Barnett is the biggest surprise, moving Orhian Johnson, who has battled injuries, to the second team at safety.
Ohio State posted its first depth chart of the season as part of the game notes for the opener with Marshall a week from today, and there's a winner in the battle we've all been following: Joe Bauserman is the No. 1 holder.
Actually, there is one surprise - sophomore C.J. Barnett is listed as the starter at strong safety ahead of expected starter Orhian Johnson, who is listed as the backup. Johnson is one of many defenders who missed time during preseason practice with an injury, and he wasn't on the field for the team scrimmage, so that time away probably played a role in that decision. Barnett was starting whenever Johnson wasn't.
Junior Andrew Sweat won the starting strongside linebacker job for the Buckeyes.Also, Andrew Sweat has won the starting strongside linebacker job ahead of Etienne Sabino, who is not even listed as a SAM linebacker. Sabino is shown to be the backup at middle linebacker, along with Storm Klein, behind starter Brian Rolle. Jonathan Newsome is the No. 2 SAM linebacker behind Sweat.
At left tackle, junior Mike Adams appears to have won that spot ahead of senior Andrew Miller. There is no OR on the chart, which is used to indicate a potential platoon at that spot, with Miller only listed on the second team.
The rest of the starters are expected, including defensive end Nathan Williams, who hurt his left knee during camp but was not to be counted out for the Marshall game, according to Jim Tressel.
Other notes: Bauserman is the backup quarterback ahead of Kenny Guiton; Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are listed as co-starters at tailback; Taurian Washington looks like the No. 3 receiver, with Chris Fields or freshman Corey "Philly" Brown shown as the No. 4 receiver; freshman Andrew Norwell is the backup right tackle; Jermale Hines is shown as the starting free safety and a backup, along with Christian Bryant, to Tyler Moeller at the star position; redshirt freshman Corey Brown is the No. 4 corner, behind No. 3 corner Travis Howard but beating out some other veterans; true freshman Johnathan Hankins is a second-team defensive tackle along with Garrett Goebel, with redshirt freshman Adam Bellamy listed as a No. 2 defensive end. That moves Melvin Fellows out of the two-deep; Devin Barclay is listed as the No. 1 kicker, with Drew Basil listed as the kickoff specialist.