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OHIO STATE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Buckeyes National title in reach August 2018
2 August 2018 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star
Photos by Don Speck l The Lima News The marching band is one of the favorite parts of
K.J. Hill looks for running room after a catch against Penn State last season. Hill led Ohio State with 56 catches last year. Ohio State games for many fans.
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Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 3
Jones waits to punch ticket to NFL
COLUMBUS – His dad came from “The guy who probably had the
a sport where athletes go 15 rounds. best spring of anybody on our team is
Dre’Mont Jones came back to Ohio State Dre’Mont Jones,” Meyer said. “He was
hoping to play 15 games. outstanding. For a guy to come back
Jones, a fourth-year defensive tackle, when a lot of people thought he should
weighed the pros and cons of declaring leave, a lot of times we have to deal with,
for the NFL draft in January but decided whether it be effort issues or ‘Why am I
he needed another year of college. doing this?’ issues — zero.
That was a big decision for Jones, who “If he continues his development, he
some analysts predicted could have been can be one of the best in America at what
picked as high as the first two rounds. he does,” Meyer said.
And it was big for Ohio State. Jones said he went into what will
Getting Jones back could be a key part almost certainly be his final year of col-
of the puzzle if Ohio State is going to lege football determined to maintain his
get to the College Football Playoff and intensity.
still be playing in a fifteenth game, which “A lot of players come back and they
would be the national championship feel like they have a certain agenda, like
game. ‘I could have left for the NFL so you have
Even with ends Sam Hubbard, Jalyn to play me.’ But that wasn’t my mindset.
Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and tackles Tracy I came in and worked late like I had to do
Sprinkle and Michael Hill all moving on that for a starting job.”
after last season, Jones’ decision meant The 6-3, 286-pound Jones played only
the Buckeyes would still have one of the two years of high school football at Cleve-
best defensive lines in the country this land St. Ignatius. Even though as a child
season, led by players like Nick Bosa, he used to put on an oversized T-shirt
Chase Young, Robert Landers and Jones. and stuff other T-shirts underneath it like
When Jones announced he was staying shoulder pads and run around inside his
at Ohio State, he said raising his draft house, basketball was his first love.
stock was a big factor in his decision. “I had hoop dreams. Every football
“That’s a big factor for me staying, player has hoop dreams. But I realized
just to enhance myself and enhance my I’m 6-4 and 250 and I can’t be a point
stock,” he said. guard,” he said.
Urban Meyer was effusive in his praise Eventually he found his way to foot- Don Speck l The Lima News
of Jones after spring practice for focusing ball. While he changed from basketball to Ohio State defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones(86) stops Indiana’s Mike Majette (24) in his tracks during
the season opener in 2017. Jones is expected to play a more prominent role on the Buckeyes’ defensive
on Ohio State, not the NFL.
See JONES | 4 line this season.
GO BUCKEYES!
4 August 2018 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star
Nick Bosa (97), who along with Dre’Mont Jones will
give Ohio State a strong inside-outside combination
on the defensive line, combines with Sam Hubbard Photos by Don Speck l The Lima News
to stop Iowa’s Akrum Wadley last year in a game in Dre’Mont Jones (86) at bottom, Chris Worley (35) and Jerome Baker (17) stop Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) in the Big Ten championship game
Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. last December in Indianapolis.
Jones sional fights and seven of the losses
came against world champions – Lindell
year when he was subbed for on third-
down pass rush situations. This year, he
there. It’s time for me to get more expo-
sure for my talents.
Holmes, Iran Barkley, Frank Tate, Nigel expects to stay on the field and use his “I’ve kind of flown under the radar
From page 3 Benn, Reggie Johnson, James Toney and pass rushing skills. here and I’ve made my way to being a
Gerald McClellan. “Who doesn’t want to be on the field. draft choice or a top draft pick. Being
football, Jones never considered follow- “I like my face too much. I fell in love This is my hunger, this is what I want to under the radar has been pretty cool,”
ing his father, Sanderline Williams, into with another contact sport,” Jones said do,” he said. “I could have been in there he said.
his sport. about his decision not to get into the last year but they were doing something If Jones has the kind of season he
Williams was a professional boxer ring. with the four defensive end look, which expects, he won’t be under the radar
who had a 24-15-1 record in 40 profes- Jones was a two-downs player last was fine. But I feel like I need to be out anymore.
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Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 5
Are you an optimist or pessimist about OSU?
OSU’s glass half recruits but have not shone brightly so
far. If they light up stadiums this
5. Nick Bosa will have a Joey Bosa
season.
Urban Meyer’s Ohio State recruiting
classes have ranked No. 2 nationally three
full or half empty?
fall, Ohio State’s offense will put With Sam Hubbard, Tyquan times, No. 3 another time and have been
up big numbers. Lewis and Jalyn Holmes gone, he outside the top five only once. There
3. J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber will get more playing time and do have always been talented replacements
will have huge seasons. even more damage. waiting in the wings, but some year there
Five things that could make an opti- Both of them have had 1,000- Five things that could make a might not be.
mistic outlook about Ohio State’s football yard rushing seasons at OSU. It’s pessimistic outlook about Ohio 3. What if Joe Burrow was the right
season come true: not far fetched to think they could State’s football season come true: choice at quarterback?
1. Dwayne Haskins will become every- combine for around 2,500 yards James 1. OSU could pay a price for all Not saying that he was, but until it
thing he’s expected to be and more. this season. Naveau the coaching turmoil. Head coach plays out, you can’t say for sure.
If things go as hoped, Hoskins’ right 4. Redshirt, schmedshirt. Sports Urban Meyer was put on admin- 4. Ohio State has to play at Penn State.
arm is going to take Ohio State’s passing Ohio State already out-recruits reporter istrative leave and investigated. The Buckeyes are 6-6 there since 1994.
game places it hasn’t been since 2014 the rest of the Big Ten. Now a Receivers coach Zach Smith was It might be the most dangerous road trip
when Cardale Jones was going deep or new NCAA rule allows a player fired. Popular assistant coach in the Big Ten.
maybe since Troy Smith in 2006. to appear in up to four games and still Kerry Coombs left to take a job with the 5. Michigan is due, probably overdue.
2. The receivers will finally earn their be redshirted. That will help the Buck- Tennessee Titans. Some year Michigan is going to break
stars. eyes use more of their talented recruits 2. Recruiting rankings aren’t guaran- Ohio State hearts again like it did in the
OSU’s top six receivers were 4-star sooner. tees. 1990s.
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6 August 2018 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star Haskins could bring deep ball back to OSU By Jim Naveau jnaveau@limanews.com COLUMBUS – As the old saying goes, the most popular player on a football team is the back-up quarterback. But Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins took that one step further on a fall afternoon in Ann Arbor last November. He actually gave OSU fans reasons to believe in him and like him beyond the usual enchantment with the back-up QB. Michigan was leading 20-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter when Haskins came into the game after OSU start- ing quarterback J.T. Barrett was forced to the sideline by a knee injury. The redshirt freshman com- pleted 6 of 7 passes for 94 yards and led three scoring drives that produced 17 unanswered points in a 31-20 Ohio State win after he replaced Barrett. It was the second pass he threw that day that marked him as a special quarterback on that day and perhaps into the future. Ohio State’s offensive line had just false started on back- to-back plays and the Buckeyes were facing a third and 13 situ- ation at their own 47-yard line Dwayne Haskins (7) carries the ball with Michigan’s Rashan Gary (3) in pursuit during Ohio State’s 31-20 win over the Wolverines last season. when Haskins dropped back and found Austin Mack for a 27-yard season. talgia for the often underappreci- has extreme confidence,” Camp- him that edge of confidence and completion. Barrett, the starter for the ated contributions of Barrett will bell said. you could tell that play did it,” If the ball had been thrown a last four years except for a few be determined on the field. He saw that confidence grow Campbell said. second earlier or later, or maybe games, left with records for total OSU wide receiver Parris immediately after the pass to “I don’t think people are mak- an inch or two to the left or offense, touchdown passes and Campbell called Haskins “an Mack against Michigan and says ing too much of it (the pass to right it might have been knocked many more at OSU. But it was elite passer” at the Big Ten people are not putting too much Mack). To perform as he did on down by the defender. But like Buckeyes fans had grown media days last month. emphasis on that one play. that stage against our rivals, that Haskins knew what he wanted tired of him. There is a sense of “He’s blessed with some tal- “I think in that moment right is huge.” to do and had the arm strength excitement because of the antici- ents a lot of quarterbacks don’t there that got everything click- Michigan defensive back Tyree to do it. pation that Haskins will be much possess. You have great quarter- ing for him. In the huddle before Kinnel, who hit Mack as he was After beating out Joe Burrow better at throwing the deep ball backs and then you have quarter- he made that play you could tell attempting to make the catch for the starting job during spring than Barrett. backs who are just different who a little bit of nervousness had said at the Big Ten media days practice, Haskins will be Ohio Whether Haskins will light up have elite skill. He’s not a guy overcome him. You could tell State’s starting quarterback this scoreboards or create some nos- who second guesses himself. He he needed some play to give See HASKINS | 7
Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 7
Ohio State wide receiver Austin Mack (11) fights for extra yards against Army linebacker Cole Christiansen
(54) during a game last season at Ohio Stadium.
Haskins OSU’s offense. “We’re still going to be a
spread offense,” Meyer said.
Haskins carried the ball 24 times for
From page 6 86 yards last season. He also showed he
could run in the Michigan game when his
that Haskins “stepped up like he’d been 21-yard gain set up the go-ahead touch-
playing all year.” down.
As Barrett’s back-up last season, Haskins, from The Bullis School in
Haskins completed 40 of 57 passes for Potomac, Md., originally committed to
565 yards and four touchdowns. The Maryland before Ohio State flipped him
seven passes he threw against Michigan and his high school teammate, linebacker
was the third-highest total of the season Keandre Jones, two weeks before nation-
for him after the 23 he threw in a blow- al signing day in 2016.
out of Nevada-Las Vegas and the eight he He committed to Maryland in May of
threw against Illinois. 2015 and the Terrapins viewed him as
“His skill set is very different than possibly being able to start immediately
J.T. Barrett’s,” Urban Meyer said. “His as a freshman. After Randy Edsall was
release, his size and his accuracy are his fired as Maryland’s coach during the
strengths.” 2015 season, Haskins began to recon-
Meyer said the bar is set high for sider his decision, as did Jones, one of
Haskins as far as expectations in his first his best friends.
year as a starter. Haskins threw for 2,217 yards and 20
“The expectation is to be the best touchdowns as a senior in high school
quarterback in the Big Ten, which is very and had 1,936 yards passing and 22 TD
hard to do because we (Big Ten teams) throws as a junior. He had career totals
have some excellent quarterbacks,” he of 5,308 passing yards and 54 touch-
said. downs.
While Haskins probably won’t carry He was a 4-star recruit who was ranked Photos by Don Speck l The Lima News
the ball as often as Barrett, quarterback the No. 7 pro style quarterback nationally Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins sends a throw toward the end zone during a 54-21 blowout of
runs are not going to disappear from Nevada-Las Vegas last season. Haskins threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in a back-up role in that
by 247sports.com. game.
8 August 2018 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star
Playoff talk always starts with Alabama
By Jim Naveau
jnaveau@limanews.com
It would be foolish to start the list of
possible College Football Playoff partici-
pants anywhere else but with Alabama.
Alabama is the only team to have
played in all four years of the College
Football Playoff. It is the defending
national champion and its coach Nick
Saban is going for his seventh national
title this season.
The Crimson Tide has a bit of a quar-
terback controversy between Jalen Hurts,
27-2 as a starter, and Tua Tagovailoa,
who took over in the second half of the
national championship game and played a
key role in Alabama’s win.
But if having too much talent at maybe
the most important position on the field
is your biggest problem, you don’t have
many problems.
Clemson might be the second most
likely College Football Playoff contender.
Most people think getting through the
Atlantic Coast Conference is easier than
AP Photo
going through the SEC or Big Ten. And Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, center, congratulates his players during the second half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college
the Tigers are loaded on defense, led by football game against Miami. The Tigers are pursuing their fourth straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
a defensive line with four possible first-
round NFL draft choices. or Michigan State all could put together a has to be better than the East on one day Georgia, who was last year’s national
Quarterback Kelly Bryant and running playoff worthy record if they avoid disas- in the Big Ten championship game, not runner-up, lost its top two running backs,
backs Travis Etienne and Tavien Feasler ters like OSU’s game at Iowa last year all season. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, but it has
all rushed for more than 600 yards when and get a few breaks. The Badgers have one of the best quarterback Jake Fromme and some deep
Clemson went 12-2 last season. OSU, Michigan, Michigan State and offensive lines in the country and running threat receivers back this year.
An undefeated or one-loss Big Ten Penn State are all in the Big Ten East back Jonathan Taylor, who ran for 1,977 Some other teams to watch as possible
team should be a playoff contender. Ohio Division. If Wisconsin doesn’t stumble in yards and had 10 games where he gained playoff contenders: Washington, Auburn,
State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan the West or in a non-league game, it just 100 yards or more as a freshman last fall. Oklahoma and Miami.
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Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 9
Prince puts his critics on mute
By Jim Naveau I was like, ‘Geesh.’”
jnaveau@limanews.com Now if criticism comes his way from
outside OSU’s football program, he prob-
COLUMBUS – Just when Isaiah Prince ably doesn’t see it or hear about it.
might think he has gotten out, they drag “I don’t read any of it. I don’t know
him back into the past. But he says he what anybody says. I don’t think about
doesn’t mind. it, I don’t look at it. I don’t search for
Prince is a three-year starter on Ohio myself,” Prince said. “As I’ve gotten older
State’s offensive line, most recently at I’ve realized the opinions of the fans
right tackle, but possibly at left tackle shouldn’t bother me. The only opinions
when it’s all sorted out this season. that matter to me are my peers and my
But in his first year as a starter in coaches.
2016, he struggled mightily and often “You can’t care too much about mis-
did that in the spotlight of big games or takes. If you make a mistake, you just
important moments. have to keep on playing,” he said.
Those struggles are behind him now. Ohio State has to replace two key mem-
But fans and the media have long memo- bers of its offensive line this season –
ries, so he is still reminded of them. Prob- center Billy Price, the Cincinnati Bengals’
ably close to 1/3 of his one hour with the first-round draft choice, and left tackle
media at the Big Ten media days in July Jamarco Jones, a fifth-round pick of the
was spent discussing what went wrong Seattle Seahawks.
and how he dealt with it. OSU hasn’t settled on an offensive
Prince says he’s over the criticism now line plan yet, but one of the ideas being
and even portrays it as something he looked at would move Prince from right
used to his advantage. tackle to left tackle.
“I don’t think I’d be having the success The adjustment to that move of a few
I’m having today if I hadn’t had those feet to the other side of the line is bigger
downfalls back then,” he said. “Those than most people might think, he said.
downfalls set me up for my success today “It’s completely different. It’s like writ-
and showed me who I am as a person.” Don Speck l The Lima News ing with your right hand your whole life
Ohio State offensive lineman Isaiah Prince walks off the field with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer after
He hasn’t completely erased the mem- OSU’s 31-20 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., last season. and then switching to your left hand,”
ory of the reactions to those mis-steps, Prince said. “Your muscle memory is com-
though. That was really a low point for me – all it,” he said. pletely different. It’s backward from the
“In the Penn State and Michigan games the criticism and everybody talking bad “They (his critics) actually had a fake way you think about it, the defense looks
I gave up two sacks at two crucial times. about me. I didn’t know how to handle fan page about me, ‘Isaiah Prince Sucks.’ different from the other side of the field.”
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Big Ten East Division preview
BIG TEN EAST DIVISION Michigan Playoff? Will a combination of strong-armed quarter-
Last year: 8-5, 5-4 Big Ten, fourth in East back and a group of veteran wide receivers bring the
Returning starters: 14 (6 offense, 8 defense) deep ball back to Ohio State’s offense? Will J.K. Dob-
By Jim Naveau Players to watch: QB Shea Patterson, RB Karan bins and Mike Weber both rush for more than 1,000
jnaveau@limanews.com Higdon, WR Tarik Black, WR Donovan Peoples- yards? Could inexperience at linebacker, defensive
Jones; DE Rashan Gary, DE Chase Winovich, LB back and on the offensive line create problems?
Devin Bush Coach’s quote: “The common denominator of
Indiana The big questions: Will Mississippi transfer Shea every great player I’ve coached is competitive spir-
Last year: 5-7, 2-7 Big Ten, tied for sixth in East Patterson be a difference maker at quarterback, a it.”— Urban Meyer
Returning starters: 9 (6 offense, 3 defense) position where Michigan has struggled in the Jim
Players to watch: QB Peyton Ramsey, QB Bran- Harbaugh era? Can Michigan improve on its 1-5 Penn State
don Dawkins, RB Morgan Ellison, WR Nick West- record against its rivals Ohio State and Michigan Last year: 11-2, 7-2 Big Ten, tied for second in
brook, WR Luke Timian, DB Jonathan Crawford State? Could Michigan have the best front seven on East.
The big questions: Will Peyton Ramsey, who defense in the Big Ten? Returning starters: 10 (8 offense, 2 defense)
started several games last year, or graduate transfer Coach’s quote: “He’s really getting the grasp of Players to watch: QB Trace McSorley, RB Miles
Brandon Dawkins be the starting quarterback? Will the offense, that’s the biggest thing.” — Jim Har- Sanders, WR Juwan Johnson, WR DeAndre Thomp-
wide receiver Nick Westbrook, who suffered a sea- baugh on his starting quarterback Shea Patterson kins, DE Shareef Miller
son-ending injury on the opening kickoff against Ohio The big questions: Can the Nittany Lions chal-
State in the season opener last season, be the player Michigan State lenge for a Big Ten title and a spot in the College
he was when he caught 54 passes in 2016? Can the Last year: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten, tied for second in Football Playoff without running back Saquon Bark-
Hoosiers replace eight starters on defense from last East ley and with only two returning starters on defense?
year’s team? Returning starters: 19 (10 offense, 9 defense) Does quarterback Trace McSorley have a third con-
Coach’s quote: “We went out and signed one of Players to watch: QB Brian Lewerke, RB L.J. secutive huge season in him? Will the schedule help
the top recruiting class in the history of our program. Scott, WR Felton Davis, DE Kenny Willekes, LB Joe the Nittany Lions, with Ohio State, Michigan State
Many of those men joined us in the mid-year.” — Bachie and Wisconsin all having to go to State College?
Tom Allen The big questions: No one plays the role of the Coach’s quote: “For the first time we have an
underappreciated underdog better than MSU coach offensive line that we think has a chance to be a
Maryland Mark Dantonio. Can he do it again this year with strength in our program. I’m so excited about that
Last year: 4-8, 2-7, tied for sixth in East 19 starters back from a team that won 10 games? Of group.” — James Franklin
Returning starters: 11 (7 offense, 4 defense) course he can. Should the Spartans be encouraged or
Players to watch: QB Kasim Hill, QB Tyrell worried that three of last year’s wins came by four Rutgers
Pigrome, RB Ty Johnson, RB Lorenzo Harrison, WR points or fewer? Is running back L.J. Scott ready to Last year: 4-8, 3-6 Big Ten, fifth in East
Taivon Jacobs, DE Jesse Aniebonam move from good to great, which would make Michi- Returning starters: 14 (6 offense, 8 defense)
The big questions: Can the Terrapins keep their gan State a threat to win the Big Ten? Players to watch: QB Giovanni Rescigno, RB
quarterbacks healthy after losing their top two QBs, Coach’s quote: “I think Brian Lewerke has a great Jonathan Hillman, TE Jerome Washington, LB Trev-
Kasim Hill and Tyrell Pigrome, to injuries in the first future ahead of him. I think that he’s a rising star.” – or Morris, CB Isaiah Wharton
four games last season? Can they put some pressure Mark Dantonio The big questions: How did Rutgers win four
on opposing quarterbacks after having only 16 sacks games last season with an offense that ranked
in 12 games last season? Will having five returning Ohio State No. 121 nationally in scoring and No. 129 in total
starters on the offensive line mean Maryland can be Last year: 12-1, 8-1 Big Ten, won East and Big Ten offense? Can the defense, which made some major
more competitive against the top programs in the Big Returning starters: 12 (7 offense, 5 defense) steps forward last season, get even better this sea-
Ten? Players to watch: QB Dwayne Haskins, RB J.K. son? Has any other school except Rutgers had nine
Coach’s quote: “I think we’re going to be playing Dobbins, RB Mike Weber, WR Parris Campbell, DE offensive coordinators in the last nine seasons?
meaningful games in November. That’s our plan.” — Nick Bosa, DT Dre’Mont Jones, CB Damon Arnette Coach’s quote: “We’ve got to score points. It’s an
D.J. Durkin The big questions: Can OSU get through the rug- area we haven’t been very good at. Defensively we’ve
ged Big Ten East Division and return to the Big Ten got to stop the run and we’ve got to create more
championship game and possibly the College Football takeaways.” – Chris AshGalion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 11
AP Photos
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is being mentioned as a Heisman Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke, being chased here by Michigan’s
Trophy candidate but the three-year starter could miss having Saquon Barkley Maurice Hurst (73) in a game last season, helped the Spartans to a 10-win Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh lobbies the
in the backfield with him this season. season in 2017. officials for a holding call during the Outback Bowl
game against South Carolina on New Year’s Day.
Don Speck l The Lima News
Michigan State running back L.J. Scott is stopped
Rutgers head coach Chris Ash, center, talks to his running backs as they by Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley in the
Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary (3), expected to be a high first-round stretch during training camp. The former Ohio State assistant coach is in his Buckeyes’ game against the Spartans last season
NFL draft pick, rushes the quarterback in a game against Rutgers last season. third season as Rutgers’ head coach. in Ohio Stadium.
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Big Ten West Division preview
BIG TEN WEST DIVISION experience at running back. We like our players there. Coach’s quote: “We’ve got to get Xs and Os installed.
They just haven’t played very much.” – Kirk Ferentz We’ve got to change the way guys think. We’ve got to
make sure we’re getting to work in the weight room,
Illinois Minnesota that we’re in better shape, that we recruit better.” –
Last year: 2-10, 0-9 Big Ten, seventh in West Last year: 5-7, 2-7, sixth in the West Scott Frost
Returning starters: 14 (7 offense, 7 defense) Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)
Players to watch: RB Mike Epstein, WR Mike Players to watch: RB Rodney Smith, WR Tyler Northwestern
Dudek, WR Ricky Smalling, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, DB Johnson, DE Carter Coughlin, LB Thomas Barber, DB Last year: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten, second in the West
Bennnett Williams Antoine Winfield Jr. Returning starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense)
The big questions: Will a year of experience help a The big questions: Can Minnesota find a quarter- Players to watch: QB Clayton Thorson, RB Jeremy
team that started 10 non-redshirt freshmen last season, back to fix a passing game that had more interceptions Larkin, WR Flynn Nagel, WR Bennett Skowronek, DE
including four on the offensive line? Who will play quar- (11) than touchdown passes last season? Can it find Joe Gaziano, CB Montre Hartage
terback? Cam Thomas, the only returning scholarship some playmakers to go with running back Rodney The big questions: The health of quarterback
quarterback, had five interceptions and no touchdown Smith (977 yards) and wide receiver Tyler Johnson (7 Clayton Thorson (2,844 yards and 15 touchdowns last
passes last season. Can Dudek, who caught 76 passes as TD catches) to jump start an offense that was twelfth season) is by far the biggest question for Northwestern
a freshman in 2014 become a go-to receiver again after in the Big Ten in scoring? Will coach P.J. Fleck’s rah-rah after he suffered a torn ACL in the Music City Bowl.
two ACL surgeries? He says he is “150 percent” healthy. approach begin to wear thin if the Gophers continue to Will the Wildcats’ running game drop off without Justin
Coach’s quote: “In an ideal world, we wanted to struggle? Jackson, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards four
have more wins right now. But I like where we are. Now Coach’s quote: “Last year we were not a player-led years in a row? Who made out this schedule with games
that’s behind us.” – Lovie Smith football team. Bad teams, nobody leads. Average teams, against Michigan and Michigan State back to back and
coaches lead. Elite teams, players lead.” – P.J. Fleck games against Wisconsin and Notre Dame back to back?
Iowa Coach’s quote: “It’s one thing to be consistently a
Last year: 8-5, 4-5 Big Ten, tied for third in West Nebraska bowl team and consistently successful on the field. It’s
Returning starters: 11 (7 offense, 4 defense) Last year: 4-8, 3-6 Big Ten, fifth in the West another thing to consistently compete for champion-
Players to watch: QB Nate Stanley, TE Noah Fant, Returning starters: 11 (5 offense, 7 defense) ships. And we’re not there yet.” – Pat Fitzgerald
WR Nick Easley, C Keegan Render, DE A.J. Epenesa, Players to watch: WR Stanley Morgan Jr., WR J.D.
DE Parker Hesse, CB Matt Hankins Spielman, DL Nick Stoltenberg Purdue
The big questions: Can the combination of quarter- The big questions: Has Nebraska, which hasn’t won Last year: 7-6, 4-5 Big Ten, tied for third in the West
back Nate Stanley, who had 26 touchdown passes and a league title since 1999, finally found a coach in former Returning starters: 12 (8 offense, 4)• 30-day price guarantee
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fall, and his top two receivers, Nick Easley (51 catches) its program back to national prominence? Except for Sindelar, RB Markell Jones, WR Jackson Anthrop, LB
and tight end Noah Fant (11 TD catches) compensate standout receivers Stanley Morgan Jr. (61 catches) and Markus Bailey, DB Jacob Thieneman
for the lack of a proven running back? Will a dominant J.D. Spielman (55 catches) almost everything is a ques- The big questions: Were the Boilermakers a one-
defensive line allow three first-year starters at linebacker tion mark. Who will play quarterback and how to fix a year wonder last year or is the turnaround here to stay
to grow into their roles? defense that gave up 36 points a game are two of the in coach Jeff Brohm’s second year? Will Elijah Sindelar
Coach’s quote: “The obvious thing we’re lacking is biggest questions. or David Blough emerge as the No. 1 quarterback or
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• 800-545-3673Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 13
will they share time? How
much will the departure of
four of the top five defen-
sive linemen, two of the top
three linebackers and the
best defensive back on last
year’s team affect this year’s
defense?
Coach’s quote: “I know
the expectations are higher
this year. But our players are
looking forward to it and
they’ve worked hard.” —Jeff
Brohm
Wisconsin
Last year: 13-1, 9-0 Big
Ten, first in West
AP Photos
Returning starters: 13 Illinois is 5-19 overall in Lovie Smith’s two seasons as its head coach and did not win a Big Ten game last Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, shown here in a game against Florida
(10 offense, 3 defense) season. But it would cost $12 million to buy out his contract, so his job is probably safe for now. Atlantic, ran for nearly 2,000 yards as a freshman last season.
Players to watch: QB
Alex Hornibrook, RB Jona-
than Taylor, WR Quintez
Cephus, WR A.J. Taylor,
OL Michael Deiter, LB T.J.
Edwards
The big questions: Could
Wisconsin have the best
offensive line in the coun-
try? Can quarterback Alex
Hornibrook fix his intercep-
tion problem (34 touchdown
passess and 22 interceptions
the last two seasons)? Can
Jonathan Taylor (1,977
yards last season as a fresh-
man) rush for more than
2,000 yards? Will Quintez
Cephus, who missed several
games because of an injury,
give Wisconsin a deep threat
Don Speck l The Lima News
at receiver? Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley, who threw five Nebraska offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes (76) talks to a coach
Coach’s quote: “This Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck is in the second year of touchdown passes in a 55-24 win over Ohio State during a Cornhuskers practice earlier this month. Jaimes, who
year could be fun.” — Paul trying to build the Gophers’ program into something last season, looks for room to throw over OSU’s started nine games at right tackle last season, is moving to left
Chryst as lofty and soaring as his words. Chris Worley in last year’s game in Iowa City. tackle.
OH-7007180514 August 2018 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star
OHIO STATE SCHEDULE
2017 OHIO STATE TACKLES
Jerome Baker 72
STATISTICS Jordan Fuller 70 Sept. 1 Oregon State noon
Damon Webb
Tuf Borland
61
58
Sept. 8 Rutgers -x 3:30 p.m.
PASSING YARDS Chris Worley 56 Sept. 15 TCU at Arlington, Tex. 8 p.m.
J.T. Barrett 3,053 Damon Arnette 44
Dwayne Haskins 565 Sam Hubbard 42 Sept. 22 Tulane TBA
Joe Burrow 61
TACKLES FOR LOSS Sept. 29 at Penn State-x TBA
RUSHING YARDS Nick Bosa 16.0
J.K. Dobbins 1,403 Sam Hubbard 13.5 Oct. 6 Indiana-x 3:30 or 4 p.m.
J.T. Barrett 798 Tyquan Lewis 9.5 Oct. 13 Minnesota-x TBA
Mike Weber 626 Jerome Baker 8.0
Antonio Williams 290 Chase Young 6.0 Oct. 20 at Purdue-x TBA
Parris Campbell 132 SACKS
Nick Bosa 8.5 Nov. 3 Nebraska-x TBA
RECEIVING YARDS Sam Hubbard 7.0
K.J. Hill 549 Tyquan Lewis 7.0 Nov. 10 at Michigan State-x TBA
Parris Campbell 584 Chase Young 3.5
Johnny Dixon 422 Jerome Baker 3.5 Nov. 17 at Maryland-x TBA
Binjimen Victor 349
INTERCEPTIONS
Nov. 24 Michigan-x noon
Austin Mack 343
Marcus Baugh 304 Damon Webb 5 x-Big Ten games
Denzel Ward 2
PASS RECEPTIONS Jordan Fuller 2
K.J. Hill 56 Damon Arnette 2
Parris Campbell 40
Terry McLaurin 29 FIELD GOALS AP PRESEASON TOP 25 13. Stanford
Record
9-5
Pts
778
Pv
20
Marcus Baugh 28 Sean Nuernberger 17/21
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press preseason 14. Michigan 8-5 773 NR
Austin Mack 24
Binjimen Victor 23 PUNTS college football poll, with first-place votes in parenthe- 15. Southern Cal 11-3 543 12
Drue Chrisman 44.2 ses, records, total points based on 25 points for a first- 16. TCU 11-3 533 9
place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and 17. West Virginia 7-6 511 NR
2017 final ranking: 18. Mississippi St. 9-4 450 19
19. Florida St. 7-6 384 NR
Record Pts Pv 20. Virginia Tech 9-4 351 24
1. Alabama (42) 13-1 1505 1 21. UCF 13-0 312 6
2. Clemson (18) 12-2 1476 4 22. Boise St. 11-3 292 22
3. Georgia 13-2 1350 2 23. Texas 7-6 216 NR
4. Wisconsin (1) 13-1 1271 7 24. Oregon 7-6 148 NR
5. Ohio St. 12-2 1256 5 25. LSU 9-4 106 18
6. Washington 10-3 1215 16
7. Oklahoma 12-2 1173 3 Others receiving votes: South Carolina 96, Florida 68,
8. Miami 10-3 1027 13
Utah 60, Oklahoma St. 51, FAU 38, Arizona 28, NC State
9. Auburn 10-4 1013 10
10. Penn St. 11-2 1012 8 22, Texas A&M 21, Boston College 18, Northwestern 13,
11. Michigan St. 10-3 877 15 Kansas St. 10, Iowa St. 8, Houston 6, Memphis 3, Troy 2,
12. Notre Dame 10-3 804 11 Iowa 2, Kentucky 1, Arkansas St. 1, Fresno St. 1.
GO BUCKEYES!Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 15
Don Speck l The Lima News
Ohio State’s band performs during a timeout during a game against UNLV last season at Ohio Stadium.
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See dealer or toro.com (toro.ca for Canadian residents) for warranty details. Product availability, pricing & special promotions are subject to dealer options.Galion Inquirer • Morrow County Sentinel • Bellville Star OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW August 2018 16
Cornerback Damon Arnette (3) will be one of the leaders of Ohio State’s defense this year and could join the long list
of recent OSU defensive backs who have gone to the NFL.
Photos by Don Speck l The Lima News
Brutus Buckeye tries to fire up the crowd during a break in the action during a game last Ohio State receiver Terry McLaurin (83) stretches to try to make a catch in a game against Army last season in Ohio
season. Stadium.
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