Crystal Ballin': Predicting Ohio State's 2011 Offensive Starters

The start of the 2010 college football season is still more than two months away from beginning. So projecting a lineup for 2011 seems ludicrous, no? Of course not!

Next season should be an extremely successful one for Ohio State football. National championship hopes are realistic. Another Big Ten championship is expected.

The same will probably go for 2011. But projecting the lineup for the year after next includes many variables.  So let’s get started with the offense (special teams not included in part one or two).

Quarterback

Kenny Guiton

I’m going to go ahead and assume Terrelle Pryor has a fantastic 2010 season. If TP does indeed mature in all facets of his game, his draft stock will never be higher. Kenny Guiton, who has three years left starting in 2010, will likely be handed the keys to the job unless Braxton Miller is sensational throughout the 2011 preseason.

Tailback

Boom Herron

This is a pretty easy call. Even though rising senior Brandon Saine will likely get more touches next season, Herron will still have a year of eligibility left in 2011. He will have plenty of competition from the likes of Jordan Hall, Jermil Martin, Carlos Hyde, Roderick Smith, and Jamaal Berry.

Wide Receiver

Duron Carter and Chris Fields

Wide receiver is one of the toughest positions to judge. Behind DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher, there’s a huge logjam with the Buckeye pass-catchers. Posey is likely post career numbers and even though the top four wide receivers for next year’s draft are virtually set (A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Jonathan Baldwin and Michael Floyd), DP has both the talent and athleticism that makes NFL scouts drool.

He’ll be a third round pick at the very least. And if Pryor leaves, Posey likely will follow. Pryor and Posey are good friends, and it’s unlikely DeVier would spent his senior year trying to get familiar with a new quarterback.

Sanzenbacher will be a senior this upcoming season, which means both positions will be up for grabs. I’m predicting Duron Carter gets his head on straight and finds his way back into Tressel’s good graces.

If that happens, he’ll eventually start. I basically picked Chris Fields out of a hat because it’s too tough to predict who else will start at this point.

Tight End

Jake Stoneburner

Tight end is another easy position to call. Stones will be entering his first year as a starter in 2010, and is going to need at least two years of seasoning as a starter before his production matches his potential.

Offensive Tackle

Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts

Adams and Shugarts aren’t even on scout’s radars when it comes to the 2011 NFL draft. Unless they both have unbelievable years and prove there many detractors wrong, they’ll both be back for their senior campaigns in 2011. Marcus Hall could find his way into the lineup as well

Offensive Guard

Marcus Hall and Corey Linsley

At left guard, I just have a gut feeling the coaches will find a spot for Hall to get into the lineup if he can’t beat out Shugarts at right tackle. Linsley is listed as the backup right guard to senior Bryant Browning, and barring any setbacks he should step in as the starter at right guard in 2011. Beyond these two, OSU looks to be a little weak at the guard position.

Center

Michael Brewster

Brewster, who would be entering his fourth season as a starter in 2011, could conceivably make the jump after the 2010 season. But how often do you see centers leave school early? I say he stays for his final season. If he does leave, Jack Mewhort will be the starter.

Coming Soon: Predicting Ohio State's 2011 Defensive Starters