Ohio State Football: 5 Unlikely Heroes in 2011

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team begins its 2011 campaign with more questions than answers. First and foremost is how new head coach Luke Fickell will be able to handle his new role given the fact that he has no prior head coaching experience.

The Buckeyes will also have to replace several starters on both sides of the ball, including seven starters on defense, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who decided to make himself eligible for the NFL's supplemental draft (if there is one) rather than face the music in Columbus. 

As if that wasn't enough, Ohio State might open it's season with the first true freshman under center since Art Schilchter did so for Woody Hayes in the late 1970s.

Nevertheless, the coach Fickell and the Buckeyes seem determined to forge ahead and put forth their best effort in their attempt to win yet another Big Ten title. 

And, while the entire nation knows that the fate of this football team might rest on both the arms and legs of Braxton Miller, here are five lesser known players that could provided almost as much impact as the 2011 season plays out.

5. Rod Smith, RB

Even after it was known that starting tailback Daniel "Boom" Herron would miss the first five games of the season, the consensus was that Smith, a redshirt freshman from Indiana, would be no higher than third on the depth chart behind Jordan Hall and Jamaal Berry.

That was, of course, until Spring practices began at Ohio State. While Rod Smith may not be the fastest or flashiest running back out there, his ability to run through defenders has him being compared to Beanie Wells and even Eddie George.

This all culminated in the annual spring game, where Smith showed that he was the one back with the pure strength to punch it in during a goal line situation.

Jordan Hall may end up getting the starting nod during Herron's absence, but, if Smith keeps playing the way he did this spring, don't be surprised if come midway point in the season Luke Fickell has a full-fledged running back controversy on his hands.

4. Corey "Pitt" Brown

Even causal OSU fans have become familiar with Corey "Philly" Brown, a sophomore wideout who has now been thrust into the role of No. 1 receiver while DeVier Posey serves a five-game suspension.

Lesser known to Buckeye  fans,but with perhaps as much potential, is his Brown's counterpart on the defensive side of the ball with the same name, simply known as "Pitt" to his teammates.

"Pitt" Brown is likely to fill in at cornerback at one of the two voids left by the departing Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence, both of whom graduated. Those are some big shoes to fill, as the pair combined to form one of the more impressive defensive backfield(s) in the nation in 2010.

If the Buckeyes are to be successful in 2011, Corey "Pitt" Brown will have to show that he is capable of stepping in at DB with little experience like many successful Ohio State cornerbacks before him.

3. Etienne Sabino

Etienne Sabino was considered a "can't miss" 5-star prospect coming out of high school a few years ago.  Yet, for one reason or another, Sabino has seen little playing time during his stay with the Buckeyes. 

In fact, Coach Tressel and staff went through serious deliberations about whether to redshirt Sabino last season, due to the depth Ohio State had at linebacker.

It's now 2011, and there will be no more redshirting or greyshirting for Sabino.  It's time for the star recruit from south Florida to show the Buckeye faithful why he was such a prized recruit. 

Sabino needs to show that OSU, indeed, does not rebuild, it simply reloads.

2. Jake Stoneburner

Jake Stoneburner is certainly not a new face to Ohio State fans.  The junior tight end from Dublin, Ohio, was among the leading receivers on the team last season, and has quickly become a fan-favorite.

That being said, Stoneburner is the most experienced receiver Ohio State has on its roster for its first five games.

While it is possible that the Buckeyes will be starting a true freshman under center to open the season, Ohio State will not be able to win ball games without throwing the ball at least a few times in the early going. That is where Stoneburner comes in. 

Whoever starts the season as the Bucks quarterback will have to develop a rapport with his more sure handed receivers, and no one, save for maybe Dane Sanzenbacher, proved to be more sure-handed last season than Jake.

1. Mike Brewster

The All-American center was considered the only underclassmen who was pro ready last season, and Mike Brewster still chose to return to Ohio State to complete his degree.

Brewster anchors an offensive line that is rife with injuries, suspensions and losses due to graduation. It has also been said that Jim Bollman, now promoted to offensive coordinator with Tressel gone, has done a very poor job as an offensive line coach.

Yet something tells me that Brewster, never one to read too much into anything, isn't worried about any of that.  Which is also why, when it comes to the 2011 Big Ten championship, it would be unwise to count the Ohio State Buckeyes out.