Buckeye’s Sunday Practice at Ohio State
News is coming out of the first Ohio State practice with the media allowed to watch today. A couple of players are still not active with the team. Rod Smith, the highly recruited running back out of Fort Wayne Harding, has not arrived on campus yet. And Nic DiLillo is clearly not going to be a part of the team this fall after being left off the roster and now not participating in early camp. But the rest of the team news is good as everyone is participating and fully recovered from spring injures.
By Steve Patterson
Mike Adams has moved into the first team rotation at left tackle with Andy Miller working out with the second team. There could be rotation throughout camp with a final decision coming closer to the start of the season. JB Shugarts will start at right tackle with Justin Boren and Bryant Browning at guard and Michael Brewster at center. A fairly veteran group with the left tackle position being the only concern after the graduation of Jim Cordle.
Andrew Sweat, Brandon Saine, Jaamal Berry, and Chimdi Chekwa were all participating after injures earlier in the year. Sweat was with the second team linebackers along with Dorian Bell and Storm Klein. First team linebackers are Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, and Etienne Sabino. Two deep at linebacker is very good for the team.
JT Moore and David Durham, two true freshman, are practicing at the LEO position. The defensive line looks to be Cameron Heyward and Nathan Williams at the ends and John Simon and Dexter Larimore inside. Second team defensive line is currently Melvin Fellows, Garrett Goebel, Adam Bellamy, and Solomon Thomas. Like the linebacker position, depth beyond the first two lines is a little shaky but pretty solid at the 2 deep.
News from the wide receiver position is that Ty Williams has great size for the position. Chris Fields continues to look good with great route running along with the veteran Dane Sanzenbacher. And Jake Stoneburner continues to get looks from Terrelle Pryor. DeVier Posey, Taurian Washington and James Jackson will also get playing time with Posey being a starter again.
At the safety position, Tyler Moeller is back completely along with Aaron Gant. Orhian Johnson and Jermale Hines are the number one safeties after the departure of Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman. Moeller, Nate Oliver, Jamie Wood, Zach Domicone, Gant, and CJ Barnett are all in the mix for this fall.
The running back position still looks deep even with the departure of Jamill Martin and the late arrival of Rod Smith. The Veterans Saine and Dan Herron will lead the group with Jordan Hall, Berry and Carlos Hyde providing depth. Hyde is a big back that looks really good after a year in community college.