Who’ll join Shazier as Buckeyes’ linebackers?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Coach Urban Meyer and the rest of his staff don’t mince words when it comes to Ohio State’s linebackers. They know that the success of the 2013 season may depend on how things shake out at the position. Developing some linebackers to go with the injured Ryan Shazier is one of the top priorities during Ohio State’s spring workouts. Gone are last year’s mainstays Zach Boren and Storm Klein. So assistant coach Luke Fickell says it’s vital that Conner Crowell, Camren Williams , Curtis Grant , Joshua Perry and David Perkins , along with several freshmen, make huge strides between now and the opener on Aug. 31 against Buffalo. In the meantime, there are coaches to impress and jobs to be won.
Buckeyes open practice, Meyer discusses team needs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In their first official act of the 2013 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes came in from the cold. Coach Urban Meyer began his second season with the Buckeyes by overseeing the first spring workout inside the team’s practice facility because of inclement weather. Meyer patrolled the field looking at different position groups. He is particularly interested in filling huge departures on the defensive line and at linebacker. Braxton Miller, on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated this week as a Heisman Trophy contender, went through his paces at quarterback. Among those participating in their first collegiate practice were four early enrollees from the 2013 recruiting class: cornerbacks Eli Apple and Cam Burrows and defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Tracy Sprinkle.
Big Ten Monday personnel roundup
Some personnel news and nuggets from around the league Monday afternoon: Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer says he doesn’t know what percentage linebacker Etienne Sabino is at right now, but the senior will…
Zach Boren will start at Linebacker for No. 7 Buckeyes against Purdue
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Coach Urban Meyer put out an APB for tough guys. The search ended when Zach Boren turned himself in. Injuries, departures and disappointing play led Ohio State’s coaches to look for somebody – anybody – to help out at linebacker. They got a volunteer – their starting fullback. ”It was kind of a test for the first four periods of practice that I watched,” Meyer said of the trial period a week ago when he first tossed Boren into the mix on defense to see what would happen. ”He changed the entire dynamic of practice, because so much of playing football is the leadership value. Who is the tough guy on the defense? ”Who is the guy that’s going to stand up and take charge?” Boren was the answer. Now the former star linebacker in high school has made the transition from offense to defense after three years on the other side with the Buckeyes. Not only that, he led the team in tackles in last week’s 52-49 win at Indiana. …
Purdue-Ohio St. Preview
Unbeaten with a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate leading a high-powered offense, No. 7 Ohio State has appeared to re-establish itself as one of the nation’s elite programs. Coach Urban Meyer, though, isn’t sold quite yet. With the Buckeyes’ defense struggling mightily, Saturday’s matchup with a Purdue team that is scuffling offensively could help it get on track. Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) hasn’t had much trouble putting up points the last two weeks, beating then-No. 21 Nebraska 63-38 on Oct. 6 before a 52-49 win at Indiana last Saturday. Braxton Miller , who has looked Heisman-worthy much of the season, rushed for 186 yards versus the Cornhuskers and against the Hoosiers, accounted for 360 yards of total offense – including a 67-yard touchdown run and TD passes of 60 and 46 yards to Devin Smith. Miller enters the week, ranked seventh in the FBS in rushing yards per game at 130.3, and needs 88 yards to become the first Ohio State quarterback to rush for 1,000 in a season. It’s the defense, though, that has Meyer concerned. In …
OSU O-line: From ‘nonfunctional’ to team leaders
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Andrew Norwell says when he and the rest of Ohio State’s offensive linemen walk into a room, the conversation stops and everyone takes note of the small group of large men. People are noticing them even more these days, now that they’re central figures on a team that is unbeaten and ranked No. 8. Coach Urban Meyer credits the line for the Buckeyes’ big wins the past two weeks against nationally ranked Michigan State and Nebraska. Meyer used to denigrate the position, saying the line was ”nonfunctional” when he first watched it in action. Now, with Buckeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) on a roll, Meyer has changed his tune. ”Our offensive line is the whole reason why we’re where we are today,” he said this week.
Ohio State says it ‘owes’ Nebraska for loss
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — It was a game that went into the Nebraska record books – and the Ohio State memory banks. The Cornhuskers mounted the biggest comeback in school history a year ago, finishing with a 24-0 flurry to erase a 21-point, second-half deficit, to beat the Buckeyes 34-27 in the first Big Ten game ever played in Lincoln, Neb. It’s a new year but Ohio State hasn’t forgotten. Heading into Saturday night’s showdown at Ohio Stadium, a number of the 12th-ranked Buckeyes say they ”owe” the No. 21 Cornhuskers for what happened then. Coach Urban Meyer says he’s heard his players talking about the rematch and vowing to get back at Nebraska in a game that could go a long way toward determining the division champions in the conference.
Ohio State Sending Tape To Big Ten Of Michigan State Eye Gouging
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Coach Urban Meyer says he believes Ohio State has sent a tape to the Big Ten office which appears to show a Michigan State player gouging at the eyes of Buckeyes defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins . The short clip appears to show the Spartans’ Jack Allen or a teammate trying to thrust a gloved hand inside Hankins’ facemask. At the same time, Hankins is trying to get his fingers inside Allen’s facemask. Meyer was asked about the video during his weekly news conference on Monday. Ohio State suspended linebacker Robert Reynolds for one game after it was determined he tried to choke Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi at the bottom of a pile during a 17-10 Badgers win on Oct. 11, 2003. — On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2uNlVCbGD0
Top Positions That Ohio State Must Continue to Recruit in 2012
The 14th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are off to a 4-0 start and are getting contributions from a fistful of players from Head Coach Urban Meyer’s first recruiting class. Meyer has followed up his…
Meyer looking at how to limit Miller’s workload
After No. 12 Ohio State’s 31-15 victory over Central Florida on Saturday, Meyer questioned almost every area of his team – except for quarterback Braxton Miller .
