TWIF Staff Writer

On national television, No. 2 Ohio State showed everyone it would be a serious national title contender from the first play of its 121^st season.

Offensively, the Buckeyes played with a great deal of energy and explosiveness in front of an anxious crowd of 105,040.

In its season-opening 45-7 win, OSU’s silver bullet defense spoiled Coach Doc Holliday’s debut, as it scared and confused Marshall’s new-look spread offense.

The Thundering Herd (199 yards of total offense) was held to less than 200 yards of total offense for the first time since 2008 against West Virginia.

Offense: The Buckeyes looked great offensively in an effort that generated 529 total yards.

OSU RB Brandon Saine (Greg Ashman/TWIF)

Junior QB Terrelle Pryor, who seemed very comfortable as a pass-first quarterback, threw for three touchdowns on 247 yards passing.

WRs DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher had a combined seven catches for 154 yards and three scores.

“It’s obviously a step in the right direction,” Sanzenbacher said. “For us, what we can take out of the game, is how many guys got to get in there and play, especially from the receiver stand point.”

RB Brandon Saine led the rushing attack with 103 yards on nine carries and two TDs. A complete performance by Saine and junior RB Dan Herron (44 yards on seven carries) highlighted their abilities to run for speed and power.

Grade: A

Defense: The Buckeye defense, which did not surrender any points, forced three turnovers, and made it nearly impossible for the Marshall offense to throw to the middle of the field.

Safeties Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller had no problem filling the gap left by the departure of NFL-bound Kurt Coleman.

OSU LB Brian Rolle (Greg Ashman/TWIF)

Moeller, who returned after missing last season with a head injury, led the defense with six tackles (five unassisted), a forced fumble and a sack.

“He didn’t make the greatest plays, but he was always there when we needed him,” DL Cameron Heyward said. “It was great seeing him out there.”

Hines was second on the team with five tackles (four unassisted) and seemed to be in on every play, making several bone-crushing hits.

LB Brian Rolle intercepted Marshall QB Brian Anderson, and returned it 30 yards for a TD, to give the Buckeyes a 35-7 advantage going into halftime. It was all said and done for the Thundering Herd following Rolle’s defensive gem.

Grade: A

Special Teams: OSU’s special teams got off to a hot start Thursday.

Marshall’s Andre Booker returned the first kickoff of the game 14 yards before OSU’s Dorian Bell forced a fumble at the Marshall 22-yard line, which was recovered by OSU junior DB Nate Oliver.

It was all downhill from there for Marshall.

PK Devin Barclay’s first extra point attempt was tipped on its way through the uprights.

And after Saine scored on a 4-yard rush to make the score 14-0, Booker returned the next kickoff 63 yards to the OSU 29-yard line.

Marshall’s only score came when Johnny Jones blocked 53-yard Drew Basil field goal attempt. The ball deflected into the hands of Ahmed Shakoor, who returned it 60 yards for a TD.

Barclay added his first field goal of the season from 34 yards out during the fourth quarter.

Grade: B-

Coaching: Coach Jim Tressel worked outside his usual Tressel-ball strategy. He had Pryor throw the ball 27 times Thursday, and it paid off.

It was apparent that spacing was important in Tressel’s game plan. Several times plays were run to give receivers lots of room in the middle of the field. And more tosses to the running backs were implemented.

In a game like this one, that can get out of hand early, Tressel was able to get a lot of inexperienced players a good amount of playing time.

“We came off a hard training camp,” Tressel said. “I thought our kids played hard. We have a tremendous challenge next weekend, and if we can learn after what we did today, and have a good week of practice, next week should be fun.”

Grade: A

Final Thoughts: The leadership of the captains, who accounted for four of the six Buckeye scores, translated into a hard fought performance by the whole team.

OSU QB Terrelle Pryor (Greg Ashman/TWIF)

Pryor looked ready for the Miami Hurricanes next week, but he did benefit from a lack of pressure from the Marshall defense, due to the stellar performance by the offensive line.

Pryor will not have that much time to throw next week, but with the way OSU played offensively, he should still persevere.

The only thing that went wrong for OSU was the special teams’ performance, something that usually does not happen under a Jim Tressel-coached team.

Overall Grade: A-

The Buckeyes’ next game will be played at 3:40 p.m. on Sept. 11 against the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes in Ohio Stadium. 

TWIF Featured Columnist

“A Girl’s Glimpse of the NFL”

From the jailhouse to the schoolhouse, Maurice Clarett is back – giving it another shot (no pun intended) at Ohio State.

Jessica Piazza/TWIF

He has re-enrolled in summer quarter classes at the university, and according to his attorney, Michael Hoague, Clarett is doing very well.

Clarett was eager to get back into the classroom, and has also been making good use of OSU’s Woody Hayes Athletic Center, working out and getting back into football shape.

“I’m looking forward to being back in school and doing my best to fit in with other students,” Clarett said.

But if he is thinking about making an NFL comeback, or at the very least – another attempt at football on any level, including the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks – he’s sure got a long road ahead of him.

Clarett, 26, was recently released from prison after serving just three-and-a-half years of his seven-and-a-half year sentence for robbery and concealed weapons charges, stemming from an August 2006 arrest in Columbus, where he was pulled over and found with an assault rifle, two handguns, a bulletproof vest, a half-drunken bottle of Grey Goose vodka and a samurai sword. 

Items found in Clarett's vehicle following his arrest in August 2006.

All that after being charged with aggravated robbery in January 2006, and waiting in August 2006 to stand trial for those original charges.

And in the football world, he has a rap sheet just as long.

Clarett played just one season at OSU. Actually, he played one incredible season at OSU. In 2002, he rushed for 1,237 yards and led the Buckeyes to a perfect 14-0 season.

Moreover, he was extremely instrumental in helping OSU win the BCS National Championship that season – its first in 34 years. But OSU suspended Clarett for the 2003 season after he filed a false police report and received special benefits worth thousands of dollars. 

Then, in 2004, after unsuccessfully challenging the NFL’s restrictions on entering the NFL Draft before he was eligible, he then became ineligible to return to college football as he had signed with an agent during the interim.

Clarett scoring the game-winning TD in the BCS National Championship against Miami (FL). (Jim Davidson/TheOzone.net)

Although he was a surprising third round draft selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2005 NFL Draft, he never played a single regular season down, as Clarett was released after missing most of the preseason with a groin injury, and incurring several unpleasant incidents with his coaches.

Had Clarett not broken NCAA rules and burned bridges early on, and stayed at least three years at OSU, he would have no doubt been a first round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Maybe even No. 1 overall.

Although Clarett is still young, and has very little wear and tear on his body as compared to most NFL running backs his age, he hasn’t played in a real football game in more than seven years (and spent more than three of those years in the slammer!).

Who, or what football organization, would want to take a chance on him now?

Even if he can get into top form for the NFL, without question, Clarett still has plenty of personal issues. 

Clarett while receiving his 7-and-a-half year sentence.

Indeed, he has paid his debt to society, but that is no guarantee he is a changed man. If that sort of reality is even possible – Clarett as a different, and better, person.

Though it seems it will take nothing short of a miracle to get Clarett back into the NFL scene, all hope is not lost on the former star Buckeye tailback.

He has received permission from Ohio’s Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge David Fais to leave the state and tryout for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL.

Coincidentally, Omaha’s Player Personnel Director is Ted Sundquist, former General Manager of the Denver Broncos.

“He’s truly on the path to trying to right his life and do what’s right,” Sundquist said.

Even if Clarett does make the team, he has less than a month to get in shape, as the Nighthawks kick off their season Sept. 24, against the Hartford Colonials.

And of most recent note, UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue, Pacman Jones’ former agent, has stated that Clarett cannot sign with Omaha until a support system is in place for him.

Omaha Nighthawks logo

How convenient for Clarett is that former NFL star running back, and current Omaha Nighthawk, Ahman Green, is in place to become Clarett’s mentor.

And quite coincidently, Green and Clarett were the only two freshmen, ever, to lead a national champion college football team in rushing (Green did so for Nebraska in 1995).

Green has recently said, in talking with Clarett, that the former Buckeye is determined to play football again, and start a new chapter in his life.

I hope all of you in Buckeye nation agree with me, in that, with any luck this will be a book without a tragic ending. 

Ohio State Buckeyes OG Bryant Browning sporting Nike's uniquely designed uniform during last year's Michigan game (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

Other premier schools participating include the University of Alabama, Boise State University, University of Florida, University of Miami (FL), Oregon State University, University of Pittsburgh, Texas Christian University, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University. The particulars of those events will be announced at the unveiling of the uniforms Sept. 1 in New York.

The Nike Pro Combat System of Dress uniforms the schools will wear are engineered to provide superior protection and durability, while utilizing advanced fabrics and tooling that reduce weight.

Nike worked diligently with each university to bring relevant elements of the school’s rich heritage into the futuristic elite fit uniform designs.  The collaborations with the universities produced the highly customized uniforms that will be revealed just days prior to the start of the 2010 college football season.

FROM NEW YORK MEDIA RELATIONS

About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. A division of NIKE, Inc., Jordan Brand is a premium brand of footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the dynamic legacy, vision and direct involvement of Michael Jordan. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com. 

NBC4i Sports

COLUMBUS – Ohio State continues its preseason training camp with the usual mix of bumps and bruises, but so far it appears the Buckeyes have avoided serious injuries. 

Ohio State Buckeye DE Nathan Williams (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

Defensive end Nathan Williams suffered a left knee injury Saturday during the squad’s special teams practice. We’re told it’s not a serious injury (i.e. requiring surgery), and Williams will likely be available for the season opener against Marshall, Sept. 2. 

Other players with lingering, but non-serious injuries, include Ross Homan (hamstring) and Devon Torrence (hamstring).

It also appears likely that offensive tackle Marcus Hall will redshirt this season, although the school has yet to confirm that. 

Hall is still practicing with the Buckeyes, but was said to have some academic issues to clear up before gaining clearance to play this season. 

OSU’s offense will battle its own defense Saturday in the semi-annual Jersey Scrimmage at Ohio Stadium, with the winning side earning the right to wear Scarlet jerseys in practice. 

It’s been a tradition throughout Jim Tressel’s time at OSU, and the Buckeye defense has owned those jerseys for nearly two years. 

Senior linebacker Brian Rolle has no plans to lose them, either.

“I’m going to graduate with the Scarlet jersey,” Rolle said Tuesday.

Ohio State Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor attemtping a pass during last year's Rose Bowl (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

Last season Pryor passed for 2,094 yards with 18 touchdowns and led the Buckeyes with 779 yards and seven TDs on the ground.

The Rose Bowl MVP passed for a season-high 266 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 72 more, setting an Ohio State bowl game record with 338 yards of total offense as the Buckeyes upset the Oregon Ducks on New Year’s Day, 26-17.

Pryor is 19-3 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, which includes an 8-1 mark in 2008 and an 11-2 record in 2009.

The dual-threat quarterback has rushed for 1,410 yards during the last two seasons, the sixth-most by an FBS quarterback during that span.

He enters his junior year with more than 4,800 yards of total offense and is the fifth Buckeye quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 career yards with two years of eligibility remaining.

Pryor also was recently named to the Davey O’Brien and Manning award watch lists for the 2010 season and was selected as the preseason Big Ten offensive player of the year for the second-consecutive year last week in Chicago.

The Walter Camp watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November.

The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 120 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the 6 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, December 9.

The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2011 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889.

Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”

Donald Buckram, RB, Senior, UTEP

John Clay, RB, Junior, Wisconsin

Iowa Hawkeyes fearsome DE Adrian Clayborn (Iowa Media Relations)

Adrian Claybron, DE, Senior, Iowa

Jared Crick, DL, Senior, Nebraska

Andy Dalton, QB, Senior, TCU

Dwight Dasher, QB, Senior, Middle Tennessee State

Noel Devine, RB, Senior, West Virginia

Ricky Dobbs, QB, Senior, Navy

Michael Floyd, WR, Junior, Notre Dame

A.J. Green, WR, Junior, Georgia

Mark Ingram, RB, Junior, Alabama #

LaMichael James, RB, Sophomore, Oregon

Greg Jones, LB, Senior, Michigan State $

Colin Kaepernick, QB, Senior, Nevada

Case Keenum, QB, Senior, Houston $

Dion Lewis, RB, Sophomore, Pittsburgh

Jake Locker, QB, Senior, Washington

Andrew Luck, QB, Sophomore, Stanford

Ryan Mallett, QB, Junior, Arkansas

Kellen Moore, QB, Junior, Boise State

Rahim Moore, DB, Junior, UCLA $

Chris Owusu, WR/KR, Junior, Stanford $

Patrick Peterson, DB, Junior, LSU

Bernard Pierce, RB, Sophomore, Temple

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Junior, Ohio State

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Junior, Oregon State $

James Rodgers, WR/KR, Senior, Oregon State

Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State

Quad Sturdivant, LB, Senior, North Carolina

Ryan Williams, RB, Sophomore, Virginia Tech

# – 2009 Walter Camp First Team All-America selection

$ – 2009 Walter Camp Second Team All-America selection 

Boise State will begin the season ranked No. 5. The Broncos, like Alabama, finished last season 14-0. They beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Crimson Tide got 55 of 59 possible first place votes. The other four went to Ohio State, which is No. 2 in the newspaper’s ranking.

Ohio State Buckeyes Coach Jim Tressel (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

Florida is third, followed by Texas, which lost to Alabama in the BCS title game in January.

Virginia Tech was sixth, followed by TCU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa to round out the top 10.

Nos. 11-15 are Oregon, Wisconsin, Miami, Penn State and Pittsburgh. They were followed by LSU, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Arkansas and Florida State, which will be without Bobby Bowden as coach for the first time in 35 years.

Georgia is No. 21, Oregon State No. 22, Auburn No. 23 and Utah and West Virginia tied for No. 24.

The coaches’ poll is part of the BCS formula used to determine its national champion.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press 

Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium

The conference office will begin a 30-day period to negotiate a one-year agreement with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to host the game.

Once the 2011 agreement is in place, the conference office will conduct a thorough process over the next year to determine the location of the Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2012 and beyond.

“We are excited to work with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to finalize an agreement to hold the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game in the city of Indianapolis,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “We felt at this time it was important to identify a site for the first championship game and then spend more time with other cities and venues with respect to both our basketball tournaments and the football championship games in the future. The city of Indianapolis has been an outstanding host for our basketball tournaments, and we look forward to holding our first Big Ten Football Championship Game in Lucas Oil Stadium.”

The 115th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 2, as Indiana hosts Towson, Minnesota plays at Middle Tennessee State, and Ohio State welcomes Marshall. The conference’s other eight teams open action on Saturday, Sept. 4.

Newly Signed Cincinnati Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham (Al Behrman/Associated Press)

Also today, the club waived rookie defensive end Rahim Alem, a college free agent from LSU.

“Jermaine is an exceptionally talented player at his position, even among first-round draft choices,” said Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis. “He’s also tough and a hard worker. He puts his talent to use. We expect him to make an impact on our offense this season.”

A 2008 First Team All-America selection, Gresham has fully recovered after missing his 2009 Oklahoma season due to a preseason knee injury.

He participated in all Bengals 2010 offseason drills.

Gresham (6-5, 260) scored 25 touchdowns during his last 28 college games.

In 2008, he set Oklahoma records for TD catches (14) and receiving yards (950) for a tight end. He played in all 42 Sooners games from 2006-08, also supporting a strong rushing game that helped the team to a 34-8 record, with two Fiesta Bowls and one berth in the BCS National Championship game.

“Jermaine will increase our offensive options,” said Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. “In the physical division we play in, he gives us another weapon. He plays the way we like to play. He can be a great receiver and a great blocker, and there haven’t been many tight ends come out in recent years with the realistic potential to excel in both areas.”

Gresham reported today to Bengals training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College.

It’s expected he will participate in today’s 3 p.m. practice at the Toyota Stadium complex.

FROM THE CINCINNATI BENGALS PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Ohio State Buckeyes DB Chimdi Chekwa (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

Chekwa, a senior corner, recorded 43 tackles, one interception and seven pass break-ups last season and has three INT’s and 20 break-ups in his career. He’ll serve as veteran of the defensive backfield this season with 39 career games under his belt.

Senior safety Hines was fourth on the team with 57 tackles last season, 3.5 for loss, while recording one sack and two interceptions – one of which he returned for a touchdown against Wisconsin. Hines played all 13 games in 2009 and has played in 30 career games going into his senior year.

The Thorpe Award is one of college football’s most sought after and prestigious awards.  It is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back.  Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend”, Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

The Jim Thorpe Award “watch list” is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines.  Four points are awarded for first team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for honorable mentions.  This procedure determines approximately 30-40 players on the pre-season watch list.  This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.

Ohio State Buckeyes DB Jermale Hines (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character.  The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.

The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists.  The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner.  The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show.

Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.

2010 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List:

Prince Amukamara – CB – Nebraska                                Duke Ihenacho – S – San Jose State

Mark Barron – S – Alabama                                            Jaiquwn Jarrett – S – Temple

Brandon  Boykin – CB – Georgia                                      Janoris Jenkins – CB – Florida

Curtis Brown – CB – Texas                                              Jeron Johnson – S – Boise State

Kendric Burney – CB – North Carolina                              Tejay Johnson – S – TCU

Brandon Burton – CB – Utah                                            Shiloh Keo – S – Idaho

Rashad Carmichael – CB – Virginia Tech                           Brian Lainhart – S – Kent State

Quinton Carter – S – Oklahoma                                       DeAndre McDaniel – S – Clemson

Chimdi Chekwa – CB – Ohio State                                Rahim Moore – S – UCLA

Don Decicco – S – Pittsburgh                                           Johnny Patrick – CB – Louisville

Ras-1 Dowling – CB – Virginia                                         Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU

Blake Gideon – S – Texas                                               Tyler Sash – S – Iowa

Stephen Gilmore – CB – South Carolina                            Robert Sands – S – West Virginia

Brandon Harris – CB – Miami                                           Jimmy Smith – CB – Colorado

Will Hill – S – Florida                                                       Trevin Wade – CB – Arizona

Jermale Hines – S – Ohio State                                    Deunta Williams – S – North Carolina

Brandon Hogan – CB – West Virginia                                Aaron Williams – CB – Texas

Davon House – CB – New Mexico State

Courtesy of The Ohio State Buckeyes Sports Information Department

Ohio State Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor (D. Jay Talbott/TWIF)

The conference announced the poll and players of the year Monday during the first day of the Big Ten’s annual media days in Chicago.

This year marks the first since 1998 that the Big Ten’s Preseason Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year have been repeat selections from the previous season.

Ohio State’s Andy Katzenmoyer (defense) and Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (offense) are the only other pair to accomplish the feat since at least 1996.

Jones, selected the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year at the conclusion of the 2009 season and a consensus All-American, is the first back-to-back Preseason Defensive Player of the Year since Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis in 2007 and 2008, and Pryor is the first player to repeat as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year since Dayne earned the honor in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Pryor has guided Ohio State to two Big Ten Championships and two Bowl Championship Series games in his first two seasons. Last year he threw for 2,094 yards and 18 touchdowns and also led the Buckeyes in rushing with 779 yards.

He was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Rose Bowl Game. In the 26-17 win over Oregon Pryor had a career-high 266 yards passing with two touchdowns, 72 yards rushing and he directed Ohio State’s offense to a Rose Bowl record 41:37 time of possession.

Michigan State Spartans MLB Greg Jones (MSU Media Relations)

Pryor enters his junior campaign already 11th among Ohio State’s career total offense leaders with 4,808 yards. His 1,410 rushing yards is the most among current Buckeyes (Brandon Saine has 1,071 and Dan Herron has 1,039).

Courtesy of The Ohio State Buckeyes Sports Information Department