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Article published September 03, 2009
OSU's Mewhort a possible redshirt
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


Mewhort

COLUMBUS - Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was purposefully noncommittal when asked this week about whether former St. John's Jesuit standout Jack Mewhort will play Saturday against Navy, or if the plan is to have Mewhort sit out this season as a redshirt.

Tressel has Mewhort listed as the backup to starting center Mike Brewster, but Mewhort has also worked at guard and tackle on the offensive line since enrolling at Ohio State in January and taking part in spring practice. The 6-6, 290-pound Mewhort also played all three positions in high school.

"Jack Mewhort is probably on the bubble in the offensive line," Tressel said about the likelihood of Mewhort playing against Navy. Tressel said
offensive line coach Jim Bollman has worked a number of different options up front through preseason camp, including playing Mewhort at his current position - center.

"He's in the two-deep [chart] but we'll see how that unfolds. One thing coach Bollman is comfortable with is this - we've got three or four guys that can play center. Sometimes you get nervous about you don't have enough centers, who can make the calls and snap the ball and all the rest, so Jack's been doing a good job in there."

Tressel said he expects a number of freshmen to play against Navy, including linebacker Dorian Bell, defensive back C.J. Barnett, linebacker Storm Klein, defensive tackle John Simon, offensive lineman Corey Linsley, tight end Reid Fragel, running back Jaamal Berry and wide receiver Duron Carter.

"Obviously, all of it's based on health and everything else," Tressel said. "You can activate a guy whenever you want to.
One [option] is developmental redshirt - you can activate a guy when you think he's ready - and as soon as he plays one play that counts as one year."

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