Second-Ranked Ohio State Travels to Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2002
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Defending Big Ten Champions Up Next For OSU
The road to perfection doesn’t get any easier this week for second-ranked Ohio State. The Buckeyes, 11-0 on the year and 6-0 in the Big Ten, must now face defending Big Ten champion Illinois as the Buckeyes continue their pursuit of the conference title and a berth in the BCS Championship game.
This week marks the second-consecutive road game for the Buckeyes, who are coming off a hard-fought 10-6 win at Purdue in which Ohio State scored the winning touchdown with 1:36 to go on a fourth-down pass play.
Illinois is 4-6 for all games and 3-3 in conference play. The Illini have won three of their last four, however, including a 37-20 win at Wisconsin this past Saturday in which they rolled up more than 450 yards in total offense.
This week’s game in Memorial Stadium (cap. 69,249) will be televised by ABC Sports – the fifth-consecutive and seventh overall ABC appearance of the year for the Buckeyes – and broadcast by WBNS Radio, the flagship station for the Ohio State radio network. Kickoff time Saturday is 3:37 p.m. EST. The Buckeyes are seeking their first 12-win season. Ohio State began the 1975, ’79 and ’95 seasons with 11-0 records, but on each occasion lost the next game. The ’75 and ’79 teams both finished with 11-1 records, while the ’95 squad was 11-2
Following Illinois, Ohio State returns home to host Michigan Nov. 23. That game, which is sold out, will kick off at 12:10 p.m. EST and will be televised nationally by ABC Sports.
This Week’s Travel Plans
The Buckeyes will fly via private charter to Champaign on Friday and will hold a brief walk-through in Memorial Stadium shortly after their arrival. The team, which will stay at the Holiday Inn in Urbana, will return to Columbus immediately after the game.
A Quick Glance At The Coaches
Big Ten and National Coach of the Year candidate Jim Tressel is in his second year at Ohio State, where his record of 18-5 for all games includes an 11-3 mark in Big Ten play. Tressel, now in his 17th season as a head coach, has a career record of 153-62-2. Prior to Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 highly-successful years as head coach at Youngstown State, where he was a four-time pick as the Division 1-AA National Coach of the Year. Tressel is 0-1 against Illinois, that loss coming last year in Columbus, 34-22.
Ron Turner is completing his sixth season at Illinois and his seventh season as a head coach. Turner’s overall record of 37-41 includes a 30-37 mark with the Illini. His Big Ten record stands at 18-28 and he is 2-3 against Ohio State.
A Look At The Buckeyes
Ohio State, which dating back to last year has won 11-consecutive regular-season games, is one of just two remaining unbeaten teams in college football (Miami is the other). The Buckeyes are ranked second in both polls this week (behind Miami) and were second in last week’s BCS ranking.
Coach Jim Tressel’s team is 6-0 in Big Ten play (a game behind 7-0 Iowa which concludes its season this week at Minnesota) and 4-0 on the road. The Buckeyes have been a good road team under Tressel, compiling a 7-2 mark in his just less than two-year tenure, including a 6-1 slate in Big Ten games. In fact, the Buckeyes have won five straight conference road games since a 29-27 loss at Penn State last year.
The Ohio State defense, which has allowed just one opponent to score more that 20 points all year long, has given up a miserly 16 points in the last 14 quarters. Led by All-America candidates Michael Doss at strong safety and Matt Wilhelm at middle linebacker, Ohio State has not allowed a second-half touchdown in the last five games.
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in several defensive categories, including scoring defense (12.2 points per game) and total defense (308.8 yards per game). They also pace the league in red zone defense (51.7 percent).
On the other side of the ball, the Ohio State offense has outscored its opponents 182-41 in the second half and leads the Big Ten in time of possession at 32:02 minutes per game. The Buckeyes are second in red zone offense, converting 87.5 percent of their opportunities inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
With the junior quarterback Craig Krenzel completing 62.7 percent of his pass attempts, the Buckeyes are second in the league in passing efficiency. Krenzel, who is 12-1 as a starter, has had plenty of help from big-play receiver Michael Jenkins, who this past Saturday hauled in the winning touchdown pass at Purdue. The 6-5 Jenkins is averaging 17.7 yards per catch and has emerged as one of the best clutch receivers in the Big Ten.
In the kicking department, OSU boasts what might be the best kicking tandem in college football. Senior punter Andy Groom, twice the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, leads the Big Ten with an average of 45.2 yards per kick on 43 punts and has continually come up with big kicks that have pinned the opposition deep in its own territory. And place-kicker Mike Nugent, only a sophomore, has made all 21 of his field goals this year and has eight kicks of 40 or more yards.
The Story Line
The Buckeyes, who boast one of the top defenses in the Big Ten, have given up just 30 points in the past four games – only three in the second half – and lead the league in scoring defense and total defense. The Illinois offense leads the league in passing offense, total offense and first downs. In their last three wins, the Illini have averaged an impressive 40 points a game.
Recapping Purdue
| Michael Jenkins |
Trailing 6-3 and facing a fourth-and-one with 1:42 to play,the Buckeyes scored on 37-yard pass from Craig Krenzel to MichaelJenkins. Then, as he has made a habit of doing in recent weeks,sophomore Chris Gamble saved the day with a leaping interceptionthat allowed the Buckeyes to run out the clock and escape with a10-6 win.
The Buckeye defense was again superb, holding the Boilers, who had entered the game averaging 29 points a game, to a pair of field goals.
Cornerback Dustin Fox and linebacker Matt Wilhelm also had interceptions for Ohio State. The pick by Fox came in the end zone after Purdue had driven to the OSU 15 on its opening possession. Wilhelm’s diving grab set up Ohio State’s first score, a 22-yard Mike Nugent field goal as time expired in the first half. Nugent’s kick knotted the score at 3-all.
Wilhelm also came up with a big play in the fourth quarter, a tackle-for-loss of Purdue quarterback Brandon Kirsch at the OSU 10-yard line that forced the Boilers to settle for a field goal rather than a touchdown. Wilhelm finished the game with eight tackles, one behind All-America Mike Doss.
The game-winning drive, which covered 46 yards in four plays, was OSU’s longest drive of the day and included a 13-yard completion to tight end Ben Harstock on third down.
The Buckeyes again played most of the game without freshman tailback Maurice Clarett. Clarett had 52 yards on 14 carries before exiting late in the first half with a shoulder injury. The Buckeyes were also without the services of wide receiver Chris Vance, who missed the game to attend his brother’s funeral.
The win was Ohio State’s fourth road victory of the year.
Coach Tressel On The Buckeyes
“We played hard at Purdue and were able to get past a good team. We need to stay focused and play with the same intensity at Illinois this week. They are the defending Big Ten champions, so we know we will have to play our best game to date. Our senior leadership has been outstanding this year and those guys will need to step up again this week.”
Gamble Does It Again
Do-it-all sophomore Chris Gamble did it again Saturday. With the Buckeyes holding on to a precarious 10-6 lead and Purdue on the move, the 6-2 Gamble knifed in front of a Boilermaker receiver and intercepted Kyle Orton’s pass at the OSU 11-yard line with 45 seconds left in the game. The Buckeyes then ran out the clock to secure their 11th victory of the year. Saturday’s interception was Gamble’s fourth of the season, a total that leads the team. All four have been game savers. Gamble, who for the past three games has started at both flanker and cornerback, recorded his first pick at Cincinnati, grabbing a Gino Guidugli in the end zone on his first play as a defensive back. Ohio State won the game 23-19. Pick No. 2 came in the fourth quarter at Wisconsin (again in the end zone) in a 19-14 win. The following week in a 13-7 win over Penn State, Gamble accounted for the Buckeyes’ lone touchdown, returning his third interception of the year 40 yards to pay dirt.
Gamble, who has 12 tackles on the year, is the Buckeyes’ second leading receiver with 27 catches for 402 yards.
Gamble Tops The Century Mark At Purdue
Tailback Maurice Clarett has topped the 100-yard mark in rushing six times this year. His backup, Lydell Ross, also has a 100-yard game to his credit. In the receiving department, split end Michael Jenkins had 136 yards against San Jose State. Now Chris Gamble, Ohio State’s super sophomore, has joined the century club. Gamble, who starts at both flanker and cornerback for the Buckeyes, did so Saturday at Purdue by taking part in 110 plays. On the day, the 6-2, 180-pound Gamble had three receptions for 51 yards, five tackles and an interception, and two punt returns for 35 yards.
Four Buckeyes Nominated For Academic All-America
Four Ohio State players have been nominated for Academic All-America honors: quarterback Craig Krenzel (molecular genetics), tight end Ben Hartsock (biology), defensive end Simon Fraser (biology) and Cornerback Dustin Fox (communications). To be eligible for consideration, a player must be a starter or key reserve and have a grade point average of 3.2 or better.
Buckeyes Move Up In The Polls
Ohio State is up yet another spot in both polls this week, settling in at a solid No. 2 behind Miami. The Buckeyes, who began the season ranked 12th by ESPN/USA Today and 13th by the Associated Press, and the Hurricanes are the only major unbeaten teams remaining in college football. Additionally, Ohio State was second in last week’s Bowl Championship Series ranking and is expected to hold onto that spot again this week when the BCS standings are released. This is Ohio State’s highest ranking since the 1998 campaign when the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 for the first nine weeks of the season. The Buckeyes are 3-0 against ranked teams this year, including a 25-7 win over the Washington State Cougars, who are ranked third this week.
Nugent Still Perfect (He’s Nug-a-matic)
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent, named last week as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as college football’s best place-kicker, continued his impressive string Saturday at Purdue by connecting on his 21st-consecutive field goal of the year. Nugent, who was successful from 22 yards out, has now made 22 in a row dating back to last year. With 21-consecutive makes this year, he is zeroing in on the NCAA single-season mark of 25 set by Chuck Nelson (University of Washington) in 1982. The all-time record for consecutive makes is 30 (also held by Nelson).
Nugent has set seven school records this year: most points by a kicker (100), most field goals in a season (21), most consecutive field goals made (22), most consecutive field goals made in a season (21), most consecutive field goals in Ohio Stadium (15), most consecutive games with at least one field goal (11), and most field goals of 40 or more yards in a season (8). He also tied the school mark for 40-yard field goals in a game (3 vs. Washington State).
The Centerville, Ohio, product, who leads the Big Ten in field goals made and field goal percentage, is the first Ohio State kicker to score 100 points in a season. The old record of 97 belonged to Vlade Janakievski (1979).
Mike Nugent’s 2002 Records
Most Season Points/Kicker – 100
Most Field Goals in a Season – 21
Consecutive Field Goals Made – 21
Consecutive Field Goals/Season – 21
Consecutive FG Made At Home – 15
Consecutive Games with a FG – 11
40-yard Field Goals in a Season – 8
40-yard Field Goals in a Game – 3*
*Ties record (Washington State)
Clarett Still 56 Yards Shy of Single-Season Frosh Rushing Mark
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett is just the second true freshman in Ohio State history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season. The 6-0, 230-pound Clarett (who has played only sparingly the past three games because of a shoulder injury) nonetheless has 1,071 yards on the year, an average of 119 yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry on 179 attempts. Robert Smith is the only other OSU frosh to rush for more than 1,000 yards, finishing the 1990 campaign with 1,126 yards, meaning Clarett needs 56 yards to set the OSU freshman rushing record.
Ohio State’s Top Five Freshmen Rushers Name Yards Year Games Robert Smith 1,126 1990 12 Maurice Clarett 1,019 2002 8 Archie Griffin 872 1972 11 Jaymes Bryant 656 1986 13 Dean Sensanbaugher 633 1943 9
Doss Hopes to Join Elite Circle
Senior safety Michael Doss is already a two-time All-American. Should he garner All-America honors again this year, he would become just the seventh three-time All-American in Ohio State history, joining Chic Harley (1916, ’17, ’19), Wes Fesler (1928-30), Lou Hinchman (1930-32), Merle Wendt (1934-36), Archie Griffin (1973-75) and Tom Skladany (1974-76) in a very select group of athletes.
Doss is the Buckeyes’ second leading tackler with 78 total stops, including a season-high 14 at Wisconsin. The 5-11, 204-pound Doss also has a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown to his credit this year. He led the Buckeyes in tackles at Purdue with nine.
“Michael Doss is playing the best football of his career,” says OSU coach Jim Tressel. “He is a playmaker and a leader out there for us.”
Doss has graded out to 85 percent or better in each of the Buckeyes’ past five games.
Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel
| Jim Tressel |
Ohio State is under the second-year direction of49-year-old Jim Tressel. Now in his 17th year as a head coach,Tressel’s impressive resume includes an all-time record of153-62-2, including an 18-5 mark with the Buckeyes. Prior to comingto Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 years at Youngstown State, where heguided the Penguins to four Division I-AA national championships(1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97) and 10 appearances in the playoffs. He wasa four-time pick as the national coach of the year, winning thathonor in each of his championship seasons. Prior to taking over atYSU in 1986, Tressel spent three years as an assistant to EarleBruce at Ohio State. In that role, he coached the quarterbacks,receivers and running backs and went to three bowl games, includingthe Rose Bowl. His list of star pupils during that time includesMike Tomczak, Cris Carter and Keith Byars. Prior to Ohio State,Tressel also served apprenticeships at Akron, Miami (Ohio) andSyracuse. Tressel, the 22nd head coach in Ohio State annals, wasnamed to his present position Jan. 18, 2001. Jim’s father, the lateLee Tressel, enjoyed a very successful coaching career at BaldwinWallace College in Ohio, where he won the 1978 Division IIINational Championship. His brother, Dick Tressel, is a former headfootball coach at Hamline University in Minnesota and currentlyserves as assistant director of football operations at Ohio State.As a family, the Tressels have won 432 games.
Wilhelm Is Butkus Award Semifinalist
Ohio State senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm has been named as one of 11 semifinalists for the 2002 Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the top linebacker in college football. The semifinalists were selected from a list of 67 preliminary candidates. Three finalists will be named Nov. 14 and the winner will be announced Dec. 13.
Ohio State’s Andy Katzenmoyer won the Butkus in 1997 as a sophomore.
The 6-5, 245-pound Wilhelm leads the Buckeyes in total tackles with a career-high 84, including a team-best 54 solo stops. He also has a team-high 13.5 tackles-for-loss.
Wilhelm had eight tackles at Purdue, including a critical third-down tackle for loss in the fourth period that forced the Boilers to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. He also laid out for a second-quarter interception that led to an Ohio State field goal just before halftime.
Jenkins “Mr. Clutch” For The Buckeyes
Michael Jenkins seems to have a flare for the dramatic. The Buckeyes’ silky-smooth split end demonstrated his histrionic talents again Saturday at Purdue, hauling in a 37-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to propel Ohio State to a 10-6 triumph. Jenkins’ game winner came with 1:36 left to play. On the day, the 6-5 junior had five receptions for 87 yards, extending his string of consecutive games with at least one catch to 23 in a row. Jenkins has 47 receptions on the year, good for 833 yards and five touchdowns. All three figures lead the team. With 97 career receptions, the Tampa, Fla. native has moved up to 11th on OSU’s all-time receiving list. Jenkins had 49 receptions for 988 yards a year ago.
Buckeye Captains
Strong safety Michael Doss and free safety Donnie Nickey, both seniors, have been selected by their teammates as captains for the 2002 campaign. Doss, a two-time All-American, is in his third year as a starter, while Nickey is in his fourth. Offensive captains are chosen on a game-by-game basis. Junior tight end Ben Hartsock will serve in that capacity at Illinois. Offensive captains to date have been: Krenzel (Texas Tech and Penn State), Mike Stafford (Kent State), Ben Hartsock (Washington State), Ivan Douglas (Cincinnati), Chris Vance (Indiana), Alex Stepanovich (Northwestern and Purdue), Michael Jenkins (San Jose State), Shane Olivea (Wisconsin), Andy Groom and Bryce Bishop (Minnesota).
Krenzel Keeps Buckeyes On The Winning Track
Junior quarterback Craig Krenzel is now 12-1 as a starter, with that one loss coming in the Outback Bowl, where he played briefly in two series. With the 6-4, 225-pound Krenzel at the controls, the Buckeyes have jumped out to an 11-0 start this year, including a 6-0 record in the Big Ten, and are second in both wire service polls. The heady redhead, who is majoring in molecular genetics and will one day attend medical school, has completed 62.7 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has been intercepted five times (twice each against Cincinnati and Penn Stat and once at Purdue) and ranks second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 149.8 rating. He also has rushed for 241 yards and a touchdown and has a pair of 29-yard runs to his credit. Earlier this year, Krenzel ied an Ohio State record by completing 12 consecutive passes (his last one against Texas Tech and his first 11 against Kent State). At Purdue, with Ohio State trailing 6-3 and facing fourth-and-one with 1:42 to play, he connected with split end Michael Jenkins on a 37-yard touchdown pass that propelled the Buckeyes to a 10-6 victory and kept their dreams of a national championship alive.
Vance Expected Back For Illini
Senior wide receiver Chris Vance is expected back for this week’s game with Illinois. Vance missed last week’s Purdue game to attend the funeral of his younger brother Percy Burton, who was shot and killed Nov. 1 in Fort Myers, Fla. Vance did play in the Minnesota game Nov. 2 before returning home in midweek to be with his family.
Ohio State All-Time
With the win over Purdue, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 743-292-53 in this, its 113th season of football. The Buckeyes’ first football team posted a 3-1 record in 1890. Ohio State also has an all-time Big Ten ledger of 406-155-24 since beginning league play in 1913. Since 1960, the Buckeyes have experienced just three losing seasons in Big Ten play (1966, 1988, 1999).
Second Largest Crowd Sees OSU Down Minnesota
A near record throng of 104,897 was on hand Nov. 2 in Ohio Stadium to see the Buckeyes upend Minnesota. It was the second largest crowd in Stadium history, surpassed only by the 105,103 against Penn Stat the previous week. Through seven home games, the Buckeyes have drawn a total of 722,365 fans, for an average of 103,195 per game.
Freshman Class Has Early Impact
Ten members of Ohio State’s highly regarded freshman class have seen game action in 2002. Maurice Clarett, Tyler Everett, Mike D’Andrea, Nate Salley, Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk, E.J. Underwood and Mike Kudla all played against Texas Tech in the season opener. Offensive linemen Robbie Sims and Nick Mangold debuted in the Kent State game.
All are in the two deep and have played at crunch time. Clarett, when healthy, is the starting tailback. Sims has started three times at left tackle and Underwood twice at corner. Hawk started the Penn State game and had five tackles and an interception (his second of the year) against the Nittany Lions.
Clarett Eighth OSU Frosh To Top The Century Mark
Freshman Maurice Clarett, last year’s USA Today high school offensive player of the year, rushed for 230 yards in OSU’s win over Washington State. That is the sixth best single-game showing in Ohio State annals. Other notable rushing performances by freshman running backs at Ohio State include:
1943 Dean Sensenbaugher 33 att./170 yds. vs. Illinois 1972 Archie Griffin 27 att./239 yds. vs. UNC 1972 Archie Griffin 27 att./192 yds. vs. Illinois 1985 Vince Workman 15 att./100 yds. at Illinois 1986 Jaymes Bryant 19 att./145 yds. vs. Utah 1989 Dante Lee 24 att./157 yds. at Northwestern 1990 Robert Smith 23 att./171 yds. at Wisconsin 2001 Lydell Ross 25 att./124 yds. at Indiana
Charting OSU’s Assistant Coaches
Mark Dantonio (defensive coordinator), Mel Tucker (defensive secondary), Joe Daniels (quarterbacks and receivers) and Bill Conley (tight ends) are in the press box for the Buckeyes. Jim Bollman (offensive coordinator), Tim Spencer (running backs), Jim Heacock (defensive line), Mark Snyder (linebackers) and Luke Fickell (special teams) are on the sidelines.
The Ohio State-Illinois Series
Ohio State leads the all-time series, 57-29-4, and has won 30 of the 42 games played in Champaign. The Buckeyes have won four in a row in Memorial Stadium, dating back to a 10-7 loss in 1991. In their most recent trip to Champaign, two years ago, the Buckeyes came away with a 24-21 decision thanks to a 24-yard Dan Stultz field goal as time expired. The Illini returned the favor last year with a 34-22 win in Columbus, their second consecutive win in Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State dominated the series between 1968 and 1987, reeling off 15-consecutive victories. Illinois rebounded with five straight wins of its own from 1988 to 1992.
There have been a number of memorable games in the series, including a 49-42 Ohio State win in 1980 in Columbus, when Illinois quarterback Dave Wilson threw for a then-NCAA record 621 yards and six touchdowns in a losing effort.
In 1995, Ohio State tailback Eddie George wrapped up a Heisman Trophy year by rushing for a school-record 314 yards on 36 carries.
The two teams began play in 1902 and have played continuously since 1914.
Recapping Last Year’s Game
Illinois snapped Ohio State’s two-game winning streak and knocked the Buckeyes out of Big Ten title contention with a 34-22 win. Illinois scored first on a blocked punt, but the Buckeyes took a 10-7 lead at the end of the first period on a 10-yard pass from starter Scott McMullen to flanker Chris Vance and a 23-yard field goal by Mike Nugent. Illinois scored 14-unanswered points in the second period and led 21-10 at the half. Ohio State came right back with a pair of touchdowns of its own to forge ahead 22-21 with one second left in the third period. But Illinois took the lead for good with 10:48 to play and then sealed the win with a 5-yard interception return with 5:19 remaining in the game..
Senior tailback Jonathan Wells rushed for a career-high 192 yards for the Buckeyes and split end Michael Jenkins hauled in a 10 receptions for 155 yards, both career high for him. The game marked the season debut of quarterback Craig Krenzel, who came off the bench to complete 11 of 23 passes for 164 yards. Krenzel, who teamed up with Jenkins on a 17-yard touchdown, was intercepted twice.
Scouting the Illini
Illinois improved to 4-6 this season after beating Wisconsin 37-20 last weekend in Madison, Wis. The win also improved the Illini’s conference record to 3-3. The defending Big Ten Champion opened the season with a 1-5 record. The team opened with a pair of losses to Missouri and Southern Mississippi and then the lone win in the stretch was a 59-7 victory over Arkansas State. Losses to San Jose State, Michigan and Minnesota followed before Illinois took a 38-31 overtime win from Purdue and then beat Indiana 45-14. Illinois also lost at Penn State 18-7 Nov. 2.
Quarterback Jon Beutjer started the Wisconsin game after coming into the game late in the third quarter for starter Dustin Ward (125.3 yards per game and five touchdowns) in the loss at Penn State. In his nine games this season, the junior is averaging 213.8 yards per game with 17 touchdowns. Overall, the Illini is averaging 280.1 yards passing compared to 170.6 yards on the ground for an average of 450.7 yards per game. Illinois is also averaging 29.9 points per game. The leading ground gainer is Antoineo Harris, who is averaging 109 yards rushing with eight touchdowns. Brandon Lloyd leads the receivers with 91 yards per game and seven touchdowns. Illini quarterbacks have been picked off 15 times this season.
On defense, Illinois is giving up 26 points and 422 yards of offense. Illini opponents have been intercepted five times, while the defensive unit has forced 11 fumbles and sacked quarterbacks 18 times. Illinois is allowing 197 rushing yards and 225.2 passing yards per game. The leading tackler is linebacker Jerry Schumacher, who has 95 total tackles, including 68 solo tackles and nine tackles for loss. He also has three sacks. Defensive end Derrick Strong leads the team with 12 tackles-for-loss and five sacks.
Kicker Peter Ghristofilakos is 8-of-11 on field goals, including a long of 44 yards. He has been blocked twice. John Gockman is 2-of-3 on his field goal tries. The Illini also have used two punters. Matt Minnes has 33 punts for an average of 37.7 yards, while Steve Weatherford has 11 punts for a 39.9-yard average. Eugene Wilson has returned 20 punts for 203 yards for an average of 10.1 yards per return. On kickoffs, Morris Virgil leads the team with 16 returns for 332 yards, an average of 20.8 per return. Illinois has returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns, including a 94-yard kickoff return for a TD by Travis Williams.
Illinois’ Last Game
Illinois junior quarterback Jon Beutjer threw four touchdown passes to down Wisconsin, 37-20, last Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. The victory for the Illini was only their second over the Badgers since 1993. Beutjer, who replaced David Ward in the third quarter of the 18-7 Illini loss to Penn State Nov. 2, finished the game against Wisconsin going 22-of-34 for 319 yards without an interception.Senior running back Antoineo Harris had another big game on the ground with 40 carries for 158 yards.Senior receiver Walter Young had a strong game as well, pulling in nine catches for 114 yards, one for a score. Illinois finished with 504 yards of offense, adding 185 rushing yards’ to Beutjer’s 319 passing yards.
Coach Ron Turner
Ron Turner, a 1977 graduate of Pacific, is in his sixth season at Illinois, where his teams are 30-37. That record includes last year’s 10-2 mark that earned the Illini their first outright Big Ten title in 18 years, an appearance in the Sugar Bowl, and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for Turner. Prior to arriving in Champaign, the 48-year-old, spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator with the NFL’s Chicago Bears after just one season as the head coach at San Jose State, in which his team finished 7-4. His overall record as a collegiate head coach is 37-41 (seventh season). Turner, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator Norv Turner, landed the job at San Jose State after coordinating the Stanford offense for three seasons under coach Dennis Green. Other stops as an assistant for Turner include Texas A&M, Southern California, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Arizona and Pacific.
Opening Day Streak Extended
The opening-day victory over Texas Tech Aug. 24 extended Ohio State’s streak in home openers to 24-consecutive wins, dating back to a 19-0 loss in 1978 at the hands of then-independent Penn State. The Buckeyes have an all-time opening day record of 97-12-4.
Earle Bruce Honored
Former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Bruce, who coached the Buckeyes from 1979 to 1987 and posted a career record of 81-26-1, will be inducted in December in ceremonies in New York City. He will be recognized in an on-campus salute at the Michigan-Ohio State game Nov. 23.
Zwick Honored By NFFCHF
Ohio State freshman quarterback Justin Zwick has been selected as the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s Midwest Region High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2002. He is one of four regional representatives that will be recognized Dec. 10 at the NFFCHF’s annual banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The award “seeks to honor the nation’s top high school scholar-athletes (from the previous year) who have demonstrated outstanding academic application and performance, superior football performance, and exemplary school leadership and citizenship.” Ohio State’s Maurice Hall was recognized with the same award a year ago.
Media Luncheons
Coach Jim Tressel’s weekly media lunches are held Tuesdays at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf, located at 1421 Olentangy River Rd. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. Coach Tressel will begin his portion of the interview session at 12:15 p.m. Selected Ohio State players will be available for interviews following Coach Tressel’s question-and-answer session. This week’s players are split end Michael Jenkins and linebacker Matt Wilhelm.
Weekly Interview Schedule
Ohio State players will be available for interviews following the conclusion of practice and meetings on Tuesdays throughout the season. The first 30 minutes of each Tuesday’s practice are open to the media and photographers are permitted to shoot practice during that time. Coach Tressel and two designated assistant coaches are available for interviews after Thursday practices. This week’s assistants are Joe Daniels and Jim Heacock.
Tressel Radio Show Every Thursday
The weekly Jim Tressel call-in show airs from noon-1 p.m. Thursdays on WBNS AM (1460) Radio. The show is replayed on Thursday nights around the state.
Ohio State-Michigan Next Week
The Buckeyes conclude their 13-game regular season next week by playing host to Michigan in the 99th meeting in the storied rivalry between the two schools. Kickoff Saturday is set for 12:10 p.m. EST in sold out Ohio Stadium (105,000).
Game 1 Recap – Texas Tech (W 45-21)
| Maurice Clarett |
Ohio State opened the 2002 campaign Aug. 24 with aconvincing 45-21 victory over Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic. Itwas the earliest season debut for the Buckeyes.
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett started the game and rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Clarett, who scored on runs of 59, 45 and 1 yards, was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Clarett had plenty of help from sophomore sidekicks Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross. Hall finished with 74 yards on 13 carries and Ross had 40 yards and two touchdowns to show for his 16 carries.
As a team, the Buckeyes rolled up 317 yards on the ground and finished with 477 yards in total offense. OSU averaged 6.4 yards per carry, did not have a turnover and had just two offensive penalties.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 11 of 14 passes for 118 yards before giving way to backup Scott McMullen, who scored OSU’s sixth rushing touchdown of the day.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, threw up a curtain around Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury finished with 341 yards and three touchdown passes, but much of the yardage and two of the scoring tosses came in the fourth quarter, long after the outcome had been decided.
Led by defensive end Will Smith, the Buckeyes recorded seven sacks and generally harassed Kingsbury all afternoon. Smith had four tackles-for-loss and two of the sacks.
Linebacker Cie Grant was credited with five tackles, including two sacks of his own, and was selected by the OSU coaching staff as the Buckeyes’ defensive player of the game.
The Buckeyes also fared well in the kicking department. Ray Guy Award candidate Andy Groom averaged 48 yards per punt on four kicks and place-kicker Mike Nugent converted all six PATs and hit a career-best 45-yard field goal.
Ohio State had just five penalties on the day, converted 10-of-15 third-down attempts and had the ball for 36 minutes. The Buckeyes were four-of-four in the red zone, while Texas Tech was 0-for-2.
Game 2 Recap – Kent State (W 51-17)
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and were ahead 38-0 with 7:31 to play in the first half on the way to a 51-17 thrashing of Kent State.
Two of OSU’s first four touchdowns came courtesy of the defense, strong safety Michael Doss and freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk each returning interceptions for scores. Doss made it 14-0 with his 45-yard return and Hawk upped the ante to 38-0 with his 34-yard scamper. Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett tallied the other two OSU scores, the first on a 2-yard run and the latter on a 7-yard pass from Craig Krenzel. It was OSU’s first TD pass of the year.
The Buckeyes rolled up 412 yards in total offense and averaged 8.8 yards per play on the way to topping the 50-point mark for the first time in 73 games. Krenzel completed 12 of 14 passes for 190 yards and backup Scott McMullen hit 7 of 11 for 78 yards and a TD. Sophomore flanker Chris Gamble was on the receiving end of six of those passes and finished with 87 yards receiving. Split end Michael Jenkins had four catches for 89 yards. Eight different receivers had receptions for the Buckeyes, thanks in large part to another stellar effort by the offensive line, which did not allow a sack.
Clarett led the Buckeye ground game with 66 yards on 11 carries. Maurice Hall added 36 yards on just three totes, the first of which was a 28-yard TD, and Lydell Ross had 28 yards on four tries as Ohio State’s posse of running backs again proved to be too much for the opposing defense.
Defensively, tackle Tim Anderson was credited with seven tackles, while ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott and linebacker Robert Reynolds each had five. Scott had two tackles-for-loss and a sack.
Kicker Mike Nugent was again perfect, hitting all three of his field goal attempts and all six of his PAT efforts.
Game 3 Recap – Washington State (W 25-7)
The Buckeyes trailed 7-6 at the half, but responded with 19-unanswered points after intermission to down visiting Washington State, 25-7. The victory over the 10th-ranked Cougars was the Buckeyes first win over a Top-10 team since the 1999 Sugar Bowl
Freshman running back Maurice Clarett led the OSU offense by rushing for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Clarett, who carried the ball 31 times, had 194 of his yards in the second half. It was the sixth best rushing effort in OSU history and came despite a first-quarter knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery three days later. The Buckeyes powered through the WSU defense for 292 yards on the ground and finished with 363 yards in total offense.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, pressured Jason Gesser, the Cougars’ talented senior quarterback, into two second-half interceptions and any number of hurried throws. Washington State, which had come into the game averaging more than 440 yards per game (and 40 points), settled for just 280 against Ohio State – 263 passing and 17 on the ground. The Cougars managed just 74 total yards after intermission.
Linebackers Cie Grant (8 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss) and Matt Wilhelm (5 tackles and a momentum shifting interception) led the OSU defense.
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent continued his brilliant play by drilling field goals of 43, 43 and 45 yards. Those three kicks of more than 40 yards gave Nugent six on the year, an Ohio State single-season record just three games into the season. Additionally, he is just the second Ohio State kicker to kick three field goals of 40 or more yards in a game. The only other was Tom Klaban in 1974 against Michigan.
Game 4 Recap – at Cincinnati (W 23-19)
Ohio State ran its record to 4-0 with a 23-19 win over Cincinnati in a game that was even closer than the final score would indicate. Cincinnatiled most of the day and was on top 19-17 late in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes took the lead for good at 23-19 on a 6-yard scamper by quarterback Craig Krenzel at the 3:44 mark and then held off a final charge by the Bearcats that ended with Will Allen’s interception in the end zone with 26 seconds to play.
The Buckeyes played the game without starting tailback Maurice Clarett who had undergone knee surgery four days earlier. In OSU’s first three games, Clarett, a true freshman, had rushed for 471 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
With Clarett unavailable, sophomore Lydell Ross made his first collegiate start and responded with a career-high 130 yards on 23 carries.
Krenzel also threw for a pair of touchdowns, finding tight end Ben Hartsock from 20 yards out for the Buckeyes’ first score, and later flipping a 5-yard toss to flanker Chris Vance that gave OSU a short-lived 14-12 advantage.
With the Bearcats on top 19-14 – and driving – the game turned around when defensive end Darrion Scott’s jarring hit forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate David Thompson. Ten plays later, Krenzel scored on a roll out that was designed to go to split end Micheal Jenkins.
Senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm led the Buckeyes in tackles with nine, including four tackles-for-loss. The OSU defense stiffened in the late stages of the game, forcing three turnovers (two picks and a fumble recovery) on the Bearcats’ last three possessions. Wilhelm deflected the fourth-down pass that was then picked off by Allen. The Buckeyes had eight tackles-for-loss against the Bearcats.
The game marked the Buckeyes’ first road appearance against an Ohio team since 1934.
Game 5 Recap – Indiana (W 45-17)
The Buckeye opened their Big Ten season with a 45-17 win over visiting Indiana. Ohio State took control early, jumping out to a 21-10 lead at the half, and then put the game away by scoring 24-unanswered points after intermission on the way to a 45-10 advantage that was just too much for the Hoosiers to overcome.
OSU freshman tailback Maurice Clarett, who sat out the previous week’s game at Cincinnati after undergoing knee surgery, was in top form against the Hoosiers, rushing for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. All three of his TDs came in the first half.
The Buckeyes rushed for 244 yards and passed for 217 more. Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 11 of his 16 passes, including his final six, for 152 yards and a touchdown, before exiting midway through the third period. Backup signal caller Scott McMullen followed Krenzel’s lead by completing all seven of his tosses for 65 yards and a TD.
Michael Jenkins led the receiving corps with seven receptions for 93 yards and both touchdown catches. The Buckeyes also scored on a beautifully executed 43-yard reverse by Chris Gamble and a career-long 51-yard field goal by Mike Nugent. It was Nugent’s 10th-consecutive make.
The OSU defense limited the Hoosiers to 56 yards rushing and 339 yards in total offense. End Darrion Scott paced the defense with three solos and six assists and had one of the Buckeyes’ three sacks. All-America safety Mike Doss had four solos and two assists and also was credited with a tackle-for-loss. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm continued his stellar play with two tackles-for-loss.
The Buckeyes played the game with a makeshift offensive line necessitated by the loss of injured starters Ivan Douglas and Michael Stafford. With those two sidelined, true freshman Rob Sims started at left tackle for Douglas, while Adrien Clarke took over for Stafford a left guard.
Defensive tackle Tim Anderson also missed the game due to injury.
Game 6 Recap – at N’western (W 27-16)
Ohio State fell behind 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, but led 14-9 at intermission. The Buckeyes then scored on their first two possessions of the second half to take a 24-9 lead. But it wasn’t until OSU safety Donnie Nickey recovered a Northwestern fumble in the final minute of play that the Buckeyes could celebrate a 27-16 victory.
Ohio State finished the game with 455 yards in total offense, including 285 on the ground, but turned the ball over three times – all on fumbles. The OSU defense gave up 396 yards, including 283 through the air, but came up with a pair of crucial fourth-quarter takeaways.
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett again paced the Ohio State ground attack, this time gaining 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 29 carries. Lydell Ross added 83 yards and scored the first OSU TD on a 3-yard run.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw for 170 yards and also rushed for a career-high 62. Krenzel hit 11 of his 22 passes, four of which were caught by split end Michael Jenkins.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm recorded a season-high 15 tackles and All-America safety Michael Doss chipped in with 13.
The Buckeye defense came up with a pair of takeaways on Northwestern’s final two possessions. Linebacker Cie Grant accounted for the first with his first interception of the year. Nickey put the icing on the cake by scooping up a fumble caused by Wilhelm and cornerback Dustin Fox.
Kicker Mike Nugent completed the OSU scoring with a pair of field goals, extending his streak of consecutive makes to 12, the second longest in school history.
Game 7 Recap – San Jose St. (W 50-7)
Riding the hot hand of junior quarterback Craig Krenzel and buoyed by four defensive takeaways, Ohio State celebrated homecoming with a 50-7 win over visiting San Jose State.
Krenzel turned in the best performance of his still young career, hitting 11 of 14 passes for a career-high 241 yards and three touchdowns (also a career best) before exiting midway through the third quarter.
Split end Michael Jenkins was on the receiving end of seven of those passes, including a 40-yard touchdown strike at the 8:36 mark of the third period. Krenzel also connected with flanker Chris Vance from 37 yards out and had a 7-yard scoring toss to tailback Maurice Clarett.
Clarett, who also rushed for two touchdowns, had 132 yards on 18 carries to pace the OSU ground game.
On the day, the Buckeyes rolled up a season high 567 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per play. OSU was 7-for-8 in the red zone. Already ahead 24-7 at intermission, the Buckeyes scored on their first three possessions of the second half to put the game on ice.
The Ohio State defense showed its muscle by forcing four fumbles and holding the Spartans to zero rushing yards. SJSU finished with 265 yards passing, but 257 of those yards came in the first half. OSU allowed the Spartans 15 total yards in the second half – 8 passing and 7 rushing.
Dustin Fox had nine tackles for the Buckeyes, along with a fumble recovery and two passes broken up. Matt Wilhelm added six tackles and a forced fumble and Cie Grant two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble.
Kicker Mike Nugent nailed three field goals to extend his streak of consecutive makes to 15, tying the Ohio State record.
Game 8 Recap – at Wisconsin (W 19-14)
The Buckeyes survived what could best be described as a 10-round slugfest with the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium. Flanker-turned-cornerback Chris Gamble delivered the knockout punch for OSU, picking off an interception in the corner of the endzone midway through the fourth quarter to blunt the Badgers’ final scoring threat. OSU then held on for a 19-14 victory.
Trailing 14-13 at the half, Ohio State scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Craig Krenzel to tight end Ben Hartsock with 9:59 left to play in the game (the try for two failed). The scoring drive, which covered 88 yards in nine plays, was kept alive by a 45-yard pass from Krenzel to a leaping Michael Jenkins who somehow wrestled the ball away from two defenders and then held on to it as he slammed to the turf.
Krenzel, who also completed a 47-yard scoring pass Jenkins on the Buckeyes’ opening possession, threw for 204 yards on the afternoon.
Mike Nugent accounted for the remainder of the OSU scoring with a pair of field goals, stretching his string of consecutive makes to a school record 17.
Freshman workhorse Maurice Clarett led the OSU ground attack with 133 yards on 30 carries. Twenty-eight of those yards came as the Buckeyes ran out the clock on a tension-filled final drive that began on their own 38 with 4:29 to play.
The Ohio State defense, which forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks, had 11 tackles- for-loss and held Wisconsin to zero rushing yards in the fourth period.
Game 9 Recap – Penn State (W 13-7)
With sophomore Chris Gamble starting both at flanker and cornerback – the first Ohio State player to start both ways in nearly 40 years – the Buckeyes downed visiting Penn State in a titanic defensive struggle 13-7.
The 6-2, 180-pound Gamble recorded the Buckeyes’ only touchdown of the day, returning an interception 40 yards to pay dirt at the start of the third period. That score put OSU on top 10-7, a lead the Buckeyes would never relinquish. It was the third interception of the year for Gamble, who also had a reception on offense and logged a total of 95 plays.
The Buckeyes played the game without starting right tackle Shane Olivea, who underwent an emergency appendectomy. Additionally, starting linebacker Cie Grant missed the game because of an ankle sprain suffered at Wisconsin. To make matters worse, starting tailback Maurice Clarett suffered a stinger on the Buckeyes’ first series and missed the rest of the game.
Freshmen Rob Sims and A. J. Hawk filled in more than adequately for Olivea and Grant, respectively. Sims played the entire game at left tackle (allowing Ivan Douglas to move to the right side in place of Olivea) and Hawk had five tackles and an interception as Grant’s replacement.
With Clarett out of the lineup, sophomores Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall combined for 60 yards at the tailback position and quarterback Craig Krenzel ran for 39.
Buckeye punter Andy Groom played a vital part in the victory with punts of 59 and 55 yards late in the game. A pair of 37-yard field goals by Mike Nugent accounted for the remainder of Ohio State’s scoring.
The OSU defense, which for the third-consecutive week blanked its opponent in the second half, was led by Matt Wilhelm with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Penn State had just 58 yards in the second half and finished the day with 179 yards, well below its season average of 440 per game.
Game 10 Recap – Minnesota (W 34-3)
The Buckeyes trailed 3-0 after the first quarter, but then scored 34-unanswered points on the way to their 10th victory of the year.
The Ohio State defense again played superbly, limiting the Minnesota offense to 112 total yards, including just 7 in the second half. The Gophers, who had entered the game averaging 271 yards rushing (sixth nationally), managed just 53 yards against the Buckeyes. Tailback Terry Jackson, the Big Ten’s leading rusher at 128 yards a game, finished a long afternoon with 49 yards on 16 carries. Minnesota’s longest play of the day was 11 yards.
The OSU defense recorded nine tackles-for-loss and kept constant pressure on Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who managed just 44 yards in total offense and was sacked four times.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm had a team-leading seven tackles, one more than cornerback Chris Gamble and All-America safety Mike Doss. Tackle Darrion Scott had four tackles and two sacks.
The OSU offense, bolstered by the return of right tackle Shane Olivea, finished with 322 yards on the day, including 178 rushing against the Big Ten’s top statistical defense.
With freshman tailback Maurice Clarett sidelined with a shoulder injury, sophomore Lydell Ross ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Maurice Hall, another sophomore, added 93 yards off the bench, including his second touchdown of the year.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw for 128 yards and his 10th touchdown of the year. Krenzel’s scoring strike was a 30-yard pass to flanker Chris Vance. Krenzel also hooked up with split end Michael Jenkins on a 49-yard pass to set up OSU’s first score – the longest pass play of the year for the Buckeyes.
Mike Nugent added a pair of field goals for Ohio State.
BUCKEYES ALL-AMERICA WATCH…
Maurice Clarett (Freshman Tailback)
Sensational freshman, who has taken the college football world by storm. Leads the Big Ten in scoring and is second in rushing average. Has recorded six 100-yard games to date, including 230 vs. Washington State. Has set frosh records for TDs (15) and scoring (90 points) and is closing in on OSU frosh rushing record of 1,126. Currently has 1,071 yards.
Mike Doss (Senior Strong Safety)
Two-time All-American and the leader of the OSU defense. Picked as the Big Ten preseason defensive player of the year. Recorded a season-high 14 tackles at Wisconsin and also had a fumble recovery. Team’s second leading tackler. Had a team-best nine tackles at Purdue and has graded out to 85 percent or better in each of the last five games. Forty-five-yard pick for score against Kent State was his fourth collegiate touchdown. Team captain and leader. Recently named as one of the semifinalists for the Thorpe Award.
Chris Gamble (Sophomore Flanker/Cornerback)
Starts at flanker and cornerback. Team’s second leading receiver with 27 for 402 yards and an average of 14.9 yards per catch. Leads the team in interceptions with four, including a 40-yard TD return against Penn State that was the key play in the Buckeyes’ 13-7 victory. All four of his interceptions have been game savers. Also had a 43-yard reverse for a touchdown against Indiana. Averages 23.0 yards per kick return and 8.9 per punt return. Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week following the Minnesota game, and was nominated too for Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors after that game.
Andy Groom (Senior Punter)
Averages 45.2 yards per punt and leads the Big Ten by a wide margin. Put on a brilliant performance at Wisconsin, averaging 50.2 yards per punt on six kicks, including a career best 74-yard boot (the third best single-game effort in OSU annals). Averaged 48.6 yards on five punts against Penn State and had kicks of 59 and 55 yards in the waning stages of the game. Is a former walk-on, who has since been converted to scholarship. Also holds on placements. Selected as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after the Wisconsin and Penn State games.
Craig Krenzel (Junior Quarterback)
Has helped lead the Buckeyes to their best start since 1995 and has engineered come-from-behind wins against Washington State, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue to keep OSU unbeaten. Threw the game-winning touchdown pass at Purdue with 1:36 left on the clock. Is 12-1 as a starter dating back to last year (that one loss was against South Carolina in the bowl game when he played in two series). Makes few mistakes, has a strong arm and also is a surprisingly effective runner. Has completed 62.7 percent of his passes and is second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency. Ran for a career-high 62 yards at Northwestern and has a pair of 29-yard runs to his credit this year. Hit 11 of 14 for 241 yards and 3 TDs against San Jose. Both of the latter were career highs. Heady competitor who keeps his team on the left side of the ledger.
Michael Jenkins (Junior Split End)
The Buckeyes leading receiver with 427 receptions and five of the team’s 13 touchdown catches. Has caught at least one pass in 23-consecutive games. Had five receptions this past week at Purdue, including a 37-yard touchdown grab with 1:36 to play in a thrilling 10-6 win. Topped the 100-yard mark in receiving against San Jose State and Wisconsin. Had a touchdown catch of 47 yards at Wisconsin and another grab of 45 yards that kept the game-winning scoring drive alive. Has speed, great hands and, at 6-5, is able to go up and get the ball. Is also surprisingly physical and able to fight for extra yards after being hit by a defender. Also blocked a punt at Purdue. Needs two more receptions to match his total of last year.
Mike Nugent (Sophomore Kicker)
Has set numerous records this year, including the mark for most 40-yard field goals in a season with eight. Hit three from 40 or more against Washington State to tie a school record. Hit a career long 51-yard shot against Indiana. Has made his last 22 field goals dating back to last year to break the old school mark of 15 (Vlade Janakievski in 1979-80). Has set a record for consecutive makes in Ohio Stadium this year with 15. School record 21 field goals this year. Is within striking distance of the NCAA record for consecutive field goals in a season (25). Has made 37 of 38 extra points, the lone miss coming on a mishandled snap. Leads the team in scoring with 100 points, the most ever by an OSU kicker. Has at least one field goal in every game this year.
Shane Olivea (Junior Offensive Tackle)
Ohio State’s top offensive lineman. Big, strong and quick. Has unbelievable power and is playing his best football this season. Is a superb pass blocker. Sat out the SJSU game with an injury, but returned to the lineup at Wisconsin. Missed the Penn State game after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, but started the Minnesota game and played the entire game. A real key to the success of the Buckeyes’ running game.
Darrion Scott (Junior Defensive End)
Has great strength, quickness and has demonstrated a penchant for being able to make big plays. His hits on Washington St. quarterback Jason Gesser, Cincinnati’s Gino Guidugli and most recently Minnesota’s Asad Abdul- Khaliq, are the stuff that highlight films are made of. Has 41 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 sacks.
Will Smith (Junior Defensive End)
Sensational football player who is almost impossible to block because of his combination of size, power, quickness and savvy. Has 42 tackles on the year, including 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. Is capable of wreaking havoc once he gets into the other team’s backfield. Did not expect to play at Wisconsin because of an injury, but toughed it out to the tune of four tackles and a sack.
Matt Wilhelm (Senior Linebacker)
Is a very deserving one of 11 semifinalists for the Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker. Is in his third year as the starter in the middle and is playing the best football of his career. Leads the team in total tackles with 84 and in solos with 54, both career highs. Also has a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss. Recorded a season-high 15 tackles in the win at Northwestern. Forced a fumble against Penn State and was the Buckeyes’ leading tackler with eight total stops. Had a team-high seven tackles in the win over Minnesota. Key interception and tackle for loss in win at Purdue.
