Buckeyes Look to Buck the Trend

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Coach Tressel realizes that the new wave in college football employs more of what football traditionalist would label gimmicky, in variations like the “wildcat formation” and running quarterbacks.

It is a good thing that he has a mobile quarterback like Terrell Pryor. Pryor was the second-leading rusher on the 2008 installment of the Buckeyes and ,with no experienced back returning this year, his legs may be more valuable than his arm even as he aspires to be a more complete passer this season.

While highly touted freshman Jamaal Berry did enroll in school last week as planned, his arrest on drug charges could not only become a distraction to the team, but also derail his football career before it even gets started good.

Dan Herron slotted to be the feature back this year has to prove that, at a slight 5'10" (in lift shoes) and only 185 pounds, he is durable enough for the Big Ten schedule.

In contrast to Dane Sanzenbacher, a young man who emerged as a gritty competitor and play-maker last season, is Ray Small.

The speedy receiver from Cleveland has been nothing more than a lightning rod for controversy during the course of his career. In this his final year he has to prove that he can deliver on the field and in the classroom on a consistent basis.

Another interesting receiver prospect is Devier Posey. Posey has all of the physical tools at 6'3" to be a dominant red-zone receiver.

At the end of the day, while most schools could chalk this year up as simply a “rebuilding year,” Ohio State has to reload and come out firing on all cylinders quickly this year.

Anything less than a fifth consecutive Big Ten title and birth in a BCS bowl would have folks down in Columbus labeling the 2009 season a failure.

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