Notes From Day One of Spring Drills – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 30, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University head coach John Cooper welcomed 83 student-athletes onto the practice fields outside of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Tuesday, March 30 for the start of spring camp. Among the key returnees on the field were returning first team all-Big Ten Conference selections Michael Wiley and Nail Diggs. Both will be legitimate candidates for All-America and post-season awards in 1999. In addition, prospective All-America and honors candidates such as senior cornerback Ahmed Plummer, senior free safety Gary Berry, senior offensive guard Ben Gilbert, senior fullback Matt Keller and junior defensive end Brent Johnson were among those who competed in Buckey gear (shorts and helmets) in perfect spring conditions.
Noticeably Absent
Two-time All-American offensive guard Rob Murphy was not on the practice field for the start of spring drills. Coach John Cooper has suspended the senior from Cincinnati until “Rob gets his academic situation in order,” said Cooper. “I know he can do it academically, but Im just not going to go through what we did last year with players not knowing whether they are going to be eligible. Rob wont practice this spring until he gets it done academically.”
Stultz Noticeably Absent, Too
Junior kicker Dan Stultz is sitting out the 1999 spring drills after undergoing surgery in February to correct a bulging lumbar disc. The surgery at University Hospital went well, according to team trainer Bill Davis, but he will go through a period of inactivity which will cause him to miss spring drills. Davis said that Stultzs progress will be assessed throughout the spring, and that his prognosis for a healthy return this fall looks very good.
Not Out of Position
Junior Tony Eisenhard, who has played on the defensive side of the football his first three seasons at Ohio State, will be tried at tight end this spring. A 6-7, 265-pounder from Tiffin, Ohio, Eisenhard is an excellent athlete who actually played in seven Big Ten Conference basketball games for the Buckeyes in 1996. He has a 36-inch vertical jump. He joins a tight end contingent that loses two-year starter John Lumpkin to graduation but returns 36-game veteran Steve Wisniewski, senior Kevin Houser and freshman Darnell Sanders. Wisniewski has 15 career receptions to his credit. Houser has one and Sanders red-shirted last year. Number Changes. . .
SS Cie Grant will wear jersey No. 6 after wearing No. 29 lastyear. CB Derek Ross will wear jersey No. 7 after wearing No. 37last year. CB Nate Clements will wear jersey No. 20 after wearingNo. 18 last year. SS Donnie Nickey will wear jersey No. 25 afterwearing No. 38 last year.
