Coach: Jim Tressel, 32-7 in 3 years at OSU; 167-64-2 overall in 18 years
2003: 11-2, finished tied for second in the Big Ten and fourth in the national polls
Returning starters: 10; 5 offense, 4 defense, kicker
Key losses: QB Craig Krenzel, WR Michael Jenkins, TE Ben Hartsock, G Alex Stepanovich, OT Shane Olivea, DE Will Smith, DT Tim Anderson, DT Tim Anderson, CB Chris Gamble, SS Will Allen, P B.J. Sander
Offensive incumbents: LT Rob Sims, C Nick Mangold, TB Lydell Ross, FB Brandon Joe
Offensive outlook: Everybody fretting about how the Buckeyes will perform behind a revamped line and sophomore quarterbacks Justin Zwick and Troy Smith should relax. The Buckeyes have won 25 games the last two years with an attack that has ranked among the bottom third of 117 Division I-A teams. So how much worse could they be this season? Tressel's conservative approach always leans on defense and special teams to spearhead success. Zwick and/or Smith should be able to at least match Krenzel's numbers from last year (2,040 yards passing, 15 TDs). Whether they can avoid mistakes as well as Krenzel will be the key. It would help a lot if Ross had the kind of senior breakout season Jonathan Wells had in 2001 when he rushed for 1,294 yards. Joe and freshman Tony Pittman, a spring star, give the Buckeyes other options if Ross can't shake his injury-riddled past. Sophomore flanker Santonio Holmes is an All-American in the making, tight end Ryan Hamby is a solid receiver and physically-imposing split end Roy Hall could cause matchup headaches for opposing defenses. On the other hand, OSU will have headaches of its own if a suspect line doesn't mature quickly.
Defensive incumbents: DE Simon Fraser, LB A.J. Hawk, FS Nate Salley, CB Dustin Fox.
Defensive outlook: Normally, returning only four starters would be a major concern, especially when three of the losses are three-year starting linemen who have graduated to the NFL. But this unit isn't rebuilding; it's reloading. The focus shifts from the line to the linebackers, where Hawk -- a projected All-American -- leads a cast that Bobby Carpenter and Mike D'Andrea (fellow members of the heralded 2002 recruiting class), along with transfers Anthony Schlegel and John Kerr. Hawk, Schlegel and Kerr have all had 100-tackle seasons, the latter two with their former schools, Air Force and Indiana, respectively. Fox and Salley lead a deep, athletic secondary with the sort of big-play potential to overcome the loss of lockdown corner Chris Gamble. Up front, the plan is to use an 8-to-10 man rotation, with Fraser as the cornerstone and sophomore Quinn Pitcock and junior Mike Kudla as emerging stars. Look for this group to do more blitzing and take more gambles under first-year coordinator Mark Snyder.
Special teams: OSU's results in this department range from the sublime (placekicker Mike Nugent) to the ridiculous (kick return unit). Nugent has converted 41 of his last 47 field goal attempts and owns 12 schools records. He might have had more than 19 attempts last year if the return units had given the Buckeyes better field position. They ranked 10th in the Big Ten in kickoff returns (17.6 yards per return) and punt returns (6.7). Celebrated freshman Ted Ginn Jr., could bring an end to such futility. Given the emphasis Tressel puts on the punting game, fifth-year senior Josh Huston represents the X factor on this team. He becomes the punter, following in the giant footsteps of 2002 All-American Andy Groom and 2003 Ray Guy Award winner B.J. Sander. Last season only 10 Division I schools punted more than the Buckeyes. Fortunately, Sander averaged 43.3 yards per kick and led the nation with 47.5 percent of his punts landing inside the 20, a big reason OSU ranked fourth in net punting.
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