Ohio State Football Depth Chart – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/4/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 4, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio –
OHIO STATE DEPTH CHART
(for Illinois)
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
SE 9 DAVID BOSTON (6-3, 215, Jr.) All-America candidate…leads team w/ 23 catches, 333 rec. yds…3rd at OSU w/ 129 rcpts…2nd with 23 TDs…big, strong and fast.
LT 77 TYSON WALTER (6-5, 305, So. ) Strong fall camp…confident, athletic & intense…OSU’s “O” lineman of week vs. Missouri…has started 17 games the last two years.
LG 56 ROB MURPHY (6-5, 300, Jr.) All-America candidate…Outland Trophy checklist…’97 Football News AA…27 starts…physical and fiesty…leader of the line.
C 63 KURT MURPHY (6-4, 290, Jr.) Strong, young player…intelligent…makes all line calls…shared OSU’s top lineman honors for WVU game…24-game, 11-start vet.
RG 64 BEN GILBERT (6-5, 295, Jr.) Top lineman vs. PSU…keeps improving…shared OSU’s top lineman honors for WVU and Mizzou games…24-game, 16-start vet.
RT 67 BROOKS BURRIS (6-7-290, Sr.*) Versatile…shared top lineman honors for WVU game…exper-ienced veteran of 35 games & 13 starts…eight starts in 1997.
TE 85 JOHN LUMPKIN (6-8, 260, Sr.) Emerged last year (17 for 320; 3 TDs)…has 5 catches for 91 yds in ’98…spectacular catch in Sugar Bowl…should be dominant blocker.
QB 7 JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 205, Sr.*) Terrific timing & accuracy…6th in OSU passing annals with 3,915 yds…T 4th in TD passes (36)…20th nationally in pass efficiency.
FB 23 MATT KELLER (6-0, 238, Jr.) Savvy, crafty & works hard…terrific blocker…3rd-leading rusher and receiver in ’97 (257 rush yards & 19 receptions).
TB 5 MICHAEL WILEY (6-0, 195, Jr.) Electrifying…7th nationally at 140.5 ypg; 8th w/ 162.0 all-purpose ypg…209 rush yards, 2 TDs vs. Missouri…8th Buckeye to top 200.
FL 15 DEE MILLER (6-1, 200, Sr.*) Spectacular, big-play receiver…20 rec. for 321 yards and 2 TDs in ’98…6 catches, 108 yards and vs. PSU…93 career catches.
PK 47 DAN STULTZ (6-0, 195, So) Second on team with 30 points in ’98 (Wiley 36)…snapped 0-for-3 string with two FGs vs. Missouri…55-yard FG vs. IU last year.
SECOND TEAM
SE 80 REGGIE GERMANY (6-2, 195, So.) Led OSU with 63 rec. yds. and 2 TDs vs. Toledo…4th on team with 7 rec. for 109 yards and 2 TDs…a 110-meter high hurdler…hops.
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 this fall 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…expected to push for starting position…slowed in the spring (ankle) and fall (ill)…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…improving. 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 39 JAMAR MARTIN (6-1, 235, Fr.) True freshman who earned time by virtue of terrific blocking ability…could see more action with loss of Sean Penny.
TB 33 JOE MONTGOMERY (5-11, 216, Sr.) Fan favorite who is a tough inside runner…has come back from serious knee injuries…2nd on team with 201 yds…3 rushing TDs.
FL 4 KEN-YON RAMBO (6-1, 190, So.) Talented, graceful, athletic…a “speed” receiver…missed first two with ankle sprain…handled punts and kickoffs vs. Missouri.
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 4 Ken-Yon Rambo (6-1, 190, So.) KR 5 Michael Wiley (6-0, 195, Jr.) PR 4 Ken-Yon Rambo (6-1, 190, So.) PR 9 David Boston (6-3, 214, Jr.)
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
DE 94 RODNEY BAILEY (6-3, 255, So.) Solid, play-making end…only true frosh to start in ’97…3 tackles; 1 sack in ’98…9 tackles last year vs. Michigan)…quick & athletic.
DT 90 CLINTON WAYNE (6-3, 275, So.) Called “the best athlete among the tackles”…strong, physical and tough to defend…4 tackles in ’98.
DT 73 JOE BROWN (6-6, 285, So.) One of the team’s quickest linemen…8 tackes and 1 for loss in ’98…hard worker…playing with pin in left thumb.
DE 60 BRENT JOHNSON (6-4, 265, So.) Most improved & most consistent end this spring & fall…played run and pass extremely well…leading tackler along the “D” line.
BLB 32 NA’IL DIGGS (6-4, 235, So.) A most promising young Buckeye…T 2nd on team in tackles (23) with career-high 10 vs. Missouri…13 solo tackles; interception.
MLB 45 ANDY KATZENMOYER (6-4, 255, Jr.) The best player in college football…an “all” awards candidate…T2nd in tackles with 23…19 solo tackles…career-high 12 stops vs. MU.
WLB 35 JERRY RUDZINSKI (6-2, 225, Sr.*) Academic All-America candidate…co-captain & leader…recovered PSU fmb for TD…savvy…19 tackles; 3 TFLs, sack.
CB 11 ANTOINE WINFIELD (5-9, 180, Sr.) All-American…Thorpe Award candidate…plays with a vengeance…23 tackles…3 PBUs…228 career stops & 17 PBUs.
FS 1 GARY BERRY (6-0, 195, Jr.) Called “the top athlete among the DBs” and is one of the team’s fastest…best football is ahead of him…14 tackles, 2 TFLs (-14).
SS 13 DAMON MOORE (5-11, 200, Sr.*) Fierce hitter…a force in the secondary…runs the show…11th career INT vs. Toledo…has team-high 25 tackles, 2 TFLs (-11), sack.
CB 19 AHMED PLUMMER (6-0, 190, Jr.) Student of the game who is fast becoming a big-time player…made 7th career INT vs. PSU…hits and covers…leads team with 4 PBUs.
Pu 41 BRENT BARTHOLOMEW (6-2, 210, Sr.) All-America candidate…ranks 12th nationally with a 45.36 avg…All-Big Ten & 10th nationally in ’97 (45.2 avg; 4th at OSU).
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…loads of talent…picked up defense quickly…will push for starting time…has good strength and is a tough player.
DT 79 RYAN PICKETT (6-3, 290, Fr.) Consensus high school All-American…true freshman with bright future…physical…started vs. Penn State…4 stops vs. Toledo.
DE 52 JAMES COTTON (6-4, 245, Jr.) Opened eyes in spring camp after switching from LB to DE…still learning the system…an athlete…TFLs vs. WVU and MU.
BLB 10 JOE COOPER (6-2, 213, So.) Undersized LB, but a huge hitter…a bell-ringer…had team-high 10 tackles vs. Toledo…recovered blocked punt for TD vs. PSU. MLB 30 JASON OTT (6-4, 240, Fr.) Can play 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. one this year vs. WVU.
FS 17 PERCY KING (6-4, 210, Jr.) The “surprise of the secondary” this spring…had one of 5 INTs for OSU against Toledo…blocked punt vs. PSU…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…most tackles among reserves (13).
CB 18 NATE CLEMENTS (6-0, 185, So.) True freshman…impressive fall camp…jumped right onto the two-deep charts…high school All-American by numerous publications.
* Indicates fifth-year senior



