K/P Ben Buchanan (official thread)

[osugrad21]

Email update:

...thought you might enjoy a couple of action shots of Ben showing he also knows how to use his hands, not just his legs. He just concluded a great Senior campaign on the diamond with the Warhawks , leading a young Central team to the most victories ever in a season and a District tournament seeding. In 2008, he led the Hawks in batting average (.372), doubles (12), home runs (2), RBI's (25), as well as total hits, slugging percentage and on base percentage. Pitching in the crucial league games, he also led all pitchers in complete games and strike outs (46). In 2007, he also set a record for most double plays in a single season (15) at second base. He is the school's only four year Letterman in both baseball and football, starting every Varsity game in both sports for the past four years. This past week he was selected by his opposing Division 1 coaches to the 1st Team All Ohio Capital Conference Baseball Team and is up for District honors as well.

In the 2008 District Tournament (and the final two games of his baseball career), Ben pitched another complete game victory, surrendering only 1 earned run with 10 K's in a first round 5-4 triumph against OCC rival Central Crossing. For the tournament, he went 5 for 8 (.625) at the plate with 3 doubles. In the second round game, he went 3/5 (.600) at the plate against the fire-balling lefty, Justin Warrington from Watkins Memorial, who is one of Ohio's best pitchers and a future 1st round MLB draftee.

All the while, he has been training for the Big 33 Classic next month in Hershey, Pa. Ben will graduate on June 7th with an Honors Diploma as an eight-time Scholar-Athlete.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Bucknuts.com$ (Bill Kurelic)

Buchanan Ready To Compete...........Ben indicates he will compete for both the punting and kicking duties in the fall.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$ (Jeff Svoboda)

Buchanan Ready For Big 33, OSU.........Ben discusses his recent busy schedule, preparation for the Big 33 and his future at tOSU.

[generaladm]

"Better Know a Buckeye" article on Ben Buchanan by Vico at www.ourhonordefend.com - recap of recruitment.

http://www.ourhonordefend.com/2008/0...-ben-buchanan/

[osugrad21]

Keep Ben Buchanan in your thoughts...

Ben is doing well after having his appendix removed. He actually practiced with acute appendicitis before being admitted to the hospital. Tough kid.

Get well soon Ben.

[Best Buckeye]

Get well soon Ben.

[leroyjenkins]

I know how much that hurts, so if Ben could practice w/out crapping himself, hes a tough kid!! GWS!!

[MD Buckeye]

Get well soon Ben!!!

[Buckskin86]

OSU notebook: Buchanan pursues three kicking jobs
Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ben Buchanan right now is a jack of three trades and hoping to be a master of at least one.

Buchanan, a redshirt freshman from Westerville, is competing to handle field goals, kickoffs and punts for Ohio State. It's what he wants, even though it might be best for him to specialize.

"I love it -- I do love kicking and punting, it keeps you busy," Buchanan said Friday after Ohio State had a kick scrimmage in Ohio Stadium. "I don't know if they're going to let me do all three -- that's what I want to do -- but if they're going to steer me in a direction, I'm going to do what's best for the team."

Buchanan is on the second team at both spots. There is little chance he will unseat fifth-year senior Aaron Pettrey at kicker, but with a solid 4-of-4 showing on field goals, he has proven capable.

Punting offers the best short-term opportunity. A.J. Trapasso, the punter from 2006 through '08, is gone, and Buchanan is locked in a close competition with fifth-year senior Jon Thoma.

Thoma averaged 41.4 yards on seven punts Friday, and Buchanan averaged 40.8 on eight punts.

Chad Rogosheske, a graduate assistant who works with the specialists, said the coaching staff is allowing Buchanan to showcase himself for now, but hopes he eventually settles on either kicking or punting.

"Probably when you're doing all those things, you can't be as good as you can really be if you were just doing one of them," Rogosheske said. "Right now, we're just trying to find out what is best for the team, what he does best and then we can kind of steer him down one path or the other."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU notebook: Buchanan pursues three kicking jobs

[Buckskin86]

OSU's Buchanan happy to put best foot forward
By CRAIG JAMES
Published: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ben Buchanan had to wait a while before he could show his stuff in a kick scrimmage Friday, April 10, in Ohio Stadium.

The Ohio State football team's offensive and defensive units had the field first for an hour, while Buchanan and the rest of the Buckeyes' kicking specialists warmed up, waited and watched on the sideline.

But such is the life of a player who's depended on for his leg, waiting for the opportunity to get on the field for a few moments to kick off, kick field goals or punt.

Buchanan knew that, having been Westerville Central's do-everything kick man. Now he's trying to do all three jobs at OSU. After a redshirt freshman year, he's ready for action.

"It's obviously to be here and compete," Buchanan said of his 2009 team role. "Last year was a lot of fun -- redshirting, being able to learn under the older guys. But even though there's two seniors ahead of me, as a redshirt freshman, I have a year of experience in the 'Shoe behind me. To be here and able to compete now (for an opportunity to get on the field) I think is exciting for what's to come."

He also knows fifth-year senior Aaron Pettrey is the No. 1 place-kicker, with Ryan Pretorius now departed. And fifth-year senior Jon Thoma is the current No. 1 punter, with A.J. Trapasso gone. But Buchanan sees an opportunity, and is playing with the second teams in both areas.

And Buchanan relishes every moment.

"That's what you have when you come to Ohio State is you're going to compete against the best," he said. "Aaron is obviously an amazing kicker. (Junior) Devin (Barclay) is great, too, and I think I'm pretty good, too.

"Punting, same thing. I don't know if they're going to let me do all three. That's what I want to do, but if they're going to steer me in a direction, I want to do what's best for the team and I'm going to work 100 percent, as hard as I can, for it."

Buchanan feels the more job skills he exhibits, the better.

"I think that any time you have the opportunity to show that you can do all three is important," he said. "I think being here at Ohio State and having that opportunity is exciting. To do three of them or do one of them, I think showing that you're versatile gives you a better chance to get on the field. That's what I'm trying to do -- show versatility and hopefully I can get out there."

Columbus Local News: Region > Sports > OSU's Buchanan happy to put best foot forward

[Nicknam4]

This guy goes to my church, no joke.

[Buckskin86]

YouTube - Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio: Ben...

[Buckskin86]

Buchanan's big day

Punter Jon Thoma became ill this week and did not make the trip. That meant redshirt freshman Ben Buchanan, a Westerville Central graduate, made his debut.

But he almost didn't.

"I'd been battling some hip fatigue; I was out all week for practice," Buchanan said. "We had some other guys -- we had (backup quarterback) Joe Bauserman taking some punts and stuff.

"But I woke up this morning, my hip felt good, and I was able to go."

Buchanan's first punt came in the second quarter. It rolled to a stop for 51 yards. He had four punts for a 42.8-yard average, with only one returned (for 3 yards).

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU notebook: Shugarts happy after making first start

[ShakerBuck]

Where is Ben on depth chart at K?

thought I read that he wasn't dressed on Sat. due to illness, but that he was #2 on depth chart behind Pettrey

Our kicker situation is worrisome with games against PSU & Iowa where points will be hard to come by.

[Buckskin86]

Ben Buchanan, a redshirt freshman, was recruited as a kicker and punter, but now is being groomed solely as a punter for next year when Jon Thoma is gone.

Devin Barclay has been No. 2 on the depth chart for place-kicks, and Buchanan has been No. 2 for kickoffs.

Last week when Pettrey was injured, Buchanan was not dressed for the game, he was out sick. So Barclay was the only available replacement.

This week, Buchanan and Barclay will compete for the place-kicking and kickoff duties. I think Barclay has the edge, obviously, there was a reason why he was No. 2 on the depth chart heading into last week.

But is there a chance Buchanan could kick Saturday? Sure. There's also a chance Barclay could try the first field goal, miss, and Tressel would go with Buchanan after that. Who knows?

Odds and ends from Tuesday (Blogging the Buckeyes)