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New coach, same goal: National Title 2 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette GO BUCKS!

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By Jim Naveau [email protected]

COLUMBUS – A national champion- ship, three Big Ten titles, a 7-0 record against Michigan and 86 wins in 95 games make a tough act to follow for Ryan Day. So does the look. Meyer has always had a look about him that says he is intense, passionate and definitely in charge. But rather than being off-putting, it is also a look that draws people to him. Dennis Wendel, who was on Meyer’s first Bowling Green team, described it this way not long after Meyer was hired at Ohio State in 2012: “The first thing I remember about him is his walk when he walked into the room (at Bowling Green). As soon as he walked into the room, he defi- nitely had a presence about him. He commanded the room immediately,” he said. Meyer arrived at Ohio State with a presence as a known quantity and with two national championships, including a 41-14 thumping of OSU in the 2006 title game, in his pocket. Ohio State fans had a lot evidence he Levi Morman | The Lima News had the “it” factor as a coach. Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and quarterback (1) observe some of the action of Ohio State’s spring game at Ohio Stadium in April. Much less is known about Day, who came to Ohio State in 2017 as co- and quarterbacks the incredible success Meyer had at over the years, that I grew up with, to ask for the same thing, but it’s more coach, was promoted to offensive Ohio State. that was kind of the way they were in a laid-back way. Instead of yelling coordinator in 2018 and was the acting One of the recurring questions is every day. I don’t think that is the way and screaming at you for something, head coach for three games last season will he be as tough as Meyer? Can he you are on a day-to-day basis. he’s just going to demand it in an ask- when Meyer was suspended. make the hard call? Does he have the “When it comes time you have to ing way.” Probably the biggest thing most look, which is another way of saying pull that club out of the bag, you are Safety Jordan Fuller says Day’s nice- people know about him is that he is a will he command the same respect as going to need it. If you have been told guy image is genuine but that he also creative offensive play designer and Meyer? to do something and you just don’t do can be tough. play-caller who is a protege of Chip The question of if he will be tough it, then we have a problem. But I want “No coach got to this level if they Kelly. enough was put to Day at the Big Ten these guys to play free without any- were just nice all the time. Obviously But he has never been a head coach football media days in July when he thing in the back of their mind.” he has that streak, and he can motivate at any level before now. was asked if he could be “the bad guy.” Wide receiver K.J. Hill said, “I think somebody to get the job done. I don’t So, there are many questions as Day said, “That is just part of coach- Coach Meyer is more of an old-school, people try to predict if he will continue ing. I think there are a lot of coaches demanding coach. Coach Day is going See Beginning | 8 4 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette Ohio State defense seeks redemption

By Jim Naveau [email protected]

COLUMBUS – They played hard but often not very well. They took some big hits, some of them on the field and some of them off the field from their critics. Ohio State’s defense was the weak link on a football team that finished 13-1 last season and was ranked No. 3 in the country but still heard that it was a dis- appointment. Now, with nine returning starters, four new defen- sive coaches and a new scheme, OSU’s defensive play- ers say things will be different this year. “Last year wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t the year we wanted at all. So this year is for redemption and to prove everybody wrong,” safety Jordan Fuller said. “It was really frustrating. We heard that we’re better than this, and we have to tighten everything up. But things kept happening. It was bad vibes all around. It wasn’t fun. You wanted to play well. Every week you prepared, but it wasn’t panning out for whatever reason. It was a whole bunch of reasons,” he said. Ohio State ranked No. 51 nationally in scoring defense, No. 72 in total yards allowed, No. 86 in pass- ing yards allowed and was the most penalized FBS team in the country. Probably the most glaring deficiency was the regu- Don Speck | The Lima News Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland (32) leads the charge in stopping Minnesota’s Seth Green during last season’s game against larity with which the Buckeyes’ defenders gave up big Minnesota at Ohio Stadium. plays. It started in the season opener, when Oregon State’s Artavis Pierce had touchdown runs of 80 and struggled and struggled. ferent defense than you saw last year,” he said. yards and 78 yards, and it never got fixed. While they are driven to do better, OSU’s defen- Cornerback Jeffrey Okudah said OSU’s defensive To list just a few of the other big plays, TCU’s Dar- sive players say they learned something last year but backs have “an attitude of redemption.” ius Anderson had a 93-yard run, Penn State’s Trace won’t dwell on what went wrong. Damon Arnette, the other starting cornerback, McSorley threw a 93-yard touchdown pass, Mary- “Last season was last season, and as much as we said, “I feel this year is like the reset button for real, land’s Anthony McFarland had runs of 81 yards, 75 would like to change things and make things look a especially for me since it’s my last year. It’s all or yards and 52 yards, and Northwestern’s John Moten little better, it happened,” defensive end Jonathan nothing for real. The question is are we going to had a 77-yard run in the Big Ten championship game. Cooper said. “The best thing we can do is just learn play to the talent level and not let distractions come Add it all up, and Ohio State allowed 38 plays of 30 from those mistakes, not really pay attention to the between what we know we can do on the field.” yards or more last season. numbers, per se, or say, ‘Oh, we gave up this. Oh, If the Buckeyes don’t deliver that improvement, The problems started with Nick Bosa’s season- we gave up that.’ Just learn from our mistakes and they’ll hear more things like the message Arnette got ending groin injury the third week of the season. how we can prevent them from happening again this from a fan last season. Several of the other defensive linemen, such as Chase season. “I got a Twitter message one time that said I need Young and Robert Landers, played hurt for much of “We don’t look back and say, ‘Oh, you messed up to go back to high school and pick a different sport. I the season. here. You messed up there.’ We just say that wasn’t was like, ‘Damn,’ Arnette said. That put more pressure on the linebackers and the standard of the Ohio State defense. We have to But another time Arnette had to admit at least one defensive backs. And whether it was poor coaching, do better. We know that. That’s why we have this lack of talent or bad on-field decisions, they struggled chip on our shoulder. I’m positive you will see a dif- See Defense | 11 Delaware Gazette OSU Football PReview 2019 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 5 Fields the key to Buckeyes’ win total at Harrison High School in Ken- Georgia transfer was 5-star recruit nesaw, Georgia. The only chance to see Fields for COLUMBUS – As Justin waived the requirement that any extended period of time since Fields goes, so goes Ohio transfers sit out a season for he arrived in Columbus was OSU’s State this season. him. spring game, where he was 4 of 13 If you want to predict how Fields’ arrival led to the passing and rushed for 38 yards many games the Buckeyes departure of Tate Martell, under conditions that were quite will win this fall, there is last year’s No. 2 quarterback a bit different from actual game no information more valu- at Ohio State, who trans- conditions. able than knowing how Jim ferred to Miami, and its No. It is difficult to see Ohio State the highly rated and much- Naveau 3 quarterback, Matthew doing anything other than giving hyped quarterback will per- Contributing Baldwin, who left for TCU. the overwhelming percentage of form after transferring from columnist That means OSU’s top the snaps at quarterback this sea- Georgia and being granted three quarterbacks are Fields, son to Fields. immediate eligibility. Gunnar Hoak and Chris Chugu- That’s not really a question. But left a huge hole nov. Hoak was expected to spend there are questions that remain to fill when he declared for the a second year as Kentucky’s No. about him. NFL draft after setting Ohio State 2 quarterback this season before Will he produce the kind of sea- records for passing yards (4,831) transferring to Ohio State. And son that is expected? Will he be and touchdown passes (50) last Chugunov, who came to Ohio State more like Haskins or more of a J.T. season. He was drafted No. 15 in last year, had two career starts at Barrett-type quarterback? Or will the 2019 NFL draft by Washington. West Virginia, both in 2017 when he be something in between? Fields is a former five-star recruit the starter was injured. Will he make plays with his feet who was ranked the No. 1 quarter- Fields completed 27 of 39 passes as well as his arm, or will Ohio back recruit nationally in the 2018 and threw for four touchdowns State be reluctant to have him run recruiting class by some analysts without an interception last season the ball because losing him to an and No. 2 behind Clemson’s Trevor at Georgia. He also rushed for 266 injury might drastically change the Lawrence by others. yards and four touchdowns. direction the season takes? He enrolled at Georgia in Janu- He is expected to be more of a And maybe the biggest question ary 2018 and played in the Bull- dual threat than Haskins, though of all is just what does Ohio State dogs’ spring game, but after one probably not the exceptional passer have in Fields. His experience in year as ’s backup, he his predecessor was. At least not is very limited. began to explore the possibility of right away. Between Georgia and Ohio State, transferring. In high school, Fields passed for he has thrown more passes in Levi Morman | The Lima News On Jan. 4, he transferred to Ohio 4,187 yards and rushed for 2,096 spring games than he has in real Justin Fields throws a pass during Ohio State’s spring game while State, and on Feb. 8 the NCAA yards in two years as a starter games. being pressured by defensive lineman Tommy Togiai. OH-70143024 6 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette Dobbins wants to have huge season By Jim Naveau [email protected]

COLUMBUS – After a brilliant freshman season in 2017, some people thought J.K. Dobbins might make records fall last sea- son. Instead, his production fell. But the Ohio State running back says he intends to make up for it this season and is driven by the disap- pointment he felt in his perfor- mance last season. “To me, it was a failure,” Dob- bins said about his 2018 season on the day Ohio State opened pre- season practice. To most people, rushing for more than 1,000 yards for a sec- ond straight season would not be a failure. Dobbins was the Buckeyes’ leading rusher with 1,053 yards, but he pushes back against any suggestion last season was a good one for him. His opinion is all about expec- tations. As a freshman Dobbins rushed for 1,403 yards, had six games of 100 yards or more and averaged 7.2 yards a carry. Last season his rushing total dipped by nearly 400 yards, his 100-yard games were cut in half Don Speck | The Lima News Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins (2) finds some running room against Michigan State last season behind the blocks of Isaiah Prince (59) and Demetrius See dobbins | 7 Knox (78).

6 LSU 1,218 16 Auburn 606 25 Northwestern 161 (64) 0-0; TCU (63) (15) 0-0; NC State (12) (2) 0-0; Minnesota (1) Preseason 7 Michigan 1,155 17 Wisconsin 436 0-0; USC (47) 0-0; 0-0; Duke (10) 0-0; 0-0; Ole Miss (1) 0-0; Coaches 8 Florida 1,103 17 UCF 436 Others receiving votes: Fresno State (32) Boston College (5) Tennessee (1) 0-0; 9 Notre Dame 1,100 19 Iowa 343 Nebraska (152) 0-0; 0-0; Utah State (32) 0-0; Appalachian State Troy (1) 0-0 Poll 10 Texas 1,038 20 Michigan State 313 Boise State (118) 0-0; 0-0; Virginia (30) 0-0; (4) 0-0; Baylor (4) 1 Clemson (59) 1,619 11 Texas A&M 893 21 Washington State Mississippi State (111) Cincinnati (25) 0-0; 0-0; Florida State (4) (First place votes in 2 Alabama (6) 1,566 12 Washington 834 274 0-0; Miami (FL) (94) Memphis (24) 0-0; 0-0; Houston (3) 0-0; paretheses. Point 3 Georgia 1,447 13 Oregon 787 22 Syracuse 227 0-0; Army West Point West Virginia (24) 0-0; North Texas (3) 0-0; totals in voting follow 4 Oklahoma 1,415 14 Penn State 699 23 Stanford 200 (91) 0-0; Kentucky Oklahoma State (20) Arizona State (2) 0-0; team names). 5 Ohio State 1,368 15 Utah 642 24 Iowa State 169 (79) 0-0; Virginia Tech 0-0; South Carolina Temple (2) 0-0; UCLA Delaware Gazette OSU Football PReview 2019 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 7

be the No. 1 running back as going to try to blow the doors one of the goals in preseason After that, it’s two true fresh- Dobbins a freshman when Weber suf- wide open.’ practice. men – Marcus Crowley, ranked fered a preseason hamstring “That’s not how the game “J.K. can’t handle all that the No. 26 running back in the From page 6 injury, which limited him to works. You’ve got to stay with by himself, he’s going to need county in the 2019 recruiting seven carries in OSU’s first the design of the play. So help,” Day said. “We have a lot class, and Steele Chambers. and he averaged only 4.6 three games. there was some frustration of guys battling for it but we Day said there are several yards a carry. Dobbins rushed for 181 in there. There are a bunch do not have a legitimate back- things any of those four need After his big freshman sea- yards in the 2017 opener of things that play into that, up running back right now.” to do to become Dobbins’ son, betting site Bovada listed against Indiana and remained the mental aspect of it, and I One option would be speedy, back-up. him as one of the top two the first option in the ground could have done a better job though a little on the small “First off, they’ve got to contenders for the Heisman game most of the season. of helping him navigate those side fourth-year junior Dema- take care of the ball. “That’s Trophy in January 2018 and But last year Weber was waters,” Alford said. rio McCall. Another would No. 1. Ball security is critical another site followed suit in healthy again and rushed for “Our whole thing this offsea- be redshirt freshman Master for us. We have to secure April. 954 yards before passing up son and really toward the end Teague, a former four-star the ball. We have to block. But when everything was his final year of eligibility this of last season was get back to recruit who carried the ball 17 They have to do good job in sorted out, he was only season to go to the NFL. what you were. We need to get times for 106 yards protection, picking up blitz- second-team All-Big Ten, as “There were benefits to back to this, and we’re going last season. es,” he said. selected by the coaches, and sharing carries but knowing to get back to this.” honorable mention All-Big I’ll get more carries than in Dobbins said, “It looked Ten, as selected by the media. my first two years is kind of way better freshman year, and Ohio State football schedule 2019 “I rushed for a thousand a good feeling because I’ll be it felt better. Last year did not yards, but I feel like I can rush able to get into a rhythm and feel as good, and I think I can Aug. 31 Florida Atlantic noon for way more yards this year. stuff like that. I think that do much better. I didn’t make Last year was a failure to me. helps a lot,” Dobbins said. defenses fear me as I should. I Sept. 7 Cincinnati noon You’ll see more pop, more During spring practice he want to have that responsibil- Sept. 14 at Indiana-x noon explosion, more everything had a slightly different view ity of the team leaning on me this year,” Dobbins said. of sharing carries. He said it in a time of need.” Sept. 21 Miami (Ohio) TBA “I feel like everything is didn’t bother him, but added, Ohio State is expected to Sept. 28 at Nebraska-x TBA coming together at the right “You approach the game need Dobbins in a way it time. I feel like I’m the best differently. It changed our didn’t last season. At quarter- Oct. 5 Michigan State-x 7:30 p.m. running back in the nation, games.” back, former five-star recruit Oct. 18 at Northwestern-x 8:30 p.m. and I want to prove that.” Running backs coach Tony Justin Fields, a transfer from Oct. 26 Wisconsin-x TBA Dobbins should get more Alford said from his vantage Georgia who is expected to chances to back up that claim point he saw Dobbins trying start, will be in his first sea- Nov. 9 Maryland-x TBA than he had last season, when too hard to make big plays son in the Buckeyes program. Nov. 16 at Rutgers-x TBA he and Mike Weber shared last season. And, like Fields, none of the the running back position and “He was always trying to expected backup quartebacks Nov. 23 Penn State-x TBA quarterback Dwayne Haskins, make this huge play because have played in a game at OSU. Nov. 30 at Michigan-x noon now with the Washington we were rotating backs. His Also, the backup running Redskins, threw for 4,831 thing was, ‘If I’m only going backs are short on experience. Dec. 7 Big Ten Championship 8 p.m yards and 50 touchdowns. to get so many reps (repeti- Coach Ryan Day listed find- x- Big Ten games Dobbins got the chance to tions), every chance I get I’m ing a back-up running back as ALL HORSE PARADE Sunday, Sept.8 at 3:00 PM in Downtown Delaware One of the largest and most unique non-motorized 41016762 parades in the U.S. featuring 150 units and 450 horses, mules and donkeys. OH-70143284 8 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette

With a national championship, 86 wins in the last 95 games, a perfect record against Michigan and only one loss at home to a Big Ten team, Urban Meyer, shown with the Big Ten championship trophy last season, is going to be a tough act to follow,

the University of New Hampshire for Beginning three years. He is fourth in career pass- ing yards at New Hampshire and still From page 3 holds the record for passes attempted in a game (65). know exactly how he’ll do it, but I He started his coaching career as Photos by Don Speck | The Lima News know if he’s talking to me I’m going to tight ends coach at New Hampshire Ohio State football coach Ryan Day studies his offensive plays list during OSU’s opener against listen,” he said. in 2002. He was a graduate assistant Oregon State last season. Day was the Buckeyes’ acting coach for the first three games of the 2018 Wide receiver Austin Mack says Day at Boston College for two years before season. has already shown he is tough enough Meyer hired him as a graduate assistant when players were late for a meeting at Florida in 2005. or workouts or didn’t pay attention to Since then, he has worked at Temple 2018 OHIO STATE STATISTICS their weight. twice, Boston College twice for the Phil- “We’ve had issues this summer, adelphia Eagles and the San Francisco and he has handled them really well. 49ers before becoming Ohio State’s co- PASS RECEPTIONS SACKS He comes on as a nice guy because offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Parris Campbell`90 Chase Young`10.5 he wants to show it is tough love. He coach in 2017. OSU is only the second K.J. Hill`70 Dre’Mont Jones`8.5 expects a certain standard, and if you job where Day has stayed more than Johnnie Dixon`42 Nick Bosa`4 don’t reach that standard he’s going to two years. PASSING YARDS Terry McLaurin`35 Tuf Borland`3 Austin Mack`26 Pete Werner`3 make sure you know about it,” Mack Day left no doubt he knows what Dwayne Haskins`4,831 said. is expected of him on the day he was Tate Martell`269 Binjimen Victor`21 Malik Harrison`2.5 Jonathan Cooper`2.5 One person who has no doubts Day introduced as Meyer’s successor. TACKLES RUSHING YARDS is ready for the challenge of following “It didn’t take long for me to figure Jordan Fuller`81 INTERCEPTIONS J.K. Dobbins`1,053 Malik Harrison`81 Meyer is Kelly, his offensive coordina- out what the expectations were in Ohio Mike Weber`954 Shaun Wade`3 tor in college who later hired him as State football. No. 1, win the rivalry Tuf Borland`67 Kendall Sheffield`2 Tate Martell`128 Pete Werner`58 an assistant coach for the Philadelphia game. And No. 2, win every game after Dwayne Haskins`108 Brendon White`46 FIELD GOALS Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. that,” he said. Master Teague`106 Dre’Mont Jones`43 Blake Haubeil`10/13 When Day took over as interim coach Ironically, considering all the concern Damon Arnette`40 Sean Nuernberger`3/5 RECEIVING YARDS last season, Kelly texted him “You were that Day won’t be like Meyer, on that Parris Campbell`1,063 TACKLES FOR LOSS PUNTS built for this.” same day, Meyer’s advice to OSU’s new K.J. Hill`885 Chase Young`15.5 `43.2 Day, who turned 40 years old earlier coach was that he should be himself. Terry McLaurin`701 Dre’Mont Jones`13 this year, grew up in Manchester, New “First, he’s got to be himself. That Johnnie Dixon`669 Tuf Borland`9 Malik Harrison 8.5 Hampshire, where he was the quarter- was great advice to me as a young Binjimen Victor`354 back of a state champion football team coach from Lou Holtz and Earle Bruce. Austin Mack`331 Pete Werner`7.5 at Central High School. You can’t try to be someone else,” He went on to start at quarterback at Meyer said. Delaware Gazette OSU Football PReview 2019 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 9 Big Ten East Division preview

BIG TEN EAST DIVISION RB Anthony McFarland, DB Antoine and beats Ohio State for the first time Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana Brooks Jr., LB in the Harbaugh era? Will the hiring of Northwestern? Last year: 5-7, 2-7 Big Ten, sixth in The big questions: Will Josh Jackson, former Alabama co-offensive coordina- Coach’s quote: “I expect great the East a Virginia Tech transfer who threw tor unleash quarterback things from him and I expect him to Returning starters: 17 (7 offense, 8 for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns Shea Patterson and a good group return to his sophomore status and defense, punter, kicker) in 2017, bring some balance to Mary- of receivers in a no-huddle spread am very excited to watch him play.” – Players to watch: QB Peyton Ramsey, land’s offense, which ranked No. 20 offense? Can someone emerge as a No. Mark Dantonio on quarterback Brian RB Stevie Scott, WR Nick Westbrook, nationally in rushing and No. 121 in 1 running back? Lewerke WR Donavan Hale, OT Coy Cronk, LB passing last season? Can the Terrapins’ Coach’s quote: “I think that is where Reakwon Jones defense, which gave up 33 or more I would pick us.” — Ohio State The big questions: Can Indiana make points in six games last season, get about predictions Michigan will win Last year: 13-1, 8-1 Big Ten cham- its first bowl trip since 2016? If it does, better? Will linebacker Keandre Jones, the Big Ten championship. pion can it win a bowl game for the first who transferred from Ohio State, Returning starters: 14 (4 offense, 9 time since 1991? Will quarterback Pey- become an impact player? Michigan State defense, kicker, punter) ton Ramsey, who threw 19 touchdown Coach’s quote: “As they like to say, Last year: 7-6, 5-4 Big Ten, fourth in Players to watch: QB Justin Fields, passes and 13 interceptions last season, the third time’s a charm. I’m hoping the East RB J.K. Dobbins, WR K.J. Hill, WR keep the starting job? How much of an that’s the case here for me at Mary- Returning starters: 20 (10 offense, 8 Chris Olave, DE Chase Young, DE effect will new offensive and defensive land.” — Mike Locksley, who was a defense, kicker, punter) Jonathan Cooper, DB Jordan Fuller coordinators have on the Hoosiers, who Maryland assistant twice earlier in his Players to watch: QB Brian Lewerke, The big questions: Will first-year ranked 10th in the Big Ten in points career WR Darrell Stewart, WR Cody White, coach Ryan Day continue the incredible scored and points allowed in 2018? RB Connor Heyward, DL Raequan success Urban Meyer had in seven sea- Coach’s quote: “We don’t plan to run Michigan Williams, DL Kenny Willekes, LB Joe sons at Ohio State? Will Georgia trans- a two-quarterback system. Obviously Last year: 10-3, 8-1 Big Ten, tie for Bachie, CB Josiah Scott fer Justin Fields fill the hole left when it’s happened in the past and it’s been first in the East The big questions: Can Michigan Dwayne Haskins (4,831 yards passing successful other places, but the plan is Returning starters: 15 (8 offense, 5 State’s defense get enough help from and 50 touchdowns) went to the NFL? to pick one and let him be the man.” — defense, kicker, punter) the offense to be a Big Ten contender? Will the much-criticized linebackers Tom Allen Players to watch: QB Shea Patterson, The 2018 Spartans ranked tenth and defensive backs improve? WR Donovan Peoples-Jones; WR Nico nationally in total defense but their Coach’s quote: “The thing up front is Maryland Collins, OL Jon Runyan Jr., CB Lavert 18.7 points a game on offense was No. going to be interesting.”— Ryan Day Last year: 5-7, 3-6 Big Ten, fifth in Hill 125. Can quarterback Brian Lewerke on the competition for playing time on the East The big questions: Jim Harbaugh bounce back from a shoulder injury the offensive line where there will be Returning starters: 8 (3 offense, 4 was hired amid much fanfare in 2015 to that made him ineffective last season? four new starters. defense, kicker) make Michigan football elite again, so Do the Spartans have the toughest road Players to watch: QB Josh Jackson, is this the year it wins a championship schedule in the Big Ten with games at See east | 11 OH-70143787 10 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette Big Ten West Division preview

BIG TEN WEST DIVISION Sargent, WR Brandon terback battle between six games in 2018 justi- unfair? Will Isaiah Bows- get-go. He’s somebody Illinois Smith, DE A.J. Epenesa, Zack Annexstad and fied, or is the Huskers’ er, who rushed for 866 who when the lights Last year: 4-8, 2-7 Big LB Dijmon Colbert, CB Tanner Morgan? Annex- fan base getting ahead yards in Northwestern’s come on it doesn’t faze Ten, seventh in the West Michael Ojemudia stad was Minnesota’s of itself? Is Nebraska a last eight games in 2018, him a bit. He’s a special Returning starters: 17 The big questions: starter for the first legitimate contender for approach 1,500 yards talent.” — (6 offense, 10 defense, Who will replace the seven games last sea- the West Division title? this season? on wide receiver Ron- punter) catches of wide receiver son as a true freshman Can quarterback Adrian Coach’s quote: “It’s dale Moore Players to watch: QB Nate Easley and tight before a season-ending Martinez, who threw for one thing to be consis- Brandon Peters, QB ends T.J. Hockenson and injury. Morgan started 2,617 yards and rushed tently a bowl team and Wisconsin Isaiah Williams, RB Reg- Noah Fant, who com- the last six games and for 629 yards, be even consistently successful Last year: 8-5, 5-4 Big gie Corbin, WR Ricky bined to catch 140 pass- the Gophers were 4-2 better this season? Will on the field. It’s another Ten, tied for second in Smalling, DE Bobby es, 18 of them for touch- in those games. Could No. 1 running back Mau- thing to consistently the West Roundtree, CB Nate downs, last season? Minnesota be helped by rice Washington resolve compete for champion- Returning starters: 11 Hobbs Can three-year starting a schedule that includes his legal problems and ships. And we’re not (4 offense, 6 defense, The big questions: quarterback Nate Stan- South Dakota State, get back on the field? there yet.” – Pat Fitzger- punter) Will former Michigan ley break Chuck Long’s Georgia Southern, Rut- Coach’s quote: “We’re ald Players to watch: QB quarterback Brandon Iowa career record for gers and Maryland and going to go where the Jack Coan, RB Jonathan Peters live up to his Top touchdown passes? Can lets it avoid Ohio State, players are. I don’t Purdue Taylor, WR A.J. Taylor, 100 recruiting rank- Iowa improve its run- Michigan and Michigan care where they are. If Last year: 6-7, 5-4 Big WR Kendric Pryor, DE ing coming out of high ning game, which was State? they’re in Jamaica or Ten, tied for second in Isaiahh Loudermilk, LB school for the Illini after not up to the Hawkeyes’ Coach’s quote: “What in Kazakhstan, we’re the West Zack Baun transferring? Will he usual standards last we’re going to be able to going.” – on Returning starters: 14 The big questions: have targets to throw season? do is focus on being bet- Nebraska’s recruiting (4 offense, 10 defense) Can Wisconsin bounce to in an offense where Coach’s quote: ter today than we were Players to watch: QB back from a disappoint- the top receiver Ricky “We’ll find out.” – Kirk yesterday. It sounds like Northwestern Elijah Sindelar, WR Ron- ing 8-5 season, the first Smalling caught only Ferentz, when asked if a broken record and Last year: 9-5, 8-1 Big dale Moore, TE Brycen time since 2013 it didn’t 33 passes in 2018? How Iowa is a Big Ten cham- it sounds boring, but Ten, first in the West Hopkins, DT Lorenzo win 10 or more games? many wins will it take pionship level team. sometimes boring is Returning starters: 13 Neal, LB , Is Jack Coan, who start- for Lovie Smith to keep OK.” – P.J. Fleck (5 offense, 7 defense) CB Kenneth Major ed the last four games his job? Minnesota Players to watch: QB The big questions: last season, the answer Coach’s quote: “We Last year: 7-6, 3-6 Big Nebraska Hunter Johnson, RB Who will emerge as the at quarterback? With a were one of the worst Ten, tied for fifth in the Last year: 4-8, 3-6 Big Isaiah Bowser, WR Ben- No. 1 running back with first-year quarterback defenses in college foot- West Ten, tied for fifth in the nett Skowronek, DE last year’s top two rush- will 2,000-yard rusher ball. Right after the sea- Returning starters: 14 West Joe Gaziano, LB Paddy ers gone? Is linebacker Jonathan Taylor have an son, we went to work to (8 offense, 5 defense, Returning starters: 14 Fisher Markus Bailey 100 even heavier workload correct that.” — Lovie punter) (7 offense, 5 defense, The big questions: percent healthy after after averaging 303 car- Smith Players to watch: QB kicker, punter) Was Northwestern’s trip offseason hip surgery? ries per season the last Zack Annexstad, QB Players to watch: QB to the Big Ten champi- Is Rondale Moore (114 two years? Iowa Tanner Morgan, RB Adrian Martinez, WR onship game a signal catches, 12 touchdowns, Coach’s quote: “He Last year: 9-4, 5-4 Big Rodney Smith, RB Mo J.D. Spielman, RB Ded- the Wildcats are going 1,258 yards last season) does not feel like he has Ten, tied for second in Ibrahim, WR Tyler John- rick Mills, DE Khalil to be contenders regu- the most dangerous arrived. He’s one of the the West son, WR Rashod Bate- Davis, LB Mohamed larly, or was it a fluke? wide receiver in the Big best workers on this Returning starters: 10 man, DE Carter Cough- Berry, DT Carlos Davis Are the expectations Ten? team.” — (5 offense, 4 defense, lin, LB Kamal Martin, The big questions: Is that Clemson transfer Coach’s quote: “He’s on Jonathan Taylor, who punter) DB Antoine Winfield Jr. Nebraska’s optimism Hunter Johnson will be exceeded our expecta- rushed for 2,194 yards Players to watch: QB The big questions: about this season after an immediate success tions and our expecta- last year and 1,977 yards Nate Stanley, RB Mekhi Who will win the quar- winning four of its last at quarterback fair or tions were high from the as a freshman Delaware Gazette OSU Football PReview 2019 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 11

K.J. Hamler, TE Pat Freier- many as eight first-year start- (6 offense, 5 defense, kicker, regain some confidence after East muth, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, ers on offense? punter) throwing four touchdown pass- DB Garrett Taylor Coach’s quote: “We probably Players to watch: QB Artur es and 18 interceptions in 2018? From page 9 The big questions: Is Cincin- have more question marks Sitkowski, RB Raheem Black- Where will the Scarlet Knights nati St. Xavier graduate Sean this year than we’ve had over shear, RB Isaiah Pacheco, WR find playmakers in an offense Penn State Clifford, known more for his the last couple years. We are Bo Melton, CB Damon Hayes that scored only 19 touchdowns Last year: 9-4, 6-3 Big Ten, big arm than for his mobility, young, we are talented.” — The big questions: How many all season last year? third in the East a good fit in James Franklin’s James Franklin wins does coach Chris Ash need Coach’s quote: “It all starts Returning starters: 13 (5 offense in which all but one to keep his job after going 7-29 with the offensive line and offense, 6 defense, kicker, of his starting QBs has run Rutgers in his first three seasons? Can the quarterback. Everything punter) at least 75 times in a season? Last year: 1-11, 1-9 Big Ten, quarterback Artur Sitkowski, that we are going to do is Players to watch: QB Sean Can Penn State compete for a seventh in the East who was rushed into action as driven by those two positions.” Clifford, RB Ricky Slade, WR Big Ten championship with as Returning starters: 13 a true freshman last season, – Chris Ash

one of last year’s defensive coaches who Defense is back this year. Longtime Michigan assistant Greg From page 4 Mattison and San Francisco 49ers defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley will of OSU’s problems on defense was so be OSU’s defensive co-coordinators, obvious that a fan could identify it. and Hafley will also coach the defensive “They were saying, ‘Why aren’t the backs. They replaced and corners looking back for the ball?’ In Alex Grinch. my head I’m thinking, ‘Why the hell Al Washington, another former Mich- aren’t we looking back for the ball?’” he igan assistant, will be the linebackers said. coach, replacing Bill Davis, and Matt What OSU coach Ryan Day is looking Barnes will be the assistant defensive for is improvement from the defense backs coach, replacing Taver Johnson, but says it doesn’t have to be perfect. whose title last year was cornerbacks “Is it going to be perfect? No, it isn’t coach. going to be perfect,” he said. “We’re Those new coaches have brought going to solve the problems as they a different approach to Ohio State’s come. How quickly we can solve those defense and the players have embraced problems will indicate what kind of it. defense we’ll be.” “It’s just a whole new scheme of how Day did not hesitate to make changes our defense is. I like it because it is Photo by Don Speck | The Lima News on the defensive coaching staff when he simpler. It’s just having us play hard Ohio State defensive lineman Robert Landers sacks Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson during a took over for Urban Meyer. Legendary and play fast. See ball, get ball,” Cooper 62-39 win over the Wolverines at Ohio Stadium last season. line coach Larry Johnson is the only said. OH-70143029 12 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 OSU Football PReview 2019 Delaware Gazette

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