EARLY BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Dionte Johnson-FB, Kirk Barton-OT
DEFENSE: Larry Grant-SLB
Secondary / Defensive Line

The nation's No. 1 rated pass defense returns all four starters and the Buckeye's No. 3 rated run defense returns six of the front seven. This top defense will continue to win championships in Columbus (if all come back).

Linebacker

Locating a question mark is tough. Should Laurinaitis decide to leave for the NFL, Ohio State will need to replace two worthy LBs. Is there yet another candidate from this state worthy of Butkus Award consideration?

TB Chris Wells
 
LB James Laurinaitis
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
OHIO STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Todd Boeckman - Sr Robby Schoenhoft-Jr
FB .. ..
TB Chris Wells-Jr Maurice Wells-Sr
WR Brian Robiskie-Sr Dane Sanzenbacher-So
WR Brian Hartline-Jr Ray Small-Jr
TE Rory Nicol-Sr Jake Ballard-Jr
OT Alex Boone-Sr ..
OG Steve Rehring-Sr ..
C Jim Cordle-Jr ..
OG Ben Person-Sr ..
OT .. ..
K Ryan Pretorius-Sr ..
 
OHIO STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Cameron Heyward-So Rob Rose-Jr
DT Nader Abdallah-Sr Todd Denlinger-Jr
DT Doug Worthington-Jr Dexter Larimore-So
DE Vernon Gholston-Sr ..
SLB .. ..
MLB James Laurinaitis-Sr Austin Spitler-Jr
WLB Marcus Freeman-Sr Brian Rolle-So
CB Donald Washington-Jr Chimdi Chekwa-So
CB Malcolm Jenkins-Sr ..
SS Kurt Coleman-Jr ..
FS Anderson Russell-Jr ..
P A.J. Trapasso-Sr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

The Buckeyes enter 2008 as a team pushing for their third straight trip to the national championship. With so many starters back on both sides of the ball, picking them No. 1 heading into the spring and summer should be no surprise. At the start of the 2007 season, prognosticators were not quite sure what to make of Heisman-winner Troy Smith's replacement, Todd Boeckman, at QB. The soon-to-be senior responded in a big way, even putting his name into many early Heisman Top Five lists. His production was good enough to earn him First Team All-Big Ten status. More important is the return of RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, a sure Heisman front-runner when the new season kicks off. The targets for Boeckman are also back in the fold en masse. The interior of the OL has a good deal of experience, with the only departure up front being tackle Kirk Barton. Good thing that the other tackle, Alex Boone, is worthy of playing at the next level. Should Boone decide to leave early, the line could play at a lesser level and that would surely translate into less production. But, c’mon…Ohio State is all about defense, and this stopping 11 is currently the top unit (total and scoring) with most likely to return. Also the nation's No. 1 rated pass defense, all four starters here return and the nation's No. 3 rated run defense returns six of the front seven (for now). Of course Gholston, Laurinaitis and Jenkins are big reasons the Buckeyes are considered the front-runners again for '08, so their fates hold the defensive balance for OSU. But the faithful shouldn't expect all three to be donning Scarlet and Gray next year…all three could boogie. Even if his team loses a few to the NFL, Ohio State has to be considered one of the top three teams heading into next season. Coach Tressel is proven both as a coach and recruiter – plenty of highly-touted, well-cultivated and eager talent awaits their turn(s). This team will continue to knock on the national championship door and will be a huge favorite to win the Big Ten once again.

 

OHIO STATE
2008 SCHEDULE

8-30 YOUNGSTOWN STATE
9-6 OHIO
9-13 at Southern California
9-20 TROY
9-27 MINNESOTA
10-4 at Wisconsin
10-11 PURDUE
10-18 at Michigan State
10-25 PENN STATE
11-8 at Northwestern
11-15 at Illinois
11-22 MICHIGAN