Ohio State vs. Michigan Football: The 5 Best Players on the Field

The Michigan/Ohio State rivalry has produced a lot of big moments, such as in 2006 when No. 1 and No. 2 met in a clash that decided who qualified for the BCS National Championship Game. 

With there being no shortage of great moments, there have also been some great players such as Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, Ted Ginn Jr., Chris Gamble, Terry Glenn and Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Mike Hart and Tom Brady for Michigan.

The players in this year's version of "The Game" are not as widely known such as Michigan's Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint and others for the Wolverines, and Braxton Miller, Dan Herron and DeVier Posey for the Buckeyes.

Here are the five best players on the field for this year's contest between two disappointing teams:

1. Denard Robinson, QB

This guy is the real deal.  He is a dual-threat player that will beat you running and he also has a decent arm that he can get the ball where he needs it to be.

Robinson is what makes the Wolverines offense go.  He has a sense for when pressure is around him, and he uses the high IQ to his advantage in order to evade the blitz.

He has the ability to take over a game with his speed outside of the pocket and he also has very good vision when he looks downfield.

The only knock on Robinson is that his passing technique is sometimes subpar when he is under pressure.

2. Dan Herron, RB

One of the original "Buckeye Five" that was caught up in the NCAA investigation, and was subsequently suspended from the team for a time early in the season.

Herron is a type of player that can take over a game by himself.

Herron is the kind of player you can build a program around, as he provides a steadying weapon in the offensive game plan. 

He has the ability to run around and through tackles and he is proficient in pass protection.

Ohio State imposes its will with the ground game, and Herron is the right kind of running back to have for a power running game.

3. DeVier Posey, WR

Another one of the "Buckeye Five" that was originally suspended for his role in the "Tattoos for Memorabilia" scandal.

He is a threat at the wide receiver position and he has the game-breaking ability to be able to take over a game.

Posey is a physical presence on offense, who provides a boost to any passing attack.  He can get separation and get downfield against almost anyone.

4. Kenny Denum, LB

Kenny Denum has been excellent at linebacker for the Wolverines and he has been the intimidating physical presence on defense that hasn't been seen for Michigan since the days Charles Woodson lurked on the corner.

Denum has the ability to go sideline to sideline and make a play from anywhere on the field.

He will go on to be a highly successful player and possibly take that talent to the NFL as a potential draft pick.

5. Braxton Miller, QB

Braxton Miller, like the rest of the Ohio State football team, has been a part of a tough season.  He has been back and forth in the battle for the starting quarterback position with Joe Bauserman.

Neither QB has yielded any positive results, as Ohio State has gone through one of their worst seasons in recent memory.

Miller has provided the best hope for the future, as he has guided Ohio State to wins against Illinois and Penn State and he has proved to the coaches that he can handle the job.