Football Depth Chart – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/13/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 13, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio –
BUCKEYE TWO DEEP
OHIO STATE OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM SE 9 DAVID BOSTON (6-3, 215, Jr.) All-America candidate…Leads team with 12 catches and 184 rec. yds…4th at OSU with 118 rcpts…2nd with 23 receiving TDs.
LT 77 TYSON WALTER (6-5, 305, So. ) Strong fall camp…confident, athletic & intense… stepped in for Orlando Pace and has started all 15 games the last two years.
LG 56 ROB MURPHY (6-5, 300, Jr.) All-America candidate…’97 FN All-American…Has helped Bucks to a No. 12 ranking in rushing (503 yds., 251.5 ypg.) …25 starts.
C 63 KURT MURPHY (6-4, 290, Jr.) Strong, young player…intelligent…makes all line calls… shared top lineman honors for WVU game…21-game veteran.
RG 64 BEN GILBERT (6-5, 295, Jr.) Strong fall camp…23-game vet with 13 starts last year as true soph…physical…shared top lineman honors for WVU game.
RT 67 BROOKS BURRIS (6-7-290, Sr.*) Versatile…shared top lineman honors for WVU game… experienced veteran of 34 games & 11 starts…eight starts in 1997.
TE 85 JOHN LUMPKIN (6-8, 260, Sr.) Emerged last year (17 for 320 yds and 3 TDs)… has 3 catches for 60 yds in ’98…spectacular 50-yard TD grab in Sugar Bowl.
QB 7 JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 205, Sr.*) Terrific timing & accuracy…6th in OSU passing annals with 3,491 yds…5th in TD passes (35)…3rd nationally in ’97 in pass effic.
FB 23 MATT KELLER (6-0, 238, Jr.) Savvy, crafty & works hard…3rd-leading rusher and receiver in ’97 (257 rush yards & 19 receptions)…boom-boom blocker.
TB 5 MICHAEL WILEY (6-0, 195, Jr.) Called “talented & gifted & elusive & special”… 151 rush yards vs. Toledo single-game career-high…avg. 9.7 yards per carry.
FL 15 DEE MILLER (6-1, 200, Sr.*) One of nation’s best…makes spectacular, big-play catches… 2nd in receiving in ’98 with 10 catches, 164 yds, 2 TDs and 82 ypg.
PK 47 DAN STULTZ (6-0, 195, So) Second on team with 17 points in “98 (Wiley 18)… 55-yard FG vs. IU last year…could become one of OSU’s all-time bests.
SECOND TEAM SE 80 Reggie Germany (6-2, 195, So.) Led OSU with 63 rec. yds. and 2 TDs vs. Toledo… On his way to becoming a marquee player…gets yards after the catch…smooth.
LT 68 LeCHARLES BENTLEY (6-3, 265, Fr.) True freshman…came on strong during fall camp… all-Ohio selection in high school…very strong and explosive.
LG 65 MIKE GURR (6-7, 270, So.) Has good quickness and athleticism…has played tight end, right guard and left guard…concentrated on guard position in fall.
C 78 DREW ELFORD (6-4, 300, Jr.) Moved to center last fall but can play all the offensive line positions…slowed by ankle sprain but will press for time. RG 55 TAM HOPKINS (6-5, 295, So.) Terrific athlete…strong & explosive…will challenge for starting honors…expected to be 100 pct. after spring ankle injury.
RT 75 HENRY FLEMING (6-7, 305, So.) Tough and massive…is expected to push for starting position… slowed in the spring, but played in seven games in ’97.
TE 87 KEVIN HOUSER (6-3, 250, Jr.) Also has been the long snapper for punts and placements the past two years…good hands and excellent receiver. QB 16 MARK GARCIA (6-4, 215, Sr.*) Completed 5 of 11 passes for 83 yds and a TD vs. Toledo … Can throw to any part of the field and is capable of making big plays.
FB 36 SEAN PENNY (6-2, 215, So.) Highly regarded with all the tools…just needs to grasp fullback mentality…terrific athlete…averaged 6.0 yards per rush.
TB 33 JOE MONTGOMERY (5-11, 216, Sr.) Making comeback from knee injury and surgeries…2nd on team in rushing (83 yds.)…has not lost a yd this season (17 carries).
FL 6 JIMMY REDMOND (6-0,187, Jr.) Missed last season after breaking his right leg in the season opener against Wyoming…one of the fastest players on the team.
LS 87 Kevin Houser (6-3, 250, Jr.) HO 41 Brent Bartholomew (6-2, 210, Sr.) PK 47 Dan Stultz (6-0, 205, So.)
KR 80 Reggie Germany (6-2, 195, So.) KR 5 Michael Wiley (6-0, 195, Jr.) PR 1 Gary Berry (6-0, 195, Jr.) PR 9 David Boston (6-3, 214, Jr.)
OHIO STATE DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM DE 94 RODNEY BAILEY (6-3, 255, So.) A rising star…only true frosh to start in ’97… makes plays (9 tackles vs. Michigan)…has size, quickness and athletic ability.
DT 90 CLINTON WAYNE (6-3, 275, So.) Called “the best athlete among the tackles”… strong, physical and tough to defend…worked on technique & is ready to shine.
DT 73 JOE BROWN (6-6, 285, So.) One of the team’s quickest linemen…active, strong, physical… sheds blocks…hard worker…will a have major presence.
DE 60 BRENT JOHNSON (6-4, 265, So.) Most improved & most consistent end this spring… played run and pass extremely well.
BLB 32 NA’IL DIGGS (6-4, 235, So.) A most promising young Buckeye…athletic and exceptionally quick…solid pass rusher and run stopper…up from DE.
MLB 45 ANDY KATZENMOYER (6-4, 255, Jr.) The best player in college football…Heisman Trophy, Lombardi, Outland, Butkus, Maxwell & Nagurski awards candidate.
WLB 35 JERRY RUDZINSKI (6-2, 225, Sr.*) OSU Scholar-Athlete…key player & leader on the football field…intelligent, hard-working & never out of position…savvy.
CB 11 ANTOINE WINFIELD (5-9, 180, Sr.) All-American…Thorpe Award candidate…loves to practice… loves to play…all 8 tackles this year are solos…a warrior.
FS 1 GARY BERRY (6-0, 195, Jr.) Called “the top athlete among the DBs” and is one of the team’s fastest…a veteran, but best football is ahead of him.
SS 13 DAMON MOORE (5-11, 200, Sr.*) Fierce hitter…a force in the secondary…runs the show… makes adjustments…had 11th career INT vs. Toledo.
CB 19 AHMED PLUMMER (6-0, 190, Jr.) Student of the game who is fast becoming a big-time player… made 6th career INT in 1st qtr. against Toledo.
Pu 41 BRENT BARTHOLOMEW (6-2, 210, Sr.) All-America candidate…All-Big Ten, 10th nationally in ’97 (45.2 ypp; 4th best at OSU)…42.4 career average with 23 I20. SECOND TEAM DE 48 MATT LaVRAR (6-3, 240, Jr.) 11-game starter in ’97…consistent at stopping the run & improving as a pass rusher…still learning after switch from LB.
DT 98 MIKE COLLINS (6-3, 290, Fr.) True freshman…picked up defense quickly…will push for playing time…has good strength and is a tough player.
DT 79 RYAN PICKETT (6-3, 290, Fr.) Consensus high school All-American…relentless pass rusher… intimidating size…true freshman…4 stops vs. Toledo.
DE 52 JAMES COTTON (6-4, 245, Jr.) Opened eyes in spring camp after switching from LB to DE… learning the system, but he is an athlete…1/2 sack vs. WVU
BLB 10 JOE COOPER (6-2, 213, So.) Tied for team lead with 12 tackles (7 solo)…had team lead 7 tackles vs. Toledo…moved from DB to linebacker position in ’98. MLB 30 JASON OTT (6-4, 240, Fr.) Can play either all LB positions…will see playing time this year after a fine spring showing…a tough & physical player.
WLB 49 TIM CHEATWOOD (6-4,215, Fr.) Switched from strong safety to linebacker position this spring… had an excellent fall camp…had 1st career INT vs. Toledo.
CB 3 DAVID MITCHELL (6-1, 195, So.) Played in all 13 games last year as a true frosh with plenty of special teams action…two career INTs, incl. vs. West Virginia.
FS 17 PERCY KING (6-4, 210, Jr.) The “surprise of the secondary” this spring…had one of 5 INTs for OSU against Toledo, his second of his career…a big hitter.
SS 20 CENTRAL McCLELLION (5-11, 190, Sr.*) Has terrific talent and can play all the secondary positions… 8 tackles vs. WVU…4 vs. Toledo…tied for team lead with 12 tackles.
CB 18 NATE CLEMENTS (6-0, 185, So.) True freshman…impressive fall camp…high school All-American by numerous publications.
