Spring Notes, Days Three and Four – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 5, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes are back in pads. The team put full pads on for Fridays afternoon workout and Saturdays morning workout and judging by the spirit of the workouts, the players are glad to be in pads. All-American candidate Nail Diggs: “I was a little sore today (Saturday) but it is good to be back in the grind.” Head coach John Cooper didnt have anything additional to report about the first two days in pads, saying simply “we need about 20 more days in pads and then Ill be able to tell you something.” The team will take Easter Sunday off before resuming practice on Monday. The squad will also practice on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.
Quarterback Update
Quarterbacks coach Tim Salem: “Both Austin (Moherman) and Steve (Bellisari) are getting a lot of turns. They have each gotten as many repetitions in four days of practice than Joe Germaine and the others did through 12 practices last spring. Joe would love to be able to get as much work as these two are getting now.”
Kid in a Candy Store
Tailback Jonathan Wells loves being back in the pads and participating in the contact drills. “Im like a kid in a candy store,” the sophomore said. “It feels great. Ive got my groove back and Im ready to rock. I am a big guy and I like to play big. Im a 230-pound back who wants to play like a 280-pound back.”
Great Competition
Some of the best battles of the spring are found in the trenches, where the veteran offensive and defensive lines are going at it. Senior center Kurt Murphy says the competition has been incredible. “This is the best competition I have faced since Ive been here,” Murphy said after Saturdays practice. “The defensive line goes eight deep and they dont lose much when the second teamers come in. Some of the guys rely on power. Some rely on speed. Some have a combination of both speed and power so we are seeing everything that we are going to see in the Big Ten Conference.” Buckeye Bullets. . .
Senior free safety Gary Berry and sophomore cornerback NateClements have been fielding all the punts in practice.
Junior flanker Chad Cacchio dislocated his right shoulder duringFridays practice. It is the same shoulder he had surgery on inJanuary of 1998. His return to spring drills is questionable,according to head team trainer Bill Davis.
