When star quarterback Braxton Miller went down with a shoulder injury just two weeks before the 2014 season opener, most people (including me) wrote Ohio State off as a team who had their chance to makes something special happen but were the victim of the injury bug. Redshirt freshman quarterback JT Barrett had some growing pains early against Navy and Virginia Tech and even lost to the Hokies but the Barrett and the Buckeyes bounced back to put at least 50 points on the board in the next five games. In the end, Barrett was injured in the Big Ten Championship Game and then entered Cardale Jones, a sophomore the size of Lebron James with an arm just as big. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think that the Buckeyes deserved their national championship last season. Ohio State Junior Running Back Ezekiel Elliott This year, it’s a whole new ball game but the Buckeyes are loaded all over the field except for the wide receiver position where injuries have plagues the guys on the outside. Quarterback Braxton Miller changed positions to become a wide receiver and help the ailing group so we’ll see how it turns out. Head Coach Urban Meyer has yet to inform the public who will be the quarterback in Monday’s opener but I would put my money on JT Barrett getting the nod. With that being said, don’t think that every time Barrett tosses an incompletion that the cameras won’t instantly dart over to Jones on the sidelines. Even with all of the focus on the quarterback competition, there is no question that Ezekiel Elliot is the top tailback after rushing for over 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Elliott came on strong down the stretch and had some of his best games late in the season and in games where it really mattered. All of these skill players are great but it won’t matter if the offensive line isn’t very good which it is and has four returning starters including senior center Jacoby Boren and Senior left tackle Taylor Decker. There won’t be many defenses able to slow down this train…
Continue Reading: Southern Football Report Preseason Poll: #1 Ohio State Buckeyes
