OSU Key Players

There are high expectations for OSU this season. It all started last year immediately after the championship game when future NFL draft picks Freeman, Boone, Jenkins, and Laurinaitis decided to come back for another year of football and a shot at the National Championship.

Last year was a crazy year, as OSU made it into the championship game after higher ranked teams lost at the end of the season. OSU had a shot at winning the game, but it seemed like the Buckeyes were there a year early. With 20 starters returning, including the four players mentioned above, the pieces are in place for great things to happen.

QB Boeckman had an incredible first year as a stater, winning first team all-Big Ten and leading the conference in passing efficiency with a rating of 148.94. In his career he has thrown for 53.8% for 2465 yards and 26 touchdowns.

RB Beanie Wells had a record sophomore season running for 1609 yards and a record 222 yards against Michigan. Beanie has been listed on many lists as a leading Heisman contender.

WR Brian Robiskie returns for his senior year after leading the team with 55 catches for 935 yards. He was a Bilentikoff semifinalist. Outside of football he also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-American (3.5 GPA) and was a member of the 4x100 meter relay team that qualified for the NCAA.

LB James Laurinaitis returns as a team captain for the second consecutive year, as a two time All-American, 2007 Butkus Award Winner, 2006 Nagurski, and 2007 finalist in various awards including Lomardi. He led the team in tackles last year with 121.