By: MIKE PERRY (MorningJournal.com) —
COLUMBUS ­— Ohio State coach Jim Tressel saw a ton of offensive talent either leave via graduation or through early entry for the 2009 NFL Draft. He has holes to fill, but thinks he has the talent to piece together a solid offensive unit. At the receiver position, however, the experience is thin.

The “two Brians,” Robiskie and Hartline, have moved on, leaving the Buckeyes without significant experience at receiver. Roy Hall and Dane Sanzenbacher saw time last season, but this position is a question mark.

While Small and Sanzenbacher have been in the Big Ten battles before, they do not posses prototypical size for receivers in the conference. In fact, they are downright tiny, Small at 5-11, 180 and Sanzenbacher at 5-11, 175.

Sanzenbacher caught 21 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown last season while Small grabbed 18 balls for 149 yards.

One recruit will bring size to Columbus, along with an impressive pedigree.

Duron Carter, from St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, is Buckeyes legend Cris Carter’s son. He’s 6-3, 185 with decent speed, but he also runs crisp patterns and has better-than-average hands. Carter caught buy antibiotics without prescription 39 passes for 739 yards, including 14 touchdown receptions, as a senior to lead Aquinas to a Florida 5A state championship.

Another incoming freshman, James Jackson from Grand Ledge High School in Michigan, is expected to contribute this season. Jackson is a burner. He won the state 100 meter championship as a sophomore and runs a low 4.3 to high 4.2 40-yard dash.

Sophomore DeVier Posey and junior Taurian Washington saw time last season and will see increased roles in 2009. But the competition is wide open.

“I do think it’s going to be a big Spring for guys like DeVier Posey, Taurian Washington, Lamaar Thomas and your veteran guys like Dane Sanzenbacher and Ray Small,” Tressel said. “It’s going to be important for them, but they probably won’t make the quantum leaps I sure hope Lamar and DeVier and Taurian make.”

Heading into Spring Practice Tressel hopes his receiving corps can stay on the field so he can get a full evaluation.

“I think it’s going to be critical as to how healthy those guys are because the only way you get good is with reps,” he said.

Tight end

In Tressel’s offense the tight end is more a blocker than receiver, and he lost a tight end he trusted in Rory Nicol.

Senior Jake Ballard is big, 6-6, 256 pounds, but he is more a blocking tight end than a threat to catch the ball. Redshirt freshmen Nick DiLillo and Jake Stoneburner were singled out for praise by Tressel prior to the start of spring practice, but even though they both have the size to play tight end in the Big Ten, DiLillo at 6-5, 237 and Stoneburner at 6-5, 230, neither player has a wealth of experience to draw upon. Ballard caught five passes for 73 yards last season.

The Buckeyes were disappointing on third-and-short last season, so Tressel might reach into his bag of tricks in 2009.

“In short yardage we’re going to work (defensive lineman) Todd Denlinger in at a little tight end since he’s No. 92,” Tressel said. “Whenever you’re working with your seniors you’re always looking for more roles for them. We lost Rory Nicol, he and Jake were two of our best blocking guys. I think Jake Stoneburner and Nick DiLillo are going to come along, but maybe not as quickly as Todd Denlinger.

“We might use (offensive lineman) Andrew Moses at a little tight end. In the off-season drills when they were doing position drills he worked with them.

Offensive line

The area hit hardest by graduation might also be the area where the Buckeyes’ offense is in the best shape. Outland Trophy candidate and four-year starter Alex Boone is gone at left tackle, two-year starter Ben Person is gone at right guard. Three-year starter Steve Rehring is gone at right tackle. Jon Skinner and Kyle Mitchum, two linemen that saw plenty of action, are also out the door.

But the line could be as good, if not better, than ever this season.

It all starts with Jim Cordle. Cordle, a senior, started all 13 games for the Buckeyes last season and, at 6-4 297, is versatile. How versatile is Cordle? Tressel said he might use the senior at every offensive line position this spring to see how things unfold. “I think there will be a lot of different mixtures and matches in there. You’ll probably see Jimmy Cordle playing center, guard and tackle. Jimmy, with his intelligence, footwork and quickness can be helpful at all of those positions,” Tressel said.

One thing is for certain … the Buckeyes should, again, have one of the biggest offensive lines in the conference.

J.B. Shugarts, a highly-touted recruit who had shoulder surgery last season, is 6-8, 298. Mike Adams, a sophomore, is 6-8, 322. Junior Bryant Browning, who saw significant time last season, is 6-4, 312. Sophomore Michael Brewster, who ended the season as the Buckeyes’ starting center last year, is 6-5, 296.

Freshman Jack Mewhort, who is already with the team after graduating early from Toledo St. John, is 6-5, 293.

“Jack is in early, he’s a guy who can play center and play tackle,” Tressel said. “I’m assuming he can play guard as well. I think you are going to see more different combinations this spring than you have ever seen before. All along the board, in the offensive line especially.”

Another lineman to watch is 6-3, 315 pound junior Justin Boren.

Boren earned some notoriety when he transferred to Ohio State from Michigan.

He sat out last season after starting as a sophomore for the Wolverines.

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