Ohio State Buckeyes: Could the Buckeyes Take the Big Ten Without the Fab 5?
Fresh off a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas, Ohio State begins looking to next season. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they could be without five key parts of that Sugar Bowl win: the Fab 5.
Four offensive starters—quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and offensive tackle Mike Adams—and defensive end Solomon Thomas were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 regular season for selling personal items and receiving extra benefits.
Although coach Jim Tressel garnered a commitment from each player for 2011 as a prerequisite to playing in the Sugar Bowl, it is still possible that each player declares for the 2011 NFL Draft and avoids suffering through the suspension.
The question now is, if Ohio State is without the quintet of rule breakers, can it still win the Big Ten in 2011?
Yes, it can. Here's why and how.
Replacing Terrelle Pryor
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Pryor was named the MVP of the Sugar Bowl as well as the 2010 Rose Bowl. He's supremely athletic and would likely be drafted in the first three rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft if he chose to leave school.
Still, even with an impressive run of nearly three full seasons as the Buckeyes' starting quarterback, he's not irreplaceable.
Just as Vince Young was replaced by Colt McCoy at Texas and Carson Palmer was replaced by Matt Leinart at Southern Cal, Ohio State will replace Pryor. Ohio State has a couple of talented players—including Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton—already on the roster capable of leading the offense.
Braxton Miller Could Make an Immediate Impact
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Although Ohio State already has talented players ready to replace Terrelle Pryor, they may have an incoming freshman that can do the job best.
That player is Braxton Miller, who is much in the same mold as Pryor. He's big, fast and athletic while needing tutelage for his actual passing.
Miller has committed to OSU and would be the favorite to take over the starting job with Pryor gone and could overcome inexperience with supreme athleticism.
Who Will Replace Daniel Herron in the Backfield?
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Daniel "Boom" Herron ripped off some important runs against Arkansas and ran for 175 yards against Michigan, establishing himself as Ohio State's premier running back. But running back has been a committee position the past few years for Ohio State.
Ohio State always boasts major depth at tailback. Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry are more than capable of filling the void, even with losing Herron to the draft and Brandon Saine to graduation. They are stars in the making.
Hall has been used for kick returns and mop-up duty this season. Berry was a highly touted recruit and is waiting for the depth chart to give him his opportunity.
DeVier Posey Isn't the Only Buckeye Deep Threat
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DeVier Posey has made himself known for his speed and big play ability, which might make him the best draft prospect of the Fab 5. He would be missed in the receiving corps.
Ohio State brought in four highly touted wide receivers in last year's recruiting class alone, including Corey Brown—who saw action in the Sugar Bowl—James Louis and T.Y. Louis. The Buckeyes have the depth to offset the drafting of Posey and the graduation of Dane Sanzenbacher.
The development of Jake Stoneburner and Reid Fragel at tight end will also offset depletion at receiver.
Big Ten Championship Game Opens Things Up
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With Nebraska joining the Big Ten next season and the league dividing into two divisions with a championship game, winning the Big Ten is a whole new task.
Up through this season, capturing a portion of the Big Ten title was a possibility, but achieving the conference's automatic BCS bid was a little bit trickier.
With the conference championship game in place, Ohio State need only win the Leaders division to have an equal opportunity to win the Big Ten Conference outright. That pins Ohio State up against the records of only five other teams, rather than 10 as was the case before.
Ohio State can earn a championship on the field rather than worry about BCS rankings and the records of teams it doesn't play.
Ohio State's Early Schedule Allows It to Develop Players
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The luxury that Ohio State has is beating up on lesser foes earlier in the season, bringing along its younger players without losing its credibility in the BCS race.
Opening the season with home games against Akron and Toledo and then going on the road against a Miami (Fla.) team in flux is a good way to bring along a new quarterback and figure out the running back depth chart. A home game against woeful Colorado doesn't hurt either.
Ohio State can rely on veterans while younger players figure the college game out.
The Big Ten Schedule Works Out in Ohio State's Favor
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The Buckeyes travel to play most of their lesser Big Ten opponents. Visits to Purdue and Illinois shouldn't be too tough of road games.
Ohio State gets to host Michigan State, Wisconsin and Penn State, and visits to Nebraska and Michigan are the only major mine fields. Both of those teams are in questionable position to compete for the Big Ten title next year.
Having Iowa off the schedule is good news as well.
Jim Tressel Wins Big Ten Titles
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Jim Tressel has coached Ohio State to seven Big Ten Conference championships, including six in a row from 2005-present. What can leave people to believe that will change because the Buckeyes lose five key players?
Ohio State has won without star power before on offense, which is the side of the ball that would be hit the hardest if the Fab 5 jump ship. After all, Ohio State won the 2002 national championship with Craig Krenzel at quarterback. Who? Exactly.
Tressel doesn't make excuses for his players, and they feed off that attitude.
Top-Flight Recruiting Lets Ohio State Reload
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Ohio State rattled off two top five recruiting classes in 2008 and 2009, a top 25 class in 2010 and is poised for a top 10 class in 2011. This program simply reloads, knowing that players will often leave early for the NFL draft.
That's the life of an elite college football program. If you recruit the best college prospects, they often become the best pro prospects. Ohio State is used to reloading the talent pool and developing those players to remain at the top of the Big Ten and near the top of the nation.
Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska Will Have Their Say
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All of the above considered, it's still the Big Ten, and there will be 11 other teams planning to have their say on who is named champion.
Wisconsin brings back plenty of talent in the backfield and will have players ready to fill voids on the offensive line and on defense.
Nebraska will look to join the Big Ten with a splash behind tough defense. They also hope Taylor Martinez sticks around and returns to his 2010 midseason form.
Michigan State may be the conference favorite coming off a largely spectacular season and returning quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Spartans' top two rushers.
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