All-Jim Tressel Era Team

[RhodeIslandBuck]

I think it's a good time to revisit this one

QB- Troy Smith- I think this one's obvious
RB- Antonio Pittman- I feel Pittman is just about the consensus now.
FB- Jamar Martin
WR- Michael Jenkins
WR- Santonio Holmes
WR- Ted Ginn Jr.
TE- Ben Hartsock
OL- Nick Mangold
OL- Alex Stepanovich
OL- Lecharles Bentley
OL- Shane Olivea
OL- Kirk Barton

DE- Will Smith
DE- Darrion Scott- I think Scott could be replaced by Big Vern following this season.
DT- Tim Anderson
DT- Quinn Pitcock
LB- A.J. Hawk
LB- Matt Wilhelm
LB- James Laurinaitis- I think JL solidified his spot over Carp this past season.
DB- Mike Doss
DB- Chris Gamble
DB- Will Allen
DB- Donte Whitner- Could switch places with Jenkins after the upcoming season.
NB- Malcolm Jenkins

K-Mike Nugent
P- B.J. Sander- Could very well be replaced by AJ Trapasso after AJ's tenure here is over
PR- Ted Ginn Jr.
KR- Ted Ginn Jr.

Honorable Mention:
QB Craig Krenzel
HB Maurice Clarett
FB Branden Joe (had a hard time deciding between him and Martin)
WR Anthony Gonzalez
DE Vernon Gholston
DT Kenny Peterson
LB Bobby Carpenter
LB Anthony Schlegel
DB Malcolm Jenkins
P AJ Trapasso

By the way, the DBs and OL are just DBs and OL in general not 2 CBs and 2 Safeties or 1 Centers 2 Guards, and 2 Tackles.

 

[Wells4Heisman]

I like it... maybe Clarret though I'm not sure. I would of had to see him after he was a freshman.

 

[Mike80]

I think JL actually replaces Wilhelm due to the positions they play.....

Carp JL and AJ as your 3 LBs is unbeatable.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

I think JL actually replaces Wilhelm due to the positions they play.....

Carp JL and AJ as your 3 LBs is unbeatable.

I go by the general position, just linebacker. I dont put one SAM, one WILL, and one MIKE. Though you are right, that would be one hell of a linebacking corp.

 

[Mike80]

I go by the general position, just linebacker. I dont put one SAM, one WILL, and one MIKE. Though you are right, that would be one hell of a linebacking corp.

Maybe...I would still put him in over Wilhelm and keep Carp....

That and I think Cie Grant needs an honorary mention for the final play of the Fiesta Bowl

 

[Bleed S & G]

RB- Lydell Ross

QB - Belasari (sp..)

 

[ScarletBlood31]

I think you could argue for Gonzo on the first team...

Still gotta go with Clarett. He was a man-child as a freshman. So sad.

Pitt is definitely the better all-around buckeye, by a long shot. Don't want to give the impression that he is underappreciated...

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Sorry, but Clarett (sans-injury and sans-stupidity) is the clear-cut #1 RB. Pitt was solid, but MoC had the potential of being one of the best ever not just at Ohio State but in college football history...a real shame he jacked it all up.

I'd agree with those who choose LBs by the position they played and not overall. Hawk and Carpenter are no-brainers, and Wilhelm gets the nod (for now) over Laurinaitis due to his leadership and toughness...however, anoher huge season for JL would bump him ahead of The Kaiser.

 

[msj2487]

What about Andy Groom?? He was by far the best punter we've had since Bartholomew. Groom was absolutley robbed that he didn't win the Ray Guy in '02.

Also I'd give honorary mention for Maurice Hall as a KR, didn't he break the record for most career KR yards?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

What about Andy Groom?? He was by far the best punter we've had since Bartholomew. Groom was absolutley robbed that he didn't win the Ray Guy in '02.

Also I'd give honorary mention for Maurice Hall as a KR, didn't he break the record for most career KR yards?

1.) Groom was robbed, no doubt about it...but Sanders was just as good, and in fact his stats for inside the 20, etc., may have been better than Groom's. Groom is clearly worthy of a close second as punter.

2.) Mo Hall broke the career yardage for KO returns mainly because he returned so many kickoffs. No way you can realistically compare Mo with Teddy as a kickoff returner.

 

[Zurp]

I'm in the Clarett camp, too. The entire offense was different when he was in the game, compared to when he was hurt. As a true freshman, he was making defenses gameplan around him. You can make the argument for he only played one year, he screwed up his life, whatever. He still did more with his injury-shortened one season than anyone else has before or since (in the Jim Tressel Era).

Pittman was a very good running back for Ohio State. But he always had Troy Smith. He was never your feature presentation. He was a great compliment to Troy Smith's passing game. Take away Smith and his receivers and make the offense rely only on Pittman, and I don't think he puts up nearly the same numbers as Clarett.

 

[IronBuckI]

Clarett is still the number 1 RB. Carpenter, Wilhelm, and Hawk are still the top LBs. The rest of the adjustments look pretty good.

 

[craigblitz]

I agree on Mo C. Without the head case issues you had an opportunity to take Mo C or Pittman, who do you take. No way could I pass on Mo.

Also

LB- James Laurinaitis- I think JL solidified his spot over Carp this past season.

Could not disagree more... I think JL has a huge upside, but is way over-hyped right now. Disappeared in some big games and had some beaks really go his way last year to garner a lot of attention. I know you create your own breaks, etc etc, but I would not pull Carp for him.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

For my linebackers, I'd go Carp, Wilhelm, and Hawk. I like JL, but Wilhelm was a beast when he was here. He was probably my favorite defensive player off the national championship team, and he made quite a few first team all america lists.

 

[trinitytex]

I agree with several of the above posters about Wilhelm being a sure thing on the LB crew (behind only Hawk). We tend to forget that Wilhelm was an All-American (first team by many selectors) and the vocal and physical leader of the defense that led OSU to its first NC in 34 years.