Quarterback Pryor is a great threat, whether passing or running. Boren is one of the blockers he relies on. Also...about the polls, Miami's Hurricanes, Buckeyes-Michigan, etc.
Guard Justin Boren (65) during an Ohio State practice earlier this month.Cleveland, Ohio -- Premier football programs such as Ohio State's have numerous standout players.
Sometimes, the "best" players don't necessarily equate to the "most important" players.
Scout.com, with CollegeFootballNews.com, lists what it believes are "The 100 Most Important Players Going Into the 2010 Season."
The two Buckeyes who make the list are not only "important," but also -- obviously -- very good.
Junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor is among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Scout.com considers him the ninth most important player in the country, commenting, in part:
After a year and a half of starting experience, he’s more in command of the offense now, appears to be quicker with his decision making, and he’s ready to open up the attack more to unleash his tremendous arm on more downfield throws. Work-level isn’t an issue; he has had problems with a sore arm from overuse working on throw after throw. Toughness isn’t an issue; he played hurt at the end of last year and underwent minor knee surgery to clean everything up. This is his team and his season for the taking, and for all the hype and all the promise, he appears ready to be the player everyone has been waiting for.
No. 82 on the list is Justin Boren. Part of the comment about the senior guard:
(H)e’s a top-shelf NFL prospect. At 6-3 and 320 pounds with a mean, nasty streak, he’s a bear of a run blocker earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as the team’s best blaster for the ground game. While he was banged up a bit with a foot problem, he still managed to start in 12 games providing the physical presence the line was in need of.
Continue to keep track of the Buckeyes in The Plain Dealer and, on its website's Ohio State pages, cleveland.com/osu. Coverage includes Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises' report on the naming of Ohio State's six captains; his story on freshmen who could get playing time this fall; his report on Ohio State scheduling a 2011 home game against Colorado.
Flip Buckeyes, Tide?
Defending national champion Alabama is ranked first in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll. The Buckeyes are No. 2.
Reporters from various publications write for a Los Angeles Times blog what teams they believe are over-rated or under-rated as the season approaches. Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times, with a poke at OSU rival Michigan, comments:
Alabama should be loaded, for sure, but so is Ohio State, which picked up only three first-place votes in opening at No. 2. The Buckeyes return nine offensive starters, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the preseason Heisman favorite, and seven starters on defense. Ohio State also plays eight home games -- including four "paycheck" games against Marshall, Ohio, Eastern Michigan and 1-AA Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Hurricanes forecast
Ohio State opens the season at home against Marshall on Thursday night, Sept. 2. Next for the Buckeyes is another home game, this one much-anticipated, against No. 13 Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 11.
NCAAFootball.com previews the season for Miami, which is coached by Randy Shannon. Scott Haynes writes:
Shannon continues to rebuild the program and it won't be long before the team is a perennial national title contender again.
The preseason hype is not a distraction for Shannon.
"It's great for us. We are really excited about the opportunity to keep looking forward. We have done a lot of good things since I've been the football coach. We have won five games, seven and nine. We keep improving every year. The things we have done off the field has been tremendous and also academically. It shows how much the guys have put into this program and all the things we need to get done."
Everyone will get a chance to see just how far this team has come and has to still go week two with a trip to Columbus to take on Ohio State.
End zone
The Buckeyes' Cameron Heyward is one of three Big Ten defensive end stars that Tim May writes about for the Columbus Dispatch.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany comments for ESPN.com about what could happen with the traditional Ohio State-Michigan game.
OhioStateBuckeyes.com details who the Buckeyes' six captains are.