After pondering an early jump to the NFL, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller is set to return to Columbus, Ohio for his senior season.
The big news, announced by the school’s official Twitter account, is huge for the Buckeyes, who will be poised to make a run at major college football’s first playoff. For Miller, though, one more year means one more chance to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Buckeyes’ signal-caller has thrived under Urban Meyer, piling up 6,472 yards of total offense and 64 touchdowns (39 passing, 25 rushing) over the last two years. Miller finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy race in 2012 and ninth in 2013.
To take home the most prestigious award in college football, Miller will need to overcome some big obstacles in 2014.
Finding the Support
The Buckeyes will be losing four starters along one of the best offensive lines in the country. Seniors Jack Mewhort, Andrew Norwell, Corey Linsley and Marcus Hall won’t be back to protect or open running lanes for Miller, so the front line will likely be a work in progress.
Miller will also be losing his most reliable target at wide receiver. Corey Brown, who has led the Buckeyes in receiving yards and receptions over the last two years, is set to graduate. Brown accounted for more than 25 percent of Ohio State’s receiving touchdowns in 2013, and while the Buckeyes have a number of talented underclassmen, replacing him will be very difficult.
Of course, the biggest loss the offense will…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Braxton Miller’s Road to the Heisman Trophy in 2014
