tOSU 2007 and Beyond

[Nordberg]

I did some research and ran some #'s about The Ohio State Buckeyes 2007 roster. I found that Freshman & Sophmores make up 59% of the roster and 25% of the roster is Red-Shirt Juniors. This is an amazing stat that means that we are going to be even better next year and the possibly the year after. I know that 2-3 players may leave early (Jenkins, Laurinaitis, and maybe Boone), but even then, we are going to look impressive next year. Here are the #'s and roster that I used. If I missed someone, my bad.

Fr (HS) =True Freshman: 20 17%
Fr (1V) =Red-Shirt Freshman: 22 18%
So (1V) =True Sophmore: 7 6%
So (2V) =Red-Shirt Sophmore: 22 18%
Jr (2V) =True Junior: 8 7%
Jr (3V) =Red-Shirt Junior: 30 25%
Sr (3V) =True Senior: 4 3%
Sr (4V) =Red-Shirt Senior: 8 7%

121--100%


5
Chekwa, ChimdiDBFr (1V)

24
Schwartz, GrantDBFr (1V)
94
Dublin, WalterDEFr (1V)
72
Larimore, DexterDTFr (1V)
43
Olson, AramFBFr (1V)
37
Gibson, ThaddeusLBFr (1V)
44
Johnson, MarkLBFr (1V)
59
Libby, KyleLBFr (1V)
26
Moeller, TylerLBFr (1V)
42
Schwartz, NathanLBFr (1V)
70
Browning, BryantOLFr (1V)
76
Sika, ScottOLFr (1V)
69
Slagle, ZachOLFr (1V)
77
Smith, ConnorOLFr (1V)
7
Henton, AntonioQBFr (1V)
46
Christian, K.C.RBFr (1V)
44
Weihrauch, JasonRBFr (1V)
24
Williams, MarcusRBFr (1V)
73
Kerr, JoshTFr (1V)
82
Miller, AndyTEFr (1V)
53
Howe, PatrickFr (1V)
96
McQuaide, JakeFr (1V)
11
Scott, JamesCBFr (HS)
32
Clifford, EugeneDBFr (HS)
30
Evege, DonnieDBFr (HS)
98
Thomas, SolomonDEFr (HS)
97
Heyward, CameronDLFr (HS)
48
Smith, SpencerFBFr (HS)
12
Barclay, DevinKFr (HS)
7
Hines, JermaleLBFr (HS)
36
Rolle, BrianLBFr (HS)
68
Blankenship, EvanOLFr (HS)
14
Bauserman, JoeQBFr (HS)
2
Herron, DanielRBFr (HS)
3
Saine, BrandonRBFr (HS)
14
Oliver, NateSFr (HS)
25
Pentello, RoccoSFr (HS)
10
Torrence, DevonSFr (HS)
89
Hummel, GarrettWRFr (HS)
12
Sanzenbacher, DaneWRFr (HS)
19
Washington, TaurianWRFr (HS)
52
Curtis, DonFr (HS)
2
Jenkins, MalcolmCBJr (2V)
87
Wilson, LawrenceDEJr (2V)
95
Rietschlin, ChrisDLJr (2V)
33
Laurinaitis, JamesLBJr (2V)
34
Wells, MauriceRBJr (2V)
3
O'Neal, JamarioSJr (2V)
75
Boone, AlexTJr (2V)
80
Robiskie, BrianWRJr (2V)
42
Whaley, TylerCJr (3V)
29
Lane, ShaunCBJr (3V)
36
Daniels, MattDBJr (3V)
39
Dougherty, MichaelDBJr (3V)
19
Underwood, BrandonDBJr (3V)
17
Willis, ZachDBJr (3V)
78
Barrow, AlexDEJr (3V)
50
Gholston, VernonDLJr (3V)
93
Abdallah, NaderDTJr (3V)
67
Mitchum, KyleGJr (3V)
63
Person, BenGJr (3V)
39
Good, AndrewKJr (3V)
85
Pretorius, RyanKJr (3V)
1
Freeman, MarcusLBJr (3V)
49
Lukens, RyanLBJr (3V)
65
Ebner, DougOLJr (3V)
79
Skinner, JonOLJr (3V)
24
Gentry, TysonPJr (3V)
15
Trapasso, A.J.PJr (3V)
17
Boeckman, ToddQBJr (3V)
13
Kacsandi, BenQBJr (3V)
23
Patterson, NickSJr (3V)
71
Rehring, SteveTJr (3V)
88
Nicol, RoryTEJr (3V)
87
Smith, BrandonTEJr (3V)
5
Dukes, AlbertWRJr (3V)
18
Lisko, DavidWRJr (3V)
18
Lyons, DevonWRJr (3V)
15
Ruhl, KyleWRJr (3V)
61
Drummelsmith, MattJr (3V)
4
Coleman, KurtCBSo (1V)
9
Rose, RobertDESo (1V)
51
Homan, RossLBSo (1V)
28
Wells, ChrisRBSo (1V)
8
Gant, AaronSSo (1V)
86
Ballard, JakeTESo (1V)
4
Small, RayWRSo (1V)
64
Cordle, JimCSo (2V)
13
Amos, AndreCBSo (2V)
20
Washington, DonaldDBSo (2V)
57
Ingham, TomDESo (2V)
91
Williams, RyanDESo (2V)
84
Worthington, DougDESo (2V)
90
Gray, BryanDLSo (2V)
92
Denlinger, ToddDTSo (2V)
41
Mattimoe, MattKSo (2V)
20
Pettrey, AaronKSo (2V)
38
Spitler, AustinLBSo (2V)
57
Malone, ChrisOLSo (2V)
66
Moses, AndrewOLSo (2V)
84
Jablonka, EvanPSo (2V)
48
Thoma, JonPSo (2V)
11
Schoenhoft, RobQBSo (2V)
33
Gantz, JoeRBSo (2V)
21
Russell, AndersonSSo (2V)
83
Crall, WillTESo (2V)
46
Larson, J.D.TESo (2V)
9
Hartline, BrianWRSo (2V)
86
Potokar, DanWRSo (2V)
49
Johnson, DionteFBSr (3V)
6
Grant, LarryLBSr (3V)
55
Terry, CurtisLBSr (3V)
61
Haas, JacksonSr (3V)
41
Haslam, De'AngeloDBSr (4V)
91
Daly, BrettDLSr (4V)
16
Robinson, TreverFBSr (4V)
36
Lukens, CurtLBSr (4V)
78
Dye, DanielOLSr (4V)
74
Barton, KirkTSr (4V)
81
Ullery, BrentWRSr (4V)
56
Makridis, DimitriosSr (4V)

Let me know what everyone thinks.

[MD Buckeye]

nice work. we're definitely going to a great team for many years to come.

[akronbuck]

Originally Posted by MD Buckeye

nice work. we're definitely going to a great team for many years to come.

next years team is going to be so much better its kinda funny

['BusNative]

It will be interesting to see how the eligibilities of Terry and Wilson play out. Both could possibly get another year, depending.

[Nordberg]

Originally Posted by akronbuck

next years team is going to be so much better its kinda funny

Yea we're so young it's great

[Zurp]

Don't count your National Championships before they hatch. Don't even count your Big Ten Championships before they hatch.

Go back to right before 2002. Someone tells you that your next three seasons, Ohio State is going to lose 4, 2, and 0 games, and asks you to guess which season is which. How many of us would have guessed that right? Personally, I would have guessed 4 losses in 2002, 2 in 2003, and 0 in 2004.

Ohio State had what I considered a so-so offense returning in 2002, and an overrated defense returning. (Obviously, I was way, WAY wrong on that.) But they also had a great recruiting class that would be juniors in 2004.

My point is that it's great to look ahead to potential teams in the future. But don't forget to look at what's going on right now.

[Nordberg]

Originally Posted by Zurp

My point is that it's great to look ahead to potential teams in the future. But don't forget to look at what's going on right now.

Duh!! Hence the title of the Thread. 2007 & Beyond, meaning that if we are doing as well as we are now (this year), we should be as good next year.

[NightmaresDad]

Originally Posted by Zurp

Don't count your National Championships before they hatch. Don't even count your Big Ten Championships before they hatch.

Go back to right before 2002. Someone tells you that your next three seasons, Ohio State is going to lose 4, 2, and 0 games, and asks you to guess which season is which. How many of us would have guessed that right? Personally, I would have guessed 4 losses in 2002, 2 in 2003, and 0 in 2004.

Ohio State had what I considered a so-so offense returning in 2002, and an overrated defense returning. (Obviously, I was way, WAY wrong on that.) But they also had a great recruiting class that would be juniors in 2004.

My point is that it's great to look ahead to potential teams in the future. But don't forget to look at what's going on right now.

I don't think I ever see anybody on this board counting NCs (except for after the scUM game last year). Certainly not a year in advance.
I think what we CAN count is a NC contending season, for next season at least, and for the forseeable future, considering the OL recruiting and recruiting in general.

'08 should be as magical year,a dominant year, culminating in a severe beatdown of scUM in our house. Consider that we only lose one starter on each side of the ball to graduation, plus our long snapper, of course, can't forget him. Obviously, we are going to lose a couple or three more starters on defense to early NFL departure (I think only 2) and we may lose one on O (I really hope not).
The way I look at it, anyone on D that stays will be icing on the cake, as we have guys waiting in the wings who have considerable playing time, and could already be starting virtually anywhere else. If Boone stays, then we plug Skinner in at RT and don't miss a beat, as the O as a whole will continue to get better.

I honestly would still be slightly pleasantly surprised if this season we finished the regular season undefeated and made it to the NC game. The defense, however is good enough to get us there on their own with just a little help from their friends on the other side of the ball. This offense is better than what we had in '02 and '03 and look how far the D took us then.

The difference between this team and the 02 - 04 era teams is the depth of quality players across the board. When we lost a star player to injury (Wilhelm before the scUM game) or to mental meltdown (no need to name names here) we didn't have that quality replacement like we do now. Plus with the depth, the staff has done a phenominal job of getting everyone enough playing time and cultivating our talent - developing players.

So, yeah, I am expecting a NC contending season next year for sure. We couldn't have possibly picked a better year to be playing USC (except maybe 1973!)

[Yertle]

I think Nordberg's point is a very valid one, and he's not really counting NCs, chickens, or bagel sandwiches before they've hatched. It seems he's simply pointing out that our beloved Buckeyes (who are currently #1 in the country) have a very bright future ahead of them. A couple more points to Nordberg's post:

1. Your analysis doesn't take into account the freshmen from this year who are redshirting. So, actually, half of the "HS" players will be 1V SO next year and half will be 1V FR - which makes this team even younger!!!
2. Out of the 12 seniors, only 3 are starters: Larry Grant, Dionte Johnson, and Barton. Barton is a star, but the other two will be easily replaced. Nothing against Grant and Johnson, but FB and LB are strong positions with very capable backups.
3. It will be very interesting to see what Boone, JL, Big Vern, and Jenkins do. If all 4 stay, we'll be scary next year. If all 4 leave, it will hurt. My guess is something in the middle - Boone and Vern stay.
4. Then look at the class coming in, and the 2000-2009 decade could easily become the best in school history. If my math is right, we're sitting at 78-19 for the decade with 3 Big 10 championships, 3 BCS wins, 2 NC appearances, and 1 NC. These numbers should be even more impressive in 2-1/2 years.

[MD Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Yertle

3. It will be very interesting to see what Boone, JL, Big Vern, and Jenkins do. If all 4 stay, we'll be scary next year. If all 4 leave, it will hurt. My guess is something in the middle - Boone and Vern stay.

I think if they win the NC, then all of them are gone. If they don't make it to the NC game or if they lose in the NC game, then I would think they would all return. Maybe Mike Doss will give them a call and talk them into staying for their Senior years

[Yertle]

Originally Posted by MD Buckeye

I think if they win the NC, then all of them are gone. If they don't make it to the NC game or if they lose in the NC game, then I would think they would all return. Maybe Mike Doss will give them a call and talk them into staying for their Senior years

Although I agree that a NC win means all 4 are gone, I don't really think a NC loss means they're all back. Unfortunately, the Hart/Henne/Long thing is a very rare event, and that will only get worse now that the rest of the college football world has seen it blow up in Michigan's face.

oh yeah...

[MD Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Yertle

Although I agree that a NC win means all 4 are gone, I don't really think a NC loss means they're all back. Unfortunately, the Hart/Henne/Long thing is a very rare event, and that will only get worse now that the rest of the college football world has seen it blow up in Michigan's face.

oh yeah...

But they're scUM........not tOSU

[daddyphatsacs]

Originally Posted by Zurp

My point is that it's great to look ahead to potential teams in the future. But don't forget to look at what's going on right now.

This is the finest point that I've read all day. The future is exciting, but then again...........why not enjoy the ride that we are currently on right now?

[Nordberg]

Originally Posted by MD Buckeye

But they're scUM........not tOSU

This, my friend, is a great quote!

[MD Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Nordberg

This, my friend, is a great quote!

i'm glad you approve