Ohio State Football: A Look at the Buckeyes' Quarterback Competition

Ohio State had a rough offseason, and that's putting it nicely. With scandals everywhere you turned, the Buckeyes ended up losing their head coach and starting quarterback.

Columbus will have a different feel this year, as the Bucks will be playing their first game since 2000 without Jim Tressel at the helm.

Terrelle Pryor's departure to the NFL brought a sudden empty hole to fill in the depth chart. There are several candidates for the job. Here's a look at the current QB situation for Ohio State.

1) Joe Bauserman

There is a lot that people do not know about Joe Bauserman, but that's to be expected, as he's been sitting on the bench for three years. But it's a new season, and with Terrelle Pryor departing for the NFL, it's Bauserman time to shine.

Ohio State has decided that Bauserman will start the season under center. He's older and more experienced than the rest of the quarterbacks the Buckeyes possess.

Bauserman actually played minor league baseball for several years. At the age of 25, he is a lot older than a lot of people know.

The Buckeyes seem to be confident in the leadership skills he has. Obviously, putting at 25-year-old with a little experience out in front of 100,000 screaming fans is safer decision than throwing a freshman out on the field.

He is more of a pocket passer, but several teammates have vouched for Bauserman recently, stating that he is more athletic than people make him out to be. Ohio State is clearly used to seeing a dual-threat QB on the field from recent years of having Pryor and Troy Smith leading the team.

Bauserman finished 2010 with more action than he had seen in the previous two seasons. He went 16-22 for 174 yards and two touchdowns last year, primarily playing towards the end of games that the Buckeyes had already sealed the deal.

It should be interesting to watch how Bauserman responds to his new duties. He has a decent arm, but unfortunately, he's not the biggest guy, measuring at 6'1''. That hasn't stopped other quarterbacks in the past though: Troy Smith was only 6'0''. Of course, we aren't expecting a performance like Smith from Bauserman.

If he can be effective in the early going, he might make a good case for the rest of the season. Ohio State plays some easy opponents the first two weeks of 2011. Head coach Luke Fickell has already expressed that he will want to use both Bauserman and Braxton Miller, so we can only wait and see how each of them performs under the conditions regular-season football. 

2) Braxton Miller

ESPN listed Braxton Miller as the No. 4 ranked quarterback in 2011's recruiting class. The 6'2'' QB out of Huber Heights, Ohio will look to make a name for himself this year. 

Miller appears to have bulked up a little after showing up at Ohio State. On the recruiting trail, he was listed at 190 lbs., but in Ohio State's newly-released depth chart, Miller weighs in at 210. The Buckeyes are ready to get him going early in his career.

Even though Bauserman will take the reigns in the first game against the Akron Zips, don't be surprised if you see Miller out there. He is quick and athletic just like Terrelle Pryor—sorry Buckeyes fans, I won't mention his name again—but his lack of experience is the main hindrance right now.

Buckeye fans want him on the field. There's a reason Joe Bauserman never played much. I'm not saying he's a bad quarterback, but Miller is already held in higher regard.

Miller will give the Buckeyes that same dual threat they have for years now, and that's how they like it. Especially with starting running back Boom Herron, starting receiver DeVier Poser and starting tackle Mike Adams suspended for five games, Ohio State will need an extra help they can get.

Todd Boeckman lost his starting job after the third game of the 2008 season, when Ohio State was crushed by USC. Could the same thing happen this year? The Buckeyes play the Miami Hurricanes in their third game of this season, so maybe we will see another QB after this game.

3) Kenny Guiton, Taylor Graham

I wanted to throw these guys in just to make sure I didn't leave any options out in case there were injuries.

Kenny Guiton is a redshirt sophomore who has seen extremely limited playing time, and when I say extremely, I mean he's only thrown two passes in a regular-season game—and one of those was an interception. 

Guiton made some good plays in the Scarlet and Gray game this year, but that won't be enough to get him on the field. He's another quarterback who can run, so if there are ever any mishaps during the season, Guiton can bring that factor to the starting offense.

Don't look for him to get in the action though. He can run, but his small size—a mere 178 lbs.—would be worrisome for the Buckeyes to see under center frequently.

Taylor Graham is a big guy with a strong arm, but has never seen any real playing time. The only thing he has going for him is the fact that his dad, Kent Graham, played quarterback for the Bucks in 1990-1991. Maybe Luke Fickell has a soft spot for legacies at Ohio State.

4) Outlook

It should be an interesting year for the Ohio State Buckeyes. They obviously taken some big hits in the offseason, but Luke Fickell and the returning starters are out to prove they can still salvage this season.

Joe Bauserman will provide some experience and leadership, while Braxton Miller will bring some creativity and explosiveness. 

Hopefully they will get things figured out by the time the four players suspended return. Boom Herron and DeVier Posey are some much-needed offensive weapons.

It should be interesting to see how things work out for the Scarlet and Gray.