the picture, and the experi-

ence was capped off by handshakes and pats

on the back exchanged from one generation

to another.

As they entered the stadium, the first

75,000 fans received miniature American

flags. They were also treated to various

scoreboard videos promoting the service of

America’s armed forces, including some that

detailed Tressel’s trip overseas.

The fans applauded when the Midshipmen

eventually took the field, making good on a

plea issued by a video on Youtube urging

fans to do so that had received more than

300,000 views by Sept. 5.

Continued On Page 8

By ADAM JARDYBuckeye Sports Bulletin Staff Writer

JOSH WINSLOWROLLE REVERSAL – Ohio State junior Brian Rolle (36) sprints down the sideline with Navy fullback Alexander Teich (39) in pursuit. Rolle intercepted a two-point conversion pass that could have tied the game in the final minutes. Instead, Rolle took it 99 yards for a two-point score for the Buckeyes, capping a 31-27 win.

In This Issue Of BSB• Reports on Ohio State’s season-

opening victory over Navy including

opinion, quotes, photos, stats and much

more (Pages 3-12, 14-17)

• A profile of this season’s three co-

captains (Pages 18-19)

• A preview of the rematch with

Southern California, analysis of the

strengths and weaknesses of the

Trojans and a feature on USC fresh-

man quarterback Matt Barkley (Pages

20-23)

• A look back at the previous 22 times OSU and USC have

faced one another (Pages 24-25)

• The very latest on football recruiting, including prospects

who attended the OSU season opener, and the Buckeyes’ latest

verbal commitments (Pages 26-28)

• A feature on Cincinnati Anderson offensive line prospect

Andrew Norwell, who has verbally committed to Ohio State

(Page 29)

• A look back at the 1984 Rose Bowl season with a feature

on four-year offensive line starter Scott Zalenski (Pages 32-

33)

• Plus reports on men’s and women’s basketball as well as

all of BSB’s regular briefs, columns and features

Matt Barkley

Buckeyes AvoidBuckeyes Avoid Sinking FeelingSinking Feeling

Originally Published: Sept. 12, 2009

The football glass seems never com-pletely full in the Buckeye Nation. It’s half-full, half-empty, cracked, leaking or shattered into a million pieces, but it’s never completely full.

That was the way it was again following Ohio State’s season-opening victory over Navy. The general consensus from most fans was that there was no general consensus. Opinions about the Buckeyes’ performance against a gritty bunch of Naval cadets ran the gamut from an evolving team benefiting from having to play a close game against a quality opponent to an overrated bunch that is going to get a nationally televised gutting courtesy of USC.

Where to start? How about the positives?Terrelle Pryor appears to have improved

everything about his game over the past nine months. He completed 14 of 21 attempts for 174 yards and a touchdown against the Midshipmen, evidence that head coach Jim Tressel has more confidence this year in his sophomore quarterback’s ability to move the team through the air.

Know how many times Pryor attempted more than 20 passes in a single game last year? Once. He threw 25 times during the 17-10 loss to Penn State.

Pryor looked a lot more comfortable in his own uniform against Navy than he ever did as a freshman. He had much more pocket presence, displaying a calmness early that allowed him to step up, shed a would-be tackler and then fire a strike that receiver Dane Sanzenbacher turned into a 38-yard touchdown.

Pryor also ran the ball with his usual effi-ciency, shifting gears on a 2-yard touchdown run that turned a simple keeper into an artful display of flash and dash. Anyone worried that the quarterback would abandon his running game obviously needs to go worry about something else.

Moreover, Pryor seems much more in control both on and off the field. He was not selected to be one of the team’s captains this year, but there is no doubt many of his team-mates already see him in that role. He has total command of the huddle and displayed a lot of sideline interaction with his receiv-ers – something that seemed to be lacking last year.

As Pryor continues his evolution, so does the Ohio State offense. Despite many critics who continue to believe Tressel is a one-trick pony when it comes to offensive ingenuity, the coach actually displayed a fairly diver-gent game plan in the season opener. The Buckeyes threw the ball four times on first down in the opening quarter alone, and Pryor operated an attack that seemed much more unpredictable than it has been in the past.

The passing game seemed much less frenetic than in recent years when throwing the ball deep meant little more than heaving it up as far as possible and letting a receiver try to outjump the opposing defender. Within the fabric of a more controlled passing attack against Navy, the Buckeyes discovered they aren’t forced to stretch the field vertically to move the ball. Ten of the 17 completions were caught by either running backs or tight ends, and OSU averaged 11.8 yards on those receptions.

It is apparent, however, that the team also has a nucleus of talented receivers who know what to do when they get open. I’ve always liked Sanzenbacher’s willingness to go over the middle and stick his nose into oncoming traffic, and the Buckeyes look to have a pair of budding stars on the edges with DeVier Posey and Duron Carter.

Additionally, special teams look like

they are no longer a question mark. Aaron Pettrey kicked three field goals against the Midshipmen, including his fifth career three-pointer of 50 yards or better, while Jon Thoma averaged 44.5 yards on two punts. Brandon Saine had a nifty 49-yard kickoff return to open the game, and Sanzenbacher filled in returning punts and averaged 7.5 yards on two tries.

As for the negatives, there were plenty – about the par for a season-opening game.

Some disparaged a running attack that totaled only 153 yards against a smallish Navy defense. My argument would be that while the tailback tandem of Dan “Boom” Herron and Saine was unspectacular, it was efficient enough to combine for 125 yards on 26 carries.

That was an average of 4.8 yards per carry and came behind a much-maligned offensive line that will continue to try to jell as the season goes on. The unit had its good and bad moments in the opener – good as in allowing only one sack, bad as in failing to effectively control the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter.

The truth is that I am beginning to like this offensive line. Justin Boren is an abso-lute beast, Andrew Miller is an admirable lunch-bucket kind of player, and youngsters such as Michael Brewster, J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams are going to get better. Throw in the leadership qualities of Jim Cordle and Bryant Browning and you have the makings of what could be Ohio State’s best line since the 2002 national championship run.

Defensively, the Buckeyes have had bet-ter days. Granted, Navy had a gimmicky offense that routinely ties opponents into knots. Still, it’s difficult to dismiss things such as giving up a 99-yard drive or watch-ing a senior safety blow coverage that results in an 85-yard touchdown play.

Even behind those dark clouds lurks some silver lining, however. The Buckeyes wanted to create more pressure up front this year, and they accomplished that against the Mids. For all of the talk about how OSU was shredded, there were two sacks among six tackles for loss as well as three takeaways.

And a star was born in Brian Rolle. Questioned by many as perhaps being too small to be the starting middle linebacker at Ohio State, Rolle answered with a career-high nine tackles and the play of the game, that 99-yard interception return of a two-point conversion try. The most amazing part of that return was the 5-11, 221-pound linebacker sprinting away from mobile Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs.

To be sure, there was plenty to grouse about. But there were lots of other things about the opener the Buckeyes should feel good about, not the least of which was rising to the occasion when adversity popped them in the mouth for the first time. Ohio State teams in the recent past didn’t react well to the taste of their own blood. Maybe this one is different.

Maybe this team hears what its critics have to say and doesn’t really care. Maybe this team likes being an underdog. Maybe it’s the one that ends the big-game losing

streak and wrests back some pride for itself and its conference.

Then again, maybe it’s not.Half-full or half-empty? Closing argu-

ments begin Sept. 12 just after kickoff.

Standout PerformancesDuring the win over Navy, there were a

number of outstanding individual efforts on the part of the Buckeyes:

• Defensive end Thaddeus Gibson turned in a pair of key plays. First, he stripped Dobbs of the football in the second quar-ter, a turnover that led to Ohio State’s second touchdown of the afternoon. Later, Gibson delivered a block on Navy fullback Alexander Teich at about the 15-yard line to spring Rolle on his game-clinching intercep-tion return.

• Gibson’s forced fumble may be a har-binger of things to come for this year’s defense. Later in the contest, safety Kurt Coleman did virtually the same thing to Navy receiver Mario Washington, causing a fumble that was recovered by OSU defen-sive tackle Doug Worthington. Looks like the strip drill is working.

• I have maintained that the reason Ohio State has been reluctant in the past to call screen passes has been that their offensive linemen were incapable of getting out in front of the receiver. That is no longer the case, especially with Boren. On one of the Buckeyes’ screens, the junior left guard engaged Navy cornerback Kevin Edwards near the sideline and abused him backward for nearly 20 yards.

• Herron’s 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was perfectly executed from several angles. First, Pryor suckered hard-charging safety Wyatt Middleton with a fake before pitching the ball outside. Then came excellent blocks from Sanzenbacher on safe-ty Emmett Merchant and from tight end Jake Ballard on inside linebacker Ross Pospisil to create a running lane. And finally, Herron steamed through defensive back Jesse Iwuji at the goal line.

• The OSU receiving corps can go up and get the ball. Sanzenbacher, Posey and Carter each made leaping grabs during the game, and so did Ballard, who got his 6-6, 256-pound frame airborne in the first quarter to nab a 19-yard catch. Coupled with Jake Stoneburner’s 17-yard reception early in the fourth quarter, maybe this really will be the year the Buckeyes utilize their tight ends as more than just extra blockers.

And Finally• You may want to keep tabs on Lane

Kiffin’s first season as head coach at Tennessee. The Volunteers currently hold the distinction of being the major college program with the longest streak since back-to-back losing seasons. Tennessee, which went 5-7 last year to get Phil Fulmer fired, hasn’t had back-to-back losing seasons since 1910 and ’11. Which team currently has the second-longest streak? That would be Ohio State, which hasn’t posted back-to-back los-ing campaigns since experiencing three in a row from 1922-24.

• Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford’s shoulder injury practically guarantees he will not win back-to-back Heisman Trophies. That leaves Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Texas QB Colt McCoy as the front-runners, although a good outside bet would come from Cal. You probably know about running back Jahvid Best, but I’m talking about junior quarterback Kevin Riley, who threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns in Cal’s opener, a 52-13 wipeout of Maryland.

Despite Reactions, Game Featured Many Positives

www.BuckeyeSports.com BUCKEYE SPORTS BULLETIN September 12, 2009 • 3

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOKwith

Mark Rea

OPINION

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Vol. 29, No. 1September 12, 2009

www.BuckeyeSports.com

Originally Published: Sept. 12, 2009

The feeling of patriotism spilled over to the playing field, where before the game both teams gathered in the south end zone and formed two lines, shaking hands with each other while the first two Midshipmen in line carried American flags.

Junior defensive end Thaddeus Gibson said he had never shaken hands with an oppo-nent before a game in his life.

“I thought it was much-needed,” he said. “The Naval Academy (has) great guys and I respect them and cherish everything they do for this country. I didn’t have any problem with it at all.”

When the Buckeyes took the field, they

were even accompanied by the Midshipmen. As both teams entered the stadium, they met in the south end zone and rushed the field with flags from both teams flying and fans on their feet.

Before the national anthem, those in atten-dance observed a moment of silence in tribute for all men and women who have fallen in battle fighting for the United States. The open-ing coin toss was joined by former Buckeyes Mike Lanese, one-time Columbus mayor Greg Lashutka and Phil Strickland, all of them past servicemen in the Navy.

Then less than a minute before kick-off, a flyover of Ohio Stadium by a fleet of F-18 fighter jets from Bengal Squadron VMFA(AW)-224, stationed in South Carolina,

provided a final thunderclap to the pregame festivities.

After all of that, it was finally time to play some football – but the end of the extra activi-ties had not occurred.

Accompanied by his family, former OSU linebacker Chris Spielman took a break from broadcasting the game for ESPN to be honored at halftime for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. And that even took place after former Ohio senator and astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie, became two of a handful of non-marching band members to dot the “i” during Script Ohio.

“This is great; we are enjoying it,” the 88-year-old Glenn said. “I had to look up tittle in the dictionary because I didn’t know what it

meant, and it is the dot above an ‘i,’ so Annie and I will be the first co-tittle.

“I particularly liked the opening today with the teams and bands coming out together.”

Legendary head coach Woody Hayes even made an appearance, as he was highlighted on the scoreboard early in the second quarter for his five years of service in the Navy.

When it came down to it, the Buckeyes downplayed any thoughts that the extra sense of patriotism that accompanied the game had taken away from the primary focus on the field.

“That’s part of college football,” Tressel said. “The pageantry, the band … and the soldiers being recognized and all those things, they’re every bit a part of the afternoon as we

Buckeyes Win On Festive Opening AfternoonContinued From Page 1

COVER STORY: BUCKEYES AVOID SINKING FEELING

8 • BUCKEYE SPORTS BULLETIN September 12, 2009 www.BuckeyeSports.com

JOSH WINSLOWSHOW OF SPORTSMANSHIP – To the delight of the Ohio Stadium crowd, Ohio State and Navy took the field together prior to their game on Sept. 5. The Buckeyes and Midshipmen also shook hands prior to storming the field.

BUCKEYE WORKS Staffi ng Services

Columbus Lancaster (614) 274-3366 (740) 654-3050

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OSU FOOTBALL, 1982-86

e-mail: buckwrx@yahoo.com

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Originally Published: Sept. 12, 2009

were. If we allowed that to distract us, I’d be surprised. It was an honor being a part of all that.”

That feeling was echoed by the players. Senior captain Doug Worthington said the play-ers noticed the extra festivities to some degree.

“You see the festivities and how nice they set things up with the appreciation for the other team, to a certain extent,” he said. “But I don’t think it got in the way of our battle. If anything, it made us more focused.”

They would need that focus, as the Buckeyes’ 29-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter disappeared as Navy came roaring back to cut the advantage to two in the final minutes.

“You see what their world is and they’re fighting for us,” sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor said. “They’re the best in the world at what they do. They never gave up. We’re fortunate to have that type of people who will never give up in a war, fight or whatever it is.”

It was all enough to quiet down – although not completely extinguish – talk of OSU’s looming second-week showdown with USC. The focus on defending Navy’s offensive attack and the respect being paid to the visi-tors prevented the Buckeyes from spending much time daydreaming about the forthcom-ing prime-time showdown with the Trojans.

“I think it’s a great opener to open the sea-son,” senior defensive tackle Todd Denlinger, the lone player to speak at the Skull Session, said the Tuesday before the game. “Anytime you play the best at something it’s only going to make you get better, and if we can rise to the challenge and stop the run, that will help us all through the year.”

Whether it was preparing for Navy’s triple option offense or the extra festivities that went along with the game, Worthington said there was little worry about the Buckeyes overlook-ing their first opponent of the year.

“Each day we realized who we’re playing against,” he said. “A lot of times the media brought up USC. Obviously it’s a huge game, but those guys came in knowing we were playing the Midshipmen and we were very prepared to play.”

That is not what Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo was hoping for.

“We felt like if Ohio State came in dialed in totally focused on us, there was no chance,” he said. “We had no chance. But we felt like we had them in a perfect storm. With USC coming up – we’re so different offensively than any other team in the country. Who do you prepare for?

“What they did against us, I know they’re not going to use that defense next week. Any diversion that we had, it was our only chance to beat them because we know if they came in dialed in, it would be an uphill battle.”

Here Come The TrojansSpitler remembers a quiet flight home and

a lot of bad feelings. Pryor said it was fun but “things just didn’t go our way.” Freshman wide receiver Duron Carter turned it off as he watched from his home in Florida.

The Buckeyes have different memories of last year’s game against USC, but what most OSU fans remember is an embarrassing 35-3 loss to the Trojans on national television that quickly killed any hopes of a third straight trip to the national championship game and saddled the program with another high-profile loss.

With the Navy game in the rearview mirror, the Buckeyes could officially begin prepara-tions for this year’s rematch with the Trojans. A win would go a long way toward re-estab-lishing Ohio State as a national power.

“We’ve talked about it,” Spitler said. “We’re going to have our doubters. We want to go out and prove that we can win.”

Although junior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said OSU’s focus this week needs to be on becoming a better football team without worrying about outside pressures, Carter has a different thought on his mind.

“I wouldn’t want to say payback, but that’s really what it is,” Carter said. “Coming in, we have a new team, a new mind-set this year as USC comes to the Horseshoe. Hopefully we can come out with a win.”

That new approach, Carter said, has come from a sign hanging in the team’s weight room.

“Basically it’s just being combat-ready,” he said. “That’s the saying we have, being ready to go into battle and being prepared for everything that can happen.

“It comes from the Navy, actually. Train like an American soldier. That’s what it says in our weight room. Soldiers, they’re the best-conditioned athletes out there. They’re the most disciplined, and coming into this game we knew we had to be combat-ready.”

The Trojans will enter the Horseshoe fresh off a 56-3 shellacking of visiting San Jose State that saw the home team trail 3-0 after the first quarter before it scored eight unanswered touchdowns.

“We’re not thinking revenge or the hard times or anything like that,” Rolle said. “We’re going to focus on us. Obviously we didn’t play our best today, but we played good enough to win. We’re not interested in being good. We’re interested in being great. If we focus too much on USC, then we’ll be out of place.”

The Trojans will be led under center by true freshman Matt Barkley, who threw for 233 yards and one touchdown against no interceptions in his collegiate debut. He is the first true freshman to ever start a season opener for the Trojans.

However, Rolle said Barkley’s inexperi-ence does not have the Buckeyes licking their chops.

“The guy that’s going to be starting next week, whoever that may be, they’re going to play like he’s been there for a couple of years,” the linebacker said. “We’re going to prepare like we have in the past – like I said, focus more on stopping the run and getting this defense and offense together.”

On the surface, the Buckeyes will not have the benefit of being able to build upon their preparations for the first game of the season. The Trojans’ offense does not even slightly resemble that which the Midshipmen trotted out in week one, and OSU’s preparations for the Navy game began when fall camp started.

Each practice featured a Navy period dur-ing which the Buckeyes practiced defend-ing the Midshipmen’s attack. The technical aspects of stopping that scheme will not have much carryover to stopping USC, but that does not mean the Buckeyes cannot draw from the experiences as they prepare for the Trojans.

“We had intense practices,” Worthington said. “We’ll probably go against our offense a little more than we did this week. Just know-ing their pro-style offense and the monster is coming in with USC and how good they are, we’ve got to buckle down, get focused, watch film and get prepared.”

Tressel said he looks at the situation as going from one special game to another.

“It’s going to be an exciting moment in this stadium and you sit back and you think, ‘How fortunate are we?’ ” Tressel said. “We have a day like today with this kind of situation and next Saturday night, it’s going to be special.”

With a dicey win in the books, Pryor summed up the impact that beating Navy will have on hosting the Trojans.

“Next week wouldn’t mean anything if we didn’t win today,” he said. “It’s what you dream of. It’s going to be a real fun game.”

www.BuckeyeSports.com BUCKEYE SPORTS BULLETIN September 12, 2009 • 9

COVER STORY: BUCKEYES AVOID SINKING FEELING

The Numbers GameOhio State 31, Navy 27Sept. 5, 2009 — Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 FNavy 7 0 7 13 – 27Ohio State 10 10 0 11 – 31

First Quarter OSU — Sanzenbacher, 38 yard pass from Pryor (Pettrey kick), 12:37; 6 plays, 49 yards, 2:23 TOP. NAVY — Dobbs, 16 yard run (Buckley kick), 5:43; 15 plays, 80 yards, 6:54 TOP. OSU — Pettrey, 23 yard field goal, 1:30; 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:13 TOP.Second Quarter OSU — Pryor, 2 yard run (Pettrey kick), 9:01; 7 plays, 56 yards, 3:05 TOP. OSU — Pettrey, 25 yard field goal, 0:55; 12 plays, 54 yards, 4:49 TOP.Third Quarter

NAVY — Curry, 16 yard pass from Dobbs (Buckley kick), 1:24; 15 plays, 99 yards, 8:38 TOP.Fourth Quarter OSU — Pettrey, 52 yard field goal, 14:11; 7 plays, 33 yards, 2:13 TOP. OSU — Herron, 6 yard run (Pettrey kick failed), 11:56; 3 plays, 30 yards, 1:23 TOP. NAVY — Curry, 85 yard pass from Dobbs (Buckley kick), 6:15; 1 play, 85 yards, 0:12 TOP. NAVY — Dobbs, 24 yard run (Dobbs pass intercepted), 2:23; 3 plays, 33 yards, 1:28 TOP. OSU — Rolle, two-point attempt returned.Att. — 105,092.Weather — 75 degrees, sunny and pleasant; wind, E 3 mph.

Team Statistics NAVY OSUFirst Downs 19 19 Rushing 12 10Passing 6 9Penalty 1 0Rushes-Yards 44-186 38-153Passing Yards 156 210Passes (Att.-Comp.-Int.) 13-9-1 26-17-1Offensive Plays 57 64Total Offense 342 363Third Down Efficiency 8-12 3-12Fourth Down Efficiency 0-0 1-2Punts-Avg. 3-43.7 2-44.5Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-0Penalties 2-10 6-49Time of Possession 29:23 30:37

Individual StatisticsRUSHING (Att.-Net Yds.) — NAVY: Dobbs 18-83; Teich 13-61; Doyle 3-19; Curry 4-

14; Murray 2-9; Jones 1-5; Finnerty 2-2; Greene 1-(-7). OSU: Herron 17-72; Saine 9-53; Pryor 6-30; Sanzenbacher 1-4; Bauserman 2-(-2); TEAM 3-(-4). PASSING (Comp.-Att.-Int.-Yds.-TD) — NAVY: Dobbs 9-13-1-156-2. OSU: Pryor 14-21-1-174-1; Bauserman 3-5-0-36-0. RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.) — NAVY: Schupp 3-23; Curry 2-101; M.Washington 2-17; Myers 1-10; Finnerty 1-5. OSU: Herron 4-29; Ballard 3-51; D.Carter 3-21; Sanzenbacher 2-57; Saine 2-21; Posey 2-14; Stoneburner 1-17. PUNTING (No.-Avg.-Long) — NAVY: Delahooke 3-43.7-49. OSU: Thoma 2-44.5-53. PUNT RETURNS (No.-Yds.) — NAVY: None. OSU: Sanzenbacher 2-17. KICKOFF RETURNS (No.-Yds.) — NAVY: Greene 6-101. OSU: Saine 1-47; L.Thomas 3-65. FUMBLE RECOVERIES (No.-Yds) — NAVY: None. OSU: R.Homan 1-0; Worthington 1-0. INTERCEPTIONS (No.-Yds.) — NAVY: Merchant 1-28. OSU: Coleman 1-0. SACKS — NAVY: Pospisil 1.0-8. OSU: Hines 1.0-7; Denlinger 1.0-1. TACKLES FOR LOSS (No.-Yds.) — NAVY: Pospisil 1.0-8. OSU: Gibson 2.0-4; Hines 1.0-7; N.Williams 1.0-7; Rolle 1.0-1; Denlinger 1.0-1. TACKLES (Solo-Asst.-Tot.) — NAVY: Merchant 0-8-0; Simmons 1-6-7; Pospisil 5-1-6; B.Carter 5-1-6; Haberer 2-4-6; Edwards 1-5-6; Burge 2-2-4; Middleton 2-1-3; Tuani 1-2-3; Sovie 1-2-3; Vela 1-2-3; Schaefer 2-0-2; Iwuji 2-0-2; Nechak 1-1-2; Stephens 1-1-2; A.McCauley 1-0-1; Bush 1-0-1; Teague 1-0-1; Mitchell 0-1-1; Walsh 0-1-1. OSU: Coleman6-3-9; Rolle 3-6-9; Larimore 1-6-7; Chekwa 4-1-5; R.Homan 3-2-5; Heyward 2-3-5; Russell 3-0-3; Gibson 3-0-3; Hines 2-1-3; Wilson 1-2-3; Oliver 2-0-2; Denlinger 1-1-2; Worthington 1-1-2; Sweat 1-1-2; Torrence 1-1-2; Spitler 1-1-2; N.Williams 1-0-1; Schwartz 1-0-1; Ebner 1-0-1; Sabino 0-1-1; Cordle 0-1-1; Stoneburner 0-1-1. PLAYERS IN THE GAME — NAVY: Offense, Jones, Battipaglia, Asante, Bass, Lark, Molloy, Schupp, Curry, Dobbs, Doyle, Teich, Buckley. Defense, Hong, Stephens, Nechak, Vela, Pospisil, Haberer, Sovie, B.Carter, Middleton, Iwuji, Edwards, Delahooke. Reserves, Merchant, Mitchell, Zingler, Wright, Bush, Greene, Angelo, Finnerty, Blue, A.McCauley, Hauburger, Eddington, Diggs, Campbell, Teague, Murray, Marshall, Schaefer, Simmons, King, Yarborough, Marks, Burge, Bothel, Ackerman, Tuani, J.McCauley. OHIO STATE: Offense, Miller, J.Boren, Brewster, Browning, Cordle, Ballard, Sanzenbacher, Pryor, Herron, Z.Boren, Posey, Pettrey. Defense, Gibson, Worthington, Larimore, Heyward, R.Homan, Rolle, Russell, Hines, Coleman, Amos, Chekwa, Thoma. Reserves, Washington, Schwartz, D.Carter, L.Thomas, Schuck, Barnett, Ebner, Saine, Sabino, Rose, Torrence, Stoneburner, Bauserman, Oliver, M.Williams, Evege, Klein, Georgiades, Spitler, Sweat, N.Williams, A.Homan, Goebel, Simon, Moses, Shugarts, Wilson, Fragel, Denlinger, McQuaide.

Originally Published: Sept. 12, 2009

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999

Originally Published: Sept. 11, 1999