By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -

Columbus — Tyler Moeller’s football future is out of his hands, and the Ohio State defense should want Moeller back next season just as badly as he wants to play.

After redshirting his first year in Columbus, missing all of last season with a head injury suffered when he was assaulted in a restaurant and then seeing this season ended in the fifth game by a torn pectoral muscle, Moeller will ask the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.

“Hopefully they’ll see it in their heart to give me another [redshirt year] but some people think differently, and if they don’t, I’ll understand,” Moeller said days after his season-ending injury against Illinois. “But hopefully they’ll give me that.”

The No. 11 Buckeyes (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) were off this weekend and will finish November with Penn State, Iowa and Michigan, but taking a peek at next year, defensive coordinator Jim Heacock should have his fingers crossed that Moeller, who excelled in the star position in Ohio State’s nickel defense, gets another chance. Ohio State will lose seven senior defensive starters — linemen Cameron Heyward and Dexter Larimore, linebackers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, safety Jermale Hines and cornerbacks Devon Torrence and Chimdi Chekwa — so anyone with experience and tackling ability will be even more valuable.

Moeller had a great start to this season before tearing his pectoral muscle on the first drive against Illinois. After surgically repairing what had been a nagging injury that limited his upper body strength, Moeller believes he can do even more if given a chance in 2011……….

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