By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) —
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For three years, Ohio State’s Austin Spitler rode the bench behind one of his best friends on the team, James Laurinaitis, who just happened to be a three-time All-American. Now, when his chance came, he was switched from the middle linebacker spot he’d been waiting to fill to strongside linebacker, then felt a pop in his leg during the preseason.

“It all started with my knee, and then it moved to the back of my knee, and then one day it was feeling tight and it popped when I was doing a pass rush,” Spitler said. “It was scary, going through all the hard times and this was supposed to be my year, and I got hurt. But the rehab went well and I was ready to go.”

The injury was a calf strain, nothing with his knee, and he returned to practice a week ago. Then, after all that, the fifth-year senior from Bellbrook, Ohio, was named one of the Buckeyes’ three captains … and he didn’t tell anybody.

“I don’t like bragging about myself,” Spitler said.

So it was left to his mother, Dawn, to call him after she heard the news from Ron Coleman, the father of fellow captain Kurt Coleman.
“She kind of gave me an earful,” Spitler said.

That’s the kind of captain, one used to ceding the spotlight to others, that the Buckeyes are getting.

“I’m not the type to do a lot of rah-rah,” Spitler said. “None of the captains are.”

Against Navy on Saturday, Spitler should get his first career start, though against Navy’s triple option, the Buckeyes have been using a lot of nickel back Jermale Hines at linebacker, and that could cut into Spitler’s playing time. But at least he’s healthy, has a role and knows his time has come.

Also: Ohio State cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said that although senior Andre Amos is listed as the second starter at corner opposite Chimdi Chekwa, Devon Torrence will share time there, as the two have done all preseason. They may rotate series to series on Saturday. “I’d be comfortable because both those guys have done a great job this camp,” Johnson said. “I think that’s a great situation for us. Both of them are going to play a lot for us.” … Receivers coach Darrell Hazell said the order at receiver is DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher, Taurian Washington, Duron Carter, Ray Small and Lamaar Thomas. … The video encouraging Ohio State fans to cheer Navy has received more than 240,000 page views on YouTube. Though distributed by Ohio State, it was created by two fans who work together — 1997 OSU grad Darrin Klinger and Cleveland native Doug Hochberg, an Ohio State junior and graduate of Orange High School.

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