Ohio State Football: Terrelle Pryor Not the Only Buckeye Standout
When it comes to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Terrelle Pryor is a household name.
Its been for all the wrong reasons so far in 2011.
And it doesn't look to get any better.
Along with four other players, Pryor was given a five-game suspension starting this upcoming season for selling awards, gifts and university apparel, as well as receiving improper benefits in 2009.
Pryor's future with the Buckeyes grew unclear following coach Jim Tressel's resignation. The star quarterback is still under scrutiny and could possibly face further penalties awaiting the outcome of an NCAA probe into his use of cars.
Terrelle Pryor has a 31-4 record as a starting QB at Ohio State. His talents would be greatly missed if he should decide on withdrawal from school and make an attempt to play in the NFL (if the lockout expires).
As Pryor's cloudy career in the Buckeye Nation begins to unfold, other players are ready to start theirs.
Here are 10 Buckeyes that will be ready to step up if Pryor is forced to step down.
QB Braxton Miller
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It seems Ohio State may have found its replacement for Terrelle Pryor.
Braxton Miller is a 6'3", 210-pound quarterback from Huber Heights Wayne high school in Dayton, Ohio.
According to Yahoo! Sports, he was the No. 1 ranked QB in the nation for the 2011 class.
Miller is dual-threat and can tear up the opposing defense by passing or running the ball. He has solid arm strength and runs a 4.45 40-yard dash; he shows great similarity to Buckeye Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, with better size.
He isn't always consistent with his accuracy, but Miller has star potential and can lead the Buckeyes during the suspensions of the five OSU starters.
Miller had a 31-7 career record in high school, where he passed for 2,167 yards and 17 touchdowns during his senior season. He also scrambled for 658 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Miller graduated early and enrolled into Ohio State in January, where he immediately began working out with the team.
The 18-year-old showed signs of superiority during the Buckeyes' spring game, finishing 7-of-12 from the air for 73 yards, including a beautiful touchdown pass to Corey Brown. Miller escaped a collapsing pocket with grace on more than one occasion, and he added 19 yards rushing on four carries.
His Scarlet squad defeated Gray 59-27.
“When I look at Braxton Miller, I just see a guy trying to get better every day,” said suspended Ohio State tailback Dan Herron, according to SportingNews. “A guy who really wants to win, who wants to make something happen this year.”
It isn't for certain just yet, but it seems that Braxton Miller is in the lead for the starting role over senior Joe Bauserman, sophomore Kenny Guiton and sophomore Taylor Graham.
It may be in Luke Fickell's best interest to invest in the freshman for Week 1.
RB Jordan Hall
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Jordan Hall is a former high school teammate of Terrelle Pryor.
And just like high school, Pryor will be leaning on Hall to make some great plays this season and to bring home another championship.
This time, it'll be from the sidelines.
Hall is likely to get most of the carries during Dan "Boom" Herron's suspension.
The junior tailback took 37 handoffs for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2010. Hall showed his versatility by catching eight balls for 83 yards and a score. He also assembled an average of 28 yards per kick return, finding the end zone once.
At 5'9", Hall isn't the biggest guy out there.
But it's not the size of the Buckeye in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the Buckeye.
Hall will have a breakout year for Ohio State and will make good use of his given opportunity.
FB Zach Boren
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Zach Boren will be a huge key to Jordan Hall's success.
The junior fullback will return to his starting position for the Buckeyes in 2011.
Boren doesn't get too many touches, but when he does, its usually through the air. He had 10 receptions for 68 yards last season. Boren led the way for the Buckeyes' running game, which averaged 220.1 yards per contest, with his size, speed and strength.
The Ohio-native is 6'0", 250 pounds and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash.
That's pretty fast for a fullback.
His brother Justin Boren played offensive line for Michigan before transferring to Ohio State and played his senior season in 2010.
Zach still has a little more time to blow up opposing defenders. Lead the way, Mr. Boren.
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WR Corey Brown and TE Jake Stoneburner
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Sophomore receiver Corey Brown and junior tight end Jake Stoneburner will be the main targets for young gunslinger Braxton Miller.
With Dane Sanzenbacher graduating and DeVier Posey suspended for five games, it seems as if the passing game may struggle.
However, Brown and Stoneburner are two reasons to believe that the light is still shining at the end of the tunnel.
Brown saw limited playing time as a freshman; with Sanzenbacher and Posey out there, it's hard to see the field.
Now, he'll have the chance to prove why he was recruited to The Ohio State University.
Brown, who grabbed eight balls for 105 yards and a touchdown in 2010, scored in the Buckeyes' spring game off of a 15-yard pass from Braxton Miller.
Look for this to happen a few more times during the regular season.
Jake Stoneburner is a solid piece to Ohio State's offense. He had 21 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns his sophomore season. He only played 10 games due to a high ankle sprain early in the year.
At 6'5", Stoneburner makes for an easy target.
Perfect for a freshman quarterback.
OLB Curtis Grant
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Curtis Grant is the No. 1 overall outside linebacker for the class of 2011. According to Scout.com, he had offers from Alabama, LSU, Miami (FL), Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and presumably many, many more.
Oh, and from Ohio State.
Grant picked the Buckeyes as his school of choice and could be an immediate factor on a defense that lost eight starters from a year ago.
Grant has incredible size and toughness and looks to continue filling out his frame. He has good intuition and is football savvy; he sees the field with great vision. Not only can he stop the run, but his speed and agility allows him to make coverage plays as well.
The 5-star athlete took care of business his senior season, thrashing his way to 134 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Fitting for an Ohio State linebacker.
DT John Simon
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According to ESPN.com, John "The Sandman" Simon bench presses 450-plus pounds.
He'll have more than that to carry on his shoulders this fall, as he should and most likely will be the defensive captain.
Although he is somewhat of a new name in the Buckeye's always-good defense, Simon will be up to the task. He is a hard-working man that lives in the weight room.
He's earned the respect of his fellow teammates.
Now it's time to get it from fellow television viewers.
MLB Storm Klein
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"The only safe ship in a storm is leadership" -Faye Wattleton.
Storm Klien is expected to take a leadership role by filling in one of the many empty spots on the Buckeyes' defense. He will most likely be assigned the middle linebacker position.
In high school, Klien did nothing but astound his coaches—a four-year starter playing both ways at the running back and linebacker positions.
He hopes to continue this in 2011.
Klien came up with 17 tackles and an interceptions in his limited playing time during his sophomore campaign. These numbers should explode in '11 when he gets more chances on the field.
Watch out, a Storm is a comin'.
RB Dan Herron and WR DeVier Posey
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How could we forget these two?
Yes, the dynamic-duo are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season—yada yada yada.
If the Buckeyes want any chance to claim another Big Ten title (or a BCS bid), Herron and Posey will have to return (and finish) with a bang.
According to The NFL Draft Scout, Herron is projected to go in the second round as the No. 2 overall running back in the 2012 draft.
In 2010, he broke loose for 1,155 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 19 balls for 180 yards.
Herron found the end zone in every game last season besides one—the game opener against Marshall.
Like Herron, Posey is expected to be drafted in the second round as the No. 6 overall receiver. I believe that he will rise to the occasion starting Week 6, raising his draft stock.
Posey blew defenders away with 53 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns in '10.
I expect him to do much of the same when he returns for Nebraska.
Of course, this is all speculation. We assume that Pryor will return after his five-game suspension and will continue being the jaw-dropping athlete that he proves to be time after time; the star of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
As-sume [uh-soom]. Verb. 1. to make an ass out of u and me.
Oops.
Good thing Pryor isn't the only Buckeye standout.
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