Here’s how Ohio State will try to replace suspended players next season

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -

Columbus — The prospect of a suspension lasting through as many as the first five games of the 2011 regular season certainly changed the discussion about the NFL futures of the Ohio State juniors.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, left tackle Mike Adams and receiver DeVier Posey could be more likely to leave school now and even a player like center Mike Brewster, who was not involved in the suspensions at all, might weight his options differently if a lot of juniors teammates leave. Even if the juniors in question stay, the Buckeyes will need to find solutions for at least a few games. Here’s how they’ll do it.

Quarterback

Joe Bauserman, Pryor’s current backup, will be a senior next year, but he may not be the favorite in a quarterback competition. Incoming freshman Braxton Miller is the No. 2 quarterback recruit in the country according to Rivals.com and comes from a higher-level high school program than Pryor did. He looks more ready to step in as a freshman, and remember that Pryor took the job from senior Todd Boeckman after three weeks despite how raw he was. Current No. 3 quarterback Kenny Guiton could have a real shot at the job as well, while Taylor Graham, who redshirted this season, would be the darkhorse. Even if someone like Bauserman is technically the starter in the opener against Akron, it’s almost certain that Miller will see the field. And he could see it for every snap.

Running back

Herron was All-Big Ten this season as a fourth-year junior, but the crowded backfield was going to make it less likely that he’d be such an obvious No. 1 next year anyway. He may be the most likely Buckeye to leave, but with Jordan Hall as a junior next year, Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde as sophomores and Rod Smith as redshirt freshmen, Herron’s loss should be absorbed. Smith, a bigger back who would bring something the Buckeyes didn’t have this year, was the star of early bowl practice and could flourish with the chance at more carries.

Receiver

This is getting thin quickly. There was no true No. 3 receiver this year, and leading receiver and team MVP Dane Sanzenbacher is a…..

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