Wednesday's News & Views on Ohio State Football

Drew Thurman (4:47 pm)

There has been a lot of news coming out today, and unfortunately I have been out doing business all morning and early afternoon. So here we go...

1) Today we found out that Kurt Coleman is indeed staying for his senior season. Reports are that Jim Tressel flexed for Coleman, and he then realized that he needed another season to buff up. Just the word on the street!

Seriously though, this was huge for the defense next season. He is one of the most aggressive and hard hitting guys on the field for the Buckeyes, and his experience will be needed! This is what he said:

“My decision to come back is a lot about helping this team. I feel we can do anything next year. We have a lot of great leaders coming back and an excellent group of underclass talent. For me personally, my family and I felt this was the best decision for me, to make my career at Ohio State even better than it has already been."

2) In that same article listed above, Steve Helwagen talks about several of the other juniors. Ray Small is staying put, and rumors are that Anderson Russell and Jim Cordle will be as well. Donald Washington has yet to make his decision, and is the only junior for the Buckeyes that has yet to do so.

3) On the other end of the spectrum, wideout Brian Hartline is headed to the NFL Draft. Hartline has had a solid career at Ohio State, and anyone who says he will not be missed next season is wrong. I realize that he was not a huge factor in some of the biggest games this season, but his experience will be missed.

With that said, I am excited about the future at wideout (can you say Duron Carter, DeVier Posey, Jake Stoneburner, Lamaar Thomas, Corey Brown, Dane Sanzenbacher, James Jackson, Taurian Washington, and Chris Fields)!!!

4) Mark Schlabach of ESPN has already posted his early Top 25 rankings for 2009. The Buckeyes came in at No. 6, which shocked me. I was not surprised though that Florida came in at No. 1 yet again!

5) Ivan Maisel has posted his best and worst moments of this year's bowl season. He gives Ohio State the award for the best loss, and I was glad to see yet another media member recognize it. He does gets some shots in about Terrelle Pryor's no-show at media day, and the Big Ten's sorry bowl record.