By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) –

Los Angeles — Five senior starters should take the field for Ohio State in Friday’s Rose Bowl, but the Buckeyes could wind up having to replace several other starters in 2010 and having to rebuild one of the best defenses in the country.

Already gone will be safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell, linebacker Austin Spitler and defensive lineman Doug Worthington and Todd Denlinger. At least four other defensive regulars have decisions about whether they come back in 2010. One position to watch is at safety, where Jermale Hines could be a star next season as a senior but will also consider leaving the Buckeyes, making him the third top safety to leave.

“I’ll sit down after the season, depending on my game this game, and we’ll come up with the best decision,” Hines said Wednesday. “I’m definitely not set. It all depends on my family situation and what’s best for me.”

Defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson, and cornerback Chimdi Chekwa are the Buckeyes most often discussed as early-entry candidates. Players will have two weeks to make a call, those declaring for the draft needing to do so by Jan.15. But Hines could leave the biggest hole if Ohio State needs to replace both safeties an its nickelback for next season. Hines replaced Russell as a starter after the second week, but saw his playing time decrease in the second half of the season after hyper-extending his right elbow against Wisconsin. The coaches tried to limit his playing time to keep him as healthy as possible.

Hines said the elbow has hindered him in his tackling and getting off blocks, but he won’t play with the large brace he’s been wearing in practice. Even while injured, the 6-2, 210-pound safety from Glenville thinks he’s shown what kind of player he is.

“I feel I would be ready [for the NFL],” Hines said. “It would be a little bit of an adjustment, but I feel with the attitude I’ve got and the toughness, I feel I’d be ready.”

Heyward said his decision hasn’t been made but every indication to this point is that he’s a good candidate to return for his senior year. Friends and family have said as much. Gibson and Chekwa could be leaning the other way. Both of them redshirted and have been in Columbus four seasons, which is always a factor to consider.

“Being at a place like Ohio State has been nothing but good for me. They made me who I am today. I learned so much from this coaching staff, so I’m not in a rush to leave,” said Gibson, who did agree fourth-year juniors may have more reasons to leave. “I really feel as though if I stayed another year, I would grow more as a player and more as a person and show more of what I can do.”

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he always likes to assume that all his players will stay, because “I don’t know why you’d ever want to leave college.”

But he said he understands players have to do what’s best for them, and he’d never ask a player to stay, even if the Buckeyes’ defense had a chance to be dominant next season.

“I have a job,” Tressel said. “For a guy who makes room and board, for me to say no, no, stick around with me so I can make money and you can be broke, I don’t ever do that.” 

Moeller’s return: One player who could be back next year is linebacker Tyler Moeller, who sat out the season after he suffered a head injury in July when he was punched at a Florida restaurant. A criminal case is still pending buy amoxicillin for the man accused of hitting Moeller.

Moeller, who was hospitalized because of bleeding in his brain, thinks he could return for some part of spring practice, though that is uncertain. He said he started power-walking a month ago, and that while he feels very good, January will be an important month in his progress.

“I think I’ll be able to play next year, but we’ll see in the following months,” Moeller said. “Right now, everything is going well and I’m starting to lift again. I feel better every day. .¤.¤. I just want to do everything, but I have to take it slow. I understand if I go too hard something bad can happen, and I won’t have a chance next year.”

Also: Ohio State did not practice outside Wednesday afternoon because of rain. Instead the Buckeyes held meetings in conference rooms at the team hotel. . . . Kicker Aaron Pettrey, out since tearing a knee ligament against New Mexico State, said he’s ready to kick but the coaches haven’t made a decision yet. Backup Devin Barclay, who hit the game-winning field goal against Iowa, is sure to handle kickoffs, but who will kick field goals hasn’t been decided. Pettrey said his range has been affected a bit but he’s still good from 50 yards. And he said he’s missed only one kick in practice all week. “The good thing is they’re both ready,” Tressel said.

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