Buckeyes defense relies on experienced secondary
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Safety Christian Bryant doesn’t mince words. He’s straight to the point, just like when he makes a tackle – head first, shoulders square, legs churning, leaving a calling card for a wincing ball carrier. ”I’m chasing a national championship,” he said. ”That’s what I’m chasing.” If Ohio State is to pursue such a lofty goal – and the Buckeyes are coming off a glittering 12-0 season – then Bryant and a veteran secondary will likely be the ringleaders, so to speak. Ohio State may have big question marks on defense, but none of them comes at the back end. Bryant, cornerback Bradley Roby and safety C.J. Barnett make up three of the four seniors on that side of the ball. No wonder the backfield figures to be a load-bearing wall for the rest of the unit. ”That’s going to be our backbone this year – me, Christian, C.J., Corey…
Spring forward: Safety breakdown
With national signing day in the books, the next big date on the Ohio State calendar as it continues working toward an encore for an undefeated season in 2013 is spring practice. Before those workouts begin, BuckeyeNation will take a look at each position to see where the roster is at — and where it’s going. SAFETIES Who’s back: The Buckeyes will lead from the back, with both experience and leadership expected to provide a trickle-down effect for the defense with Christian Bryant and C.
Triple threats: Christian Bryant
Everybody is chasing the elite recruits, and championships aren’t usually won unless there’s a pretty impressive constellation of four- and five-star athletes on a roster. But those guys also aren’t typically solely responsible for taking a program to the next level, and it can often come down to which coaching staffs properly identify and develop the players without as much buzz coming out of high school — or the ones intent on proving those doubts wrong at the next level.
Year in review: DBs lend a big hand
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A position-by-position look at a perfect season for Ohio State, continuing today by looking back at the playmakers in the secondary who made a habit of breaking up passes and nabbing interceptions on the way to a perfect season. DEFENSIVE BACKS Most valuable player: Christian Bryant might have been underrated for the contributions he made at safety, somewhat quietly going about his business and offering a reliable presence in the backend.
Ohio State Football: Scare vs. Cal Is a Warning Sign for Buckeyes
In Week 3 of the college football schedule, we saw the first chinks in Ohio State’s armor. The Buckeyes escaped with a 35-28 win over California on Saturday, thanks more to the Bears’…
Late TD, pick lift No. 12 Ohio State, 35-28
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller lofted a 72-yard touchdown pass to an all-alone Devin Smith with 3:26 left and Christian Bryant snuffed out California’s last chance with an interception to power No. 12 Ohio State to a 35-28 win on Saturday. The Golden Bears (1-2) missed three field goals and had a touchdown called back by a penalty, while the Buckeyes (3-0) gave up 512 yards and were outplayed for much of the second half. Taking over at his own 25 with the score knotted, it took just three plays until on third-and-7 a defensive back thought Miller would run and he instead threw deep to a wide-open Smith. Bryant then picked off Zach Maynard’s pass and returned it 38 yards to end the Bears’ last threat.
Ohio State’s Preseason Depth Chart
Ohio State has released their preseason depth chart this morning. There are 10 true freshmen listed. See the chart below or download the full version here. Offense QUARTERBACK 5 Braxton Miller (6-3, 210,…
Five questions about Ohio State football
COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State has a new coach, new approach, new players and a fresh start. But what does it all mean? There's a lot going on in Buckeyeland, now under the guidance of…
Big Ten Football Top 150 Players: No. 100, Christian Bryant, Ohio State S
No. 100: Christian Bryant, #2, S, Ohio State 2011 Stats: 67 tackles, 8 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble Strengths Bryant is both athletic and aggressive, which a defensive-minded coach like Urban…
