Akron at Ohio State Game Guide: Starters, Matchup Breakdown and Injury Report

The time has come.

College football season officially begins tonight, while the Ohio State Buckeye will have to wait and face off against the Akron Zips in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.

If you're looking to get prepared for this game before it kicks off, this is the right place.

Here is everything from starters, matchup breakdowns and injury reports concerning Saturday's contest.

Ohio State Depth Chart

Courtesy of buckeyefansonly.com

OHIO STATE DEPTH CHART

As of August 29

DEFENSE  DE (Leo) 43 NATHAN WILLIAMS    6-3, 255, SR.  50 J.T. Moore    6-1 252, RFr.  LT 54 JOHN SIMON    6-2, 270, JR.  93 Adam Bellamy    6-4, 302, RSo.  Nose 53 GARRETT GOEBEL    6-3, 290, RJR.  68 Evan Blankenship    6-3, 288, Sr.  RT 52 JOHNATHAN HANKINS 6-3, 335, SO.  63 Michael Bennett    6-3, 280, Fr.  WLB 42 ANDREW SWEAT    6-2, 238, SR.  10 Ryan Shazier    6-2. 212, Fr.  MLB 32 STORM KLEIN    6-2, 230, SO.  41 Tony Jackson    5-10, 225, Sr.  SLB 6 ETIENNE SABINO    6-3, 242, RJR.  37 Chris Maxwell    6-2, 220, RSr.  LCB 7 TRAVIS HOWARD    .6-1, 190, RJR.  5 Dominic Clarke    5-10, 191, So.  LS 19 ORHIAN JOHNSON    .6-2, 205, RJR.  2 Christian Bryant    .5-9, 190, So.  RS 4 C.J. BARNETT    6-0, 190, RSO.  3 Corey Brown    6-1, 189, RSo.  RCB 25 BRADLEY ROBY    .5-11, 185, RFR.  12 Doran Grant   .5-11, 180, Fr.  Star 26 TYLER MOELLER    .6-0, 210, RSR.  2 Christian Bryant    5-9, 190, So.		OFFENSE  QB 14 JOE BAUSERMAN OR 6-1, 230, RSR.  5 BRAXTON MILLER    .6-3, 210, FR.  FB 44 ZACH BOREN    .6-0, 252, JR.  49 Adam Homan    .6-2, 248, Jr.  TB 7 JORDAN HALL    5-9, 195, JR.  34 Carlos Hyde OR    6-0, 238, So.  24 Rod Smith    6-3, 230, RFr.  TE 11 JAKE STONEBURNER .6-5, 245, RJR.  88 Reid Fragel    .6-8, 280, Jr.  WR (X) 9 VERLON REED    .6-0, 195, RFR.  16 Evan Spencer    .6-1, 190, Fr.  WR (Z) 10 COREY “PHILLY” BROWN .5-11, 182, SO.  80 Chris Fields    6-0, 180, RSo.  LT 78 ANDREW NORWELL    6-5, 308, SO.  69 Eric Kramer    .6-4, 305, RFr.  LG 74 JACK MEWHORT    6-6, 303, RSO.  72 Chris Carter    6-6, 350, Fr.  C 50 MIKE BREWSTER    6-5, 305, SR.  51 Brian Bobek    6-2, 280, Fr.  RG 79 MARCUS HALL    6-5, 315, RSO.  64 Ivon Blackman    .6-3, 322, RSo.  RT 76 J.B. SHUGARTS    .6-7, 300, SR.  73 Antonio Underwood    6-3, 305, Fr.
SPECIALISTS  PK 24 DREW BASIL    6-1, 212, SO.  20 Russell Doup    .6-1, 175, Fr.  KO 24 DREW BASIL    6-1, 212, SO.  20 Russell Doup    .6-1, 175, Fr.  P 17 BEN BUCHANAN    .6-0, 180, RJR.  39 Derek Erwin    5-10, 200, Sr.  LS 56 GEORGE MAKRIDIS    6-2, 230, RSO.  54 Bryce Haynes    .6-4, 185, Fr.  H 39 DEREK ERWIN    .5-10, 200, SR.  14 Joe Bauserman    6-1, 230, RSr		PR 7 JORDAN HALL    5-9, 195, JR.  10 Corey “Philly” Brown .5-11, 182, So.  KR 7 JORDAN HALL OR    5-9, 195, JR.  80 CHRIS FIELDS    .6-0, 180, RSO.  16 Evan Spencer or    .6-1, 190, Fr.  15 Devin Smith    .6-3, 190, Fr.

Read more: http://buckeyefansonly.com/depthchart2011/082911depthchart.html#ixzz1WjE5coTa

Akron Depth Chart

Courtesy of Ohio.com

OFFENSE

QB — 1. Clayton Moore, 2. Patrick Nicely.

TB — 1. Broderick Alexander, 2. Jawon Chisholm.

FB — 1. Nick Rossi, 2. Austin Bailey or Cody Grice.

WR — 1. Anthony Meriwether or Jerrod Dillard.

WR — 1. Keith Sconiers, 2. Marquelo Suel.

TE — 1. Rhyne Ladrach or Will Fleming.

LT — 1, Jarrod Pughsley, 2. Mitch Straight.

LG — 1. Paul Simkovich, 2. Patrick McCloskey.

C — 1. Adam Bice, 2. Simkovich.

RG — 1. Zac Kasparek, 2. Vinnie Rizzo.

RT — 1. Jake Anderson, 2. Pughsley.

DEFENSE

DE — 1. Nico Caponi, 2. John Griggs.

DT — 1. Dan Marcoux or James Harvey.

DT — 1. Oren Wilson or Harvey.

DE — 1. Hasan Hazime or Isaiah Williams.

LB — 1. Brian Wagner, 2. Blake Fraley.

LB — 1. ShelDon Miller, 2. Justin March.

LB — 1. Troy Gilmer, 2. Jamar Williams.

CB — 1. Manley Waller, 2. Seth Cunningham.

CB — 1. Emmanuel Lartey, 2. Anthony Holmes.

FS — 1. L.T. Smith, 2. Devonte Morgan.

SS — 1. Josh Richmond, 2. Bre’ Ford.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P — 1. Zack Campbell, 2. A.J. Fox.

PK — 1. T.J. Marchese, Robert Stein or Fox.

KO — 1. Kevin Ivasku, 2. Fox.

LS — 1. Adam Steiner, 2. Caponi.

H — 1. Campbell, 2. Nicely.

PR — 1. A.J. Price, 2. Dylan Potts.

KR — 1. Josh Richmond, 2. Antoine Russell or Potts.

Injury Report: Ohio State

Injury Report

LB Etienne Sabino: (Broken Hand) Probable

Sabino should play on Saturday after breaking his hand in a prior fall scrimmage. Expect him to wear a cast on his left hand in Saturday's game against Akron.

Suspensions

Mike Adams

Daniel Herron

DeVier Posey

Solomon Thomas

Injury Report: Akron

Injury Report

LB Matt Little: (Foot) Probable

Matt Little injured his foot in a practice earlier in the fall.  Once ruled out of the Ohio State game, he has fought his way back to probable status. He was unable to practice this week, but once again is deemed probable against the Buckeyes.

Matchups To Look Out For: QB Joe Bauserman vs. Ohio State Fans

Come Saturday, one of the most intriguing matchups will be Joe Bauserman and the Ohio State fans. 

Since the departure of Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes have been in the middle of a quarterback competition between Bauserman and true freshman Braxton Miller. 

Miller seems like the more attractive quarterback option since he possesses dual-threat capabilities and his playing style seems more like Pryor. 

Fans could be clamoring for Miller throughout the season opener, so Bauserman will feel the pressure to perform well in order to appease the Buckeye fans.

Matchups To Look Out For: Jordan Hall vs. Akron Defense

Jordan Hall has been given the starting running back role due to the suspension of Dan Herron in the offseason.

On Saturday, with such big shoes to fill, it will be interesting to see whether Hall can produce like Herron has in the past.

Akron's defense should not be too tough of a test for Hall, but if he can string some strong performances together at the beginning of the season, he could certainly receive a greater amount of playing time even when Herron does finally return.

Keep an eye out for Hall on Saturday. If the coaching staff decides to be cautious with their quarterbacks, Hall could see a lot of carries early on in the game. So he should have plenty of opportunities to show the team and fans what he can do.