Ohio State Buckeyes' X Factor This Year: DeVier Posey

Many of the top Ohio State Buckeyes have been in the national eye and have made huge splashes thus far. As such, other teams and the media are looking closely at them. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor has a shot at the Heisman and is the offense's undisputed leader. The team also has senior leadership on both ends of the field in defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and running back Brandon Saine. For that matter, the running back position is incredibly deep, to top off Pryor's abilities.

There is one player, however, who's not being talked about as much, yet can compliment these other players and make all the difference. That player is DeVier Posey, junior wide receiver. Terrelle Pryor needs someone to throw to for this team to make it to the national championship, and who better than Posey to do so.

Last year Cleveland.com ranked him at No.19 on the Buckeyes roster, saying, "But if you tell me today he's going to catch 40 passes for 600 yards, I won't doubt it."

He blew that number out of the water, catching 60 passes for 828 yards and eight touchdowns, including a 161-yard performance against Minnesota. He seems to keep improving from week to week, and a 1,000-yard season is not out of the question for him.

You may be thinking that this is all well and good, but what makes him the team's X Factor then?

While other receivers and offensive players can easily bring solid performances, such as fellow wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher who can complement Posey well, Poser is a play-maker and has the athleticism to break a game open, much like Pryor does. Any scrambling needs a wide receiver to bring him and the team to the next level. Troy Smith had Santonio Holmes, and Pryor will have Posey.

The Buckeyes may still be a running team at heart, which is fine given how deep they are at the position, but with an athlete like Posey running across the field, the Buckeyes will have that extra dimension they need to win it all.