2010 College Football: Red Carpet Show for Buckeye Fans

Drew Thurman (8:10 am)

We make fun of housewives getting their kicks watching Joan Rivers over analyze red carpet attire on E!, but today thousands of Buckeye fans will do something just as hilarious. As pictures get posted this evening of the players reporting to camp, grown men with wives and children will flip through hundreds of pictures of the players carrying suitcases and McDonald's cups.

Most of this can be credited to how anxious most fans are about the season finally starting, but it does sound a little awkward nonetheless. Here at The Silver Bullet we aren't pointing any fingers, in fact, we kind of got carried away with this whole thing the last few years .

Anyways, what has always made today enjoyable is to get a look at the players you don't see that often. There will obviously be a ton of pictures of guys like Pryor and Heyward, but unless they look hungover or have an amputated leg I really could care less. I'm just glad they showed up.

There is always a worry that some of the offensive linemen might check-in looking like Rosie O'Donnell, but Tressel's recent workout plan seems to be working. So, the guys I care to see are the freshman, the third stringers, the future of the team. It's always fun to get the first look at the newbies, even if they will be redshirting or getting mop-up duty during the season.

This year it will be especially interesting to take note of the freshman class entering fall camp. Even though this is an experienced team, one that should be ready for a championship run, there are some very important freshman storylines that should be watched in the coming weeks. The 2010 class may have a more important role than you might think...    

The No. 3 wide receiver spot will put James Louis, Corey Brown, and Tyrone Williams in the limelight starting today. There appears to be no lead candidate for the job, and even Dane Sanzenbacher made it clear that these guys will have a chance to be in the mix. Louis and Brown will be interesting to watch since they should bring an explosiveness to that position that will be needed. Don't sleep on Tyrone Williams though, as his size could make him a redzone option this season.

Carlos Hyde has already made his presence felt since arriving on campus (actually making some forget Roderick Smith), and this fall will provide a chance to build on that momentum. He does find himself in the midst of one of the deepest positions on the roster for the Buckeyes at running back, but may be the power option the staff needs. With Jermil Martin gone and a depth chart full of smaller speedsters, Hyde could be stealing a lot more playing time than anyone expected.

Then of course there is Jonathan Hankins who will find himself competing for a spot in the two-deep on the defensive line. While Bellamy and Goebel are probably better every down DTs at this point, Hankins' sheer size might help him find the field quickly.

Also on the defensive side of the ball are Christian Bryant and Scott McVey. Both have been receiving killer reviews this summer, and may be darkhorse candidates to receive playing time. Especially McVey, who is already being hailed as the next great special teams star.

Finally, there is kicker Drew Basil. He won't be lighting up the cameras with his physique, but could play as important of a role as any freshman this season. With mediocre performances being turned in by Buchanan and Barclay on special teams, Basil definitely has a chance. If nothing else, he could very well find himself with kickoff duties, which means he will get to start the second half of every game this season, thanks to Tressel's ingenious strategy. 

So today, as you filter through photos, don't just get wrapped up in checking out Pryor's latest tattoo, Tyler Moeller's scars, or John Simon's biceps. Start paying attention to some of the fresh faces that could help the Buckeyes to No. 8.