By: MATT MARKEY (Toledo Blade) -- COLUMBUS - When the Ohio State receivers got together for their first spring meeting with position coach Darrell Hazell, they instinctively lined up by seniority, with the youngest players in the back of the group. It was at that moment Dane Sanzenbacher realized that if the group had a couple of gray beards, one of them was him. After just two seasons with Ohio State on his resume, the former City League star was now one of ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Columbus -- Ohio State receiver Ray Small considered leaving early for the NFL, but he didn't like the way he would have been remembered as a Buck- eye. "I couldn't leave as the bad guy," Small, a Glenville High grad, said Friday. "I wanted to show the world I can do it. I didn't want to go out on that note." "That note" concerned Small's suspension late last season for repeated violations of team rules that ... Read More

By: David Williams (BleacherReport.com) -- The 2009 version of the Ohio State Buckeyes will have to replace much of the star power which produced one of the most successful four-year runs in the program’s illustrious history. Led by All-American-caliber players such as James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman, and Malcolm Jenkins on defense, and Chris Wells, Brian Robiskie, Alex Boone, and Todd Boeckman on offense, the culminating class racked up an impressive 42-5 regular season record and made four straight BCS appearances. They ... Read More

By: Mark Tupper (Pantagraph.com) -- CHAMPAIGN -- Hardcore college football fans pay close attention to spring battles at positions like backup defensive end and nickel back in the secondary. But whenever Ohio State Buckeyes fans gather, it doesn’t take long for the conversation to zero in on what will happen on Sept. 12. That’s when Southern Cal comes to Ohio Stadium for a much-anticipated rematch of a game Southern Cal dominated last year, 35-3 on the Trojans’ home turf. Ohio State hasn’t had the best ... Read More

By: Dave-Te' Thomas (Scout.com) -- Much like his father, Terry, a former NFL player and present assistant coach with Atlanta, Brian is the consummate team player. Having grown up in a football environment, he showed great maturity upon his arrival on OSU’s campus as a true freshman, nailing down a spot on special teams while patiently waiting his turn behind a veteran laden receiving unit. As a sophomore, he forced his way into the lineup for five games before finally getting his opportunity ... Read More

By: Marla Ridenour (Beacon Journal via Ohio.com) -- When Chris Wells first walked through the door at the Euclid Power Plant, Eric Lichter asked, ''What NFL team does he play for?'' Lichter was stunned to learn that Wells was a senior at Garfield High School and had come to his spartan facility to train for the U.S. Army All-American Game and Ohio State spring football in 2006. ''I said, 'What is in the water in Akron, Ohio?' '' said Lichter, who has spent ... Read More

By: Steve Hemmelgarn (NewsAndSentinel.com) -- Spring football is in the air, so let's talk about it. Listen to Jim Tressel discuss his Ohio State team the day before spring drills began, and you get an indication who he is looking for to step up into a lot of those holes made by graduation and early departures for the NFL. But of course, the first thought for most OSU fans concerns the maturation of sophomore-to-be Terrelle Pryor at quarterback, especially with his passing. For Tressel, the ... Read More

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 ... Read More

By: Zack Meisel (TheLantern.com via Yahoo Sports) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio—How does a football team improve an offense that lost seven starters and was held without a touchdown in two of its three losses a year ago? During spring practices, trial-and-error seems to have been the most effective route to composing a new group of Ohio State linemen, backs and receivers, said offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. AP Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, center, times a kick drill during Sunday's practice at Ohio Stadium. Members of ... Read More

From: TimesGazette.com -- COLUMBUS - Jim Tressel tries to avoid prematurely judging his Ohio State teams. With 31 players gone from last year's squad heading into the start of spring practice on Thursday, it would be difficult to do anyway. "I've never really walked into a season and said, 'Well, this is a rebuilding year. We're not going to do as well,' or 'This is a reloading year, we're going to be better,' or 'We're experienced. Everything's going to be wonderful,"' the ... Read More

By: Rusty Miller (ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Coach Jim Tressel says he tries to never prematurely judge his Ohio State teams. With 31 players missing from last year’s squad heading into the start of spring practice on Thursday, it would be difficult to do anyway. “I’ve never really walked into a season and said, ’Well, this is a rebuilding year. We’re not going to do as well,’ or ’This is a reloading year, we’re going to be better,’ or ’We’re experienced. ... Read More

By: Steve Doerschuk (CantonRep.com) -- Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius are gone. Donté Stallworth is a few days removed from driving his Bentley into a pedestrian who died. Braylon Edwards is a question mark — All-Pro or All-Enigma? Syndric Steptoe, Josh Cribbs and Paul Hubbard combined for a grand total of 200 receiving yards in 2008. Who else is going to catch passes for the Browns in 2009? Do they have any choice but to spend a fairly high draft pick on that man? Ohio State’s Brian ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Columbus- Running back Chris "Beanie" Wells returned from the NFL Combine three weeks ago with a plan, one that centered on getting a kick start from Ohio State strength coach Eric Lichter and working on 40 times until 10 p.m. some nights. A 4.59 40-yard dash in Indianapolis turned into something between a 4.34 and 4.40 at Ohio State's Pro Day on Friday. "If you were worried about his speed," said one NFL scout, "he ran ... Read More