ESPN College Football

Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.

Today's Take Two topic is this: Last season, defensive tackle was clearly the strongest overall position group in the Big Ten. What position will be the best throughout the league in 2012?

Take 1: Brian Bennett

I'm tempted to go with linebacker, where some high-profile players and future stars are scattered throughout the conference. But my pick is running back.

There's some major star power at the position this year in the Big Ten, starting off with last year's Heisman Trophy finalist and record breaker, Wisconsin's Montee Ball. While Ball is the obvious choice for preseason offensive player of the year, he could get pushed by some other backs, including Nebraska's tough-as-nails Rex Burkhead, who ran for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Even with last year's No. 2 league rusher (Iowa's Marcus Coker) gone, the position is still stacked with guys like Penn State's Silas Redd, who we both think is primed for a huge season; Michigan's Fitz Toussaint, who ran for more than 1,000 yards despite not taking over lead rushing duties until the eighth game of the season; and Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, who came on strong late last season and looks great this spring.

Purdue has some very capable runners in Akeem Shavers, Akeem Hunt and Doug Gentry, and Ralph Bolden is coming back from an ACL injury. Ohio State has a potentially strong group with Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall, Rod Smith and freshman Bri'onte Dunn. Stephen Houston showed some good things for Indiana last year, and transfer Isaiah Roundtree had a big spring game. Minnesota is high on junior college import James Gillum. And don't forget James White at Wisconsin, who could start for most teams in the country.

Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern have some question marks at tailback. But overall, running back is where the Big Ten's bread will be buttered this season.

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

A good choice, Bennett, as the Big Ten returns six of its top seven running backs and would have brought back all seven if not for Marcus Coker's transfer. But my experience covering this league has taught me to never overlook the defensive line. The D-line once again will be the Big Ten's strongest group in 2012.

Sure, the league loses standouts like Devon Still, Whitney Mercilus and Jerel Worthy. But you could substitute the names Aaron Maybin and Mitch King after the 2008 season, or Brandon Graham and Jared Odrick after 2009, or J.J. Watt and Corey Liuget after 2010. The Big Ten always finds ways to reload up front, and this year will be no different. There might not be as many familiar names as there are at running back, but that soon will change.

Let's start off with the top returning linemen, Ohio State's John Simon and Purdue's Kawann Short, both of whom earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011. Both men will contend for All-America honors, and could be potential first-round picks in the 2013 class. Then you have a guy we're both excited about: Michigan State defensive end William Gholston. He's a physical freak, as you recently detailed, and has the potential to dominate games and become one of the nation's truly elite defenders in 2012. I'd also include Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill in this group of known commodities with the potential for very big things this season. Penn State's overall depth along the defensive line should be better this year.

Now for some lesser-known names who could have breakout seasons. Let's start at Illinois with defensive end Michael Buchanan and defensive tackle Akeem Spence. Buchanan is poised for a big year, as he showed in Illinois' spring game, while Spence is a next-level player who could follow Liuget's path this season. Speaking of defensive tackles, watch out for Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins, a very big man who can do very big things this season. The Buckeyes' heralded incoming freshmen should only bolster their line.

Michigan loses two standout linemen (Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen), but it's hard to imagine the Wolverines falling back much at all up front. Nebraska boasts good depth at the defensive end spot and could see a big year from a guy like Cameron Meredith.

While there are some question marks around the league, including an unproven line at Iowa, teams like Northwestern and Minnesota should be improved up front.

Indiana has named former Arizona assistant Seth Littrell as its new offensive coordinator, filling the void left by Rod Smith, who last month left for a position at Arizona.

Smith and Kevin Johns shared offensive coordinator duties in 2011, but Littrell now has the title, while Johns becomes the Hoosiers' assistant offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Kevin Wilson announced Tuesday.

Johns coached wide receivers this year but takes over the position Smith had overseen.

"We received a large amount of interest from a talented pool of applicants, but I kept coming back to Seth,” Wilson said in a prepared statement. "Seth is one of the most innovative, young coordinators in the country. We are excited to incorporate his successful background with the spread passing game into our offense."

Littrell spent the past three seasons at Arizona under coach Mike Stoops, and his offense ranked 15th nationally in yards (465.3 ypg) and third in passing (370.8 ypg) this season. He also coached tight ends and H-backs in 2011 and tight ends and running backs in 2009-10. Littrell previously served as Texas Tech's running backs coach, so he's definitely familiar with teams that put up big yards and big points.

Littrell seems like a very good choice to replace Smith, one of the nation's best at developing spread-offense quarterbacks. That duty now falls to Johns and, to a lesser extent, Littrell. Johns has coached wide receivers for most of his career but played quarterback in college at Dayton. It'll be interesting to see how he mentors talented Hoosiers signal caller Tre Roberson.

Indiana announced Monday that defensive ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brett Diersen has resigned.

Diersen joined Kevin Wilson's staff after the departure of D-line coach Jerry Montgomery to Michigan. Diersen came to Indiana from Nebraska, where he had served as an intern.

"We appreciate Brett’s service and wish he and his fiancée Jenna the best," Wilson said in a prepared statement. "We will move forward quickly in making a quality hire that will further strengthen our staff."

Wilson will be replacing at least two assistants from his 2011 staff as co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith left last month to rejoin Rich Rodriguez at Arizona. It will be interesting to see where he turns for the recruiting coordinator post, as defensive recruiting has to be the biggest priority for the Hoosiers right now.

Indiana assistant Rod Smith has left the program to rejoin his former boss Rich Rodriguez at Arizona.

Smith, the Hoosiers' co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will coach quarterbacks with Rodriguez in Tucson. He joined Kevin Wilson's staff this winter after Rodriguez was fired at Michigan. Smith coached on Rodriguez's staff at West Virginia and Michigan from 2007-10.

"We appreciate Rod's efforts with us this season," Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said in a prepared statement. "We're sorry to see him leave and wish him and his family the very best. Rod has a long-standing relationship with Coach Rodriguez and we understand his decision. As we move forward, we’ll take our time to find the fit for our coaching staff that will keep our program headed in a positive direction."

It's not a big surprise to see Smith rejoin Rodriguez, who has assembled several other members of his Michigan staff in Arizona, including offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. Smith's departure is a blow for Indiana, as he helped develop freshman quarterback Tre Roberson into a dynamic player during the second half of Big Ten play. Smith is an excellent mentor for quarterbacks in the spread offense. Wilson lost several assistants shortly after hiring them this past winter, but Smith is the first to leave after spending the season in Bloomington.

Kevin Johns remains as the team's co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. It will be interesting to see where Wilson turns for Smith's replacement and what title the new assistant will have.

Ohio State's depth at tailback -- and maybe even more importantly, its kick return game -- has taken another hit. Head coach Luke Fickell said Thursday that Jordan Hall, the team's No. 2 running back, is "probably doubtful" against Indiana because of an ankle injury.

If Hall can't go, that would be two running backs unavailable for the Buckeyes. Jaamal Berry was suspended this week after he was charged with assault.

But tailback depth shouldn't be too much of a problem for Ohio State. Dan Herron has been terrific since returning from his suspension, rushing for 274 yards in two games. Carlos Hyde, who ran for more than 100 yards against Nebraska before Herron came back, will be elevated to the No. 2 back. Hyde voiced his displeasure over his reduced role on Twitter and did not play last week against Wisconsin, but Fickell said Hyde has "kept his mind right."

"This could be a very good opportunity for him," Fickell said.

Rod Smith, who has been working out some with the Buckeyes' linebackers, will also be available at running back.

The bigger issue if Hall can't play might be on special teams. Hall ranks third in the Big Ten in kick returns at 30.2 yards per attempt. Last week, he returned a Wisconsin kick 42 yards to help set up the game-winning score.

Fickell said Corey "Philly" Brown, Chris Fields and Devin Smith could chip in on kick returns in Hall's absence, and Herron might get some work there, too.

The Buckeyes are heavy favorites to beat 1-8 Indiana at home this week, but Hall could be a key player down the stretch as they contend for the Leaders Division title.

Luke Fickell confirmed on Thursday what every Ohio State fan hoped was coming: Braxton Miller is the Buckeyes' new starting quarterback.

The true freshman replaces senior Joe Bauserman a week after Bauserman struggled mightily at Miami, completing just 2-of-14 passes. Now it's Miller time against Colorado on Saturday.

It's a bold choice considering that Fickell is basically putting the team in the hands of a very green player at the game's most important position, especially considering Fickell is only on a one-year contract. He's attaching his sail to a quarterback who's bound to make mistakes; Miller threw an interception and fumbled twice against the Hurricanes. The one thing you could say in Bauserman's favor was that he is nearly allergic to forcing throws into tight coverage and he values ball security.

But what other choice did Fickell have, really? It became pretty clear in the Toledo game and then painfully obvious in South Florida that Bauserman doesn't have the tools to be a big-time playmaker, at least not given the Buckeyes' inexperience at receiver. Were this a typical Ohio State offense not ravaged by suspensions and injury, then perhaps a game manager like Bauserman would be the correct choice to run the show.

This Buckeyes team, however, needs all the help it can get moving the ball forward. And Miller, for all he lacks in experience, has the one skill that's hard to replace: the kid can run away from defenders when there's trouble. Now defenses must constantly be aware of Miller's ability to tuck the ball and take off as well as his passing. The running game with Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry and Rod Smith is already the offense's strength, and now it has another option.

I'd say the passing game might be scaled back a bit now with a freshman under center, but could it really get any smaller than it was last week?

It's fascinating that Miller takes over as the starter in Game 4, just as Terrelle Pryor did in 2008 as a freshman. Of course, Miller would likely be wearing a baseball cap and holding a clipboard if Pryor were still in school. The Buckeyes would love for Miller to match Pryor's 8-1 record as a starter his freshman season.

But fans who expect Miller to come in and be the savior are probably unrealistic. He's a talented player, but he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire during his limited time in two games this season. The Ohio State offense still has issues in the receiving game, which may not be solved until DeVier Posey returns. The Buckeyes don't want to throw Bauserman overboard, but he can still help this team if Miller gets hurt or is ineffective.

And yet this move gives a boost of excitement not only to a fan base hungry for a change but potentially for a team that has had a rough two weeks on the field. The future begins now for Miller and the Buckeyes.

It's a question that has lingered around Ohio State ever since the Allstate Sugar Bowl: How exactly will the Buckeyes blend in the four suspended players -- including three key starters -- when they become eligible midway through this season?

While the answer to that won't come for a few more weeks, head coach Luke Fickell gets a good chance to figure that out this week.

That's because three players who were suspended for the opener for receiving impermissible benefits at a charity event -- starting cornerback Travis Howard, starting running back Jordan Hall and reserve defensive back Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown -- have been reinstated to the team this week, along with linebacker Jordan Whiting, who served a one-game ban for his role in the tattoo trading.

Howard and Hall in particular were expected to play important roles. In their absence, the Buckeyes received good play from cornerback Dominic Clarke and running backs Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith in the 42-0 opening win over Akron. So now what? Does Fickell just plug the suspended guys back into their starting jobs? Or does he stay with the guys who did nothing wrong and played well when given an opportunity?

Fickell said nothing has been determined about those starting spots and won't be until this week's practice sessions. But he also realizes how important his handling of this situation will be.

"Those guys coming back are great assets to us," Fickell said. "But we want to make sure that they don't just jump back in there, because those guys have filled in and stepped up and took their game to another level. They deserve the same situation they were in last week. We're going to make it a great example that hey, those guys that come back have got to earn everything. Just like our entire team does; we're going to earn everything."

Fickell said the returning suspended players are "accepting it and willing to go out there and practice" in an effort to get their jobs back. This could signal how the Buckeyes work in running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, left tackle Mike Adams and defensive linemen Soloman Thomas when their suspensions end after the fifth game. In the case of the first three of those players, they are proven veterans and most likely the most talented guys at their positions. But will chemistry be affected if they step back in to replace those who may have excelled in their absence?

Running back is already becoming a crowded position. With Hall back and Jaamal Berry (hamstring) expected to be available this week against Toledo, the Buckeyes' backfield will have doubled in one week. And that's before Herron comes back. Keeping everyone happy might be a tricky balancing act.

"I think those guys can all co-exist," Fickell said.

Ohio State may start to find out this week just how well that works.

Some other quick Buckeyes notes:

• Fickell said quarterbacks Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller would both continue to play, probably in the same roles as last week. He said he liked the way both quarterbacks played against Akron.

• Fickell received a game ball from athletic director Gene Smith following the Akron win. But as has been his attitude since he took the job, Fickell deflected attention from himself.

• Toledo coach Tim Beckman used to coach alongside Fickell when he was Ohio State's cornerbacks coach in 2005 and 2006. Fickell said he spent time with Beckman this summer during the Buckeyes camps. "It's just like if I was playing my brother," Fickell said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quick analysis from the first half at Ohio Stadium, where Ohio State leads Akron 21-0 at intermission:

Stat of the half: Ohio State has 267 total yards to 100 by Akron, and the Zips got a third of their total on a 33-yard pass in the final minute of the half. Akron had just one first down until its final possession of the first half. This game is totally one-sided, even though it's just a three-touchdown lead.

Best player in the half: Ohio State quarterback Joe Bauserman. While the senior was expected to split reps with Braxton Miller, he played all but three snaps in the first half. And Bauserman showed he deserves the job by completing 10 of 14 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a 15-yard score on a broken play. Ohio State should have scored on all five possessions with Bauserman at the reins, but Rod Smith fumbled inside the Akron 5 and Drew Basil missed a 40-yard field goal.

Best call: Luke Fickell decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Akron 16 in the second quarter. Smith converted it, and Bauserman delivered a touchdown pass two snaps later for a 14-0 lead. The Buckeyes later had another fourth-and-1 before Basil's missed field goal but decided not to go for it. Wonder if that will make Fickell even more aggressive on those decisions moving forward.

Ohio State fans finally got a look at freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, but it's not one they'll want to remember.

Miller came in for the Buckeyes' third series, which coincided with the start of the second quarter. After he scrambled for a short gain on first down, he had a pass dropped by tight end Reid Fragel and then had to fall on a bad snap on third down.

Joe Bauserman had more success in the first quarter during his two series. The senior went 3-for-3 for 47 yards and scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown, showing more athleticism than fans had given him credit for. Ohio State would have scored on its second series, too, but Rod Smith fumbled inside the 5.

Early impressions: Ohio State is much too good for Akron, especially in the trenches. Fullback Zach Boren has made some excellent blocks to spring the tailbacks. Only a couple of mistakes on offense has kept the Buckeyes from opening up a huge early lead.

One last note: running back Jaamal Berry (hamstring) warmed up with the starters but has yet to play. Doesn't look like he'll be needed today.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- First, the most important news. Luke Fickell, as promised, is indeed wearing black. He came out in a black warm-up jacket despite temperatures in the mid-90s. We'll see how long that jacket lasts.

In actual important news, Joe Bauserman took the warm-up snaps with the first team offense. No surprise there. He should start, but Braxton Miller will play a lot.

Everyone will be watching the quarterbacks, of course, but I'll also be keeping a close eye on the running backs. With Daniel "Boom" Herron and Jordan Hall suspended, the Buckeyes' once deep stable has thinned. Jaamal Berry was supposed to be questionable today with a hamstring problem, but he warmed up and took snaps with the first team. If he is slowed or doesn't play, it's basically down to Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith at tailback. Both are bigger backs but not particularly shifty.

And how much will Akron try to challenge young cornerbacks Bradly Roby and Dominic Clarke? Surely the Zips will test them, but do they have enough talent to make Ohio State nervous?

Three more Ohio State players, including two projected starters, will join the so-called "Tat-5" (now Tat-4) on the sideline Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Running back Jordan Hall and defensive backs Travis Howard and Corey Brown have been suspended for Saturday's opener against Akron for receiving impermissible benefits at a local charity event they attended earlier this year. The players each received less than $300 in benefits. Ohio State self-reported the violations, and while it has petitioned the NCAA to reinstate the players for the remainder of the season, the school is considering "additional sanctions."

"We take this matter seriously," athletic director Gene Smith said in a prepared statement. “Our commitment to institutional integrity is steadfast, and we must hold everyone associated with our athletics programs accountable for lapses in judgment. We believe in transparency with the NCAA, all regulatory bodies and all of Buckeye Nation."

There are a few ways to look at this. The timing certainly doesn't help, as Ohio State is awaiting a ruling from the NCAA's Committee on Infractions for violations involving former coach Jim Tressel, former quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four current players -- RB Dan Herron, WR DeVier Posey, LT Mike Adams and DL Solomon Thomas -- who are suspended for the first five games.

The NCAA could level additional allegations against Ohio State -- the dreaded second wave that might result in more severe penalties -- or simply rule on what it discussed at an Aug. 12 hearing in Indianapolis. If no additional allegations come down, Ohio State should survive major penalties.

Ohio State's cooperation with the NCAA throughout the Tat-5 case seems to have helped its cause, and these new violations were self-reported by the school. Ohio State wants to convince the NCAA it is monitoring its players as closely as possible.

Still, Smith's claim this past December that memorabilia sales and players receiving benefits aren't a systematic problem seems very tough to believe. This issue goes deeper than the Tat-5.

Thursday's announcement gives the NCAA more incentive to keep studying the Ohio State program. The infraction committee's ruling on Ohio State is expected sometime in the next two months.

As for the on-field effect, Hall's suspension and Jaamal Berry's lingering hamstring injury mean Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith likely will log plenty of carries against Akron. Running back depth remains a strength for the Buckeyes, but things could change if both Hall and Berry miss extended time before Herron returns from his suspension.

Sophomore Dominic Clarke should get the start in place of Howard at cornerback. Ohio State isn't deep at cornerback, as redshirt freshman Bradley Roby will make his first start on the other side Saturday.

After years as one of the nation's top assistants, Kevin Wilson will make his collegiate head-coaching debut Saturday night when Indiana faces Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium. But he's not getting wrapped up in the moment. Too much to do. Wilson has conducted his first preseason camp in Bloomington, evaluating positions and bringing his no-nonsense philosophy to a program that needs a jump-start.

Wilson took some time Tuesday to discuss camp and the outlook for IU in 2011.

How do you feel the players have adjusted to you and your staff so far?

Kevin Wilson: We're gaining on it every day. We've made a lot of strides, with not just our physical conditioning level but in our schemes, how to practice, how to be upbeat, how to have some energy. We've yet to play and go through a season, so can we maintain that in good times and bad times? But they've done better than I would have hoped or thought they could have done. I'm very proud of our guys.

Are there examples where you see them understanding what you want?

KW: Just on a consistent basis, our effort's greater, our physicalness in practice is greater, our enthusiasm, the tone of the guys when they're talking. Our total body language and team attitude, they're embracing the structure, the discipline, the toughness and the work ethic that we believe good teams have. Not that we didn't have it before, but I like the way they're relating to our staff.

What are your realistic expectations for Saturday?

KW: We want to take care of the ball. It's easy early in the season to be off your mark and allow an opponent to beat you because you're playing sloppy football, so ball security is something that's been strongly emphasized and encouraged. I'd like to make sure we're not sloppy with a bunch of penalties, getting us behind chains or helping the opponent. Really like to see if we can tackle well, whether it be in the kicking game or on defense, and let the scores be what the scores can be. Taking care of the ball, being smart, tackling well, being physical. I never put a score or a stat or a number or how many yards on either side of the ball. I'd like to see our play show the values we've been trying to preach to our team.

You said you're probably going to play multiple quarterbacks. How do you see that going? Will you play two? Three?

KW: I don't know if we have a guy who has clearly separated [himself]. There will be a guy that goes out first and we'll decide that. They've all done pretty well, they've all got different strengths. It's not going to be like after the second drive we're putting a [new] guy in or at the start of the second quarter. We'll see as the week finishes which one goes out first and that guy's going to go out and be the starter. And even if he has some glitches, we'll play through that.

We don't expect a guy to be perfect and hit every pass, but also you can tell when a guy can handle the arena, the environment, handle the emotions. So if a guy's doing well, we'll let it play out. If he looks to be struggling, out of whack, and we need a little jump-start, we'll go with someone else. We're not trying to be coy. They've all done well, but the quarterback needs to be the greatest extension of the coaching staff and a guy we feel needs to play smart and handle the ball properly so he's giving our team the best chance.

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In a different world where Ohio State players had never received any free tattoos or traded memorabilia, Saturday's lineup against Akron would look a lot different.

As it is, three key offensive starters and one defensive backup are suspended for the first five games, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor is gone for good. That means young and inexperienced players are taking on a larger role at the start of the season. But Luke Fickell said this isn't a Keanu Reeves movie, so don't refer to the new guys as "The Replacements."

"We're not trying to focus on them on being replacements," the Buckeyes' head coach said. "It's just like we had seniors graduate -- it's next man up. We're not going to sit back and wait until those guys are able to come back. Our idea is, hey, that guy steps forward and takes his opportunity.

"Everybody knows the story of Wally Pipp, and if that's the case, that's the best thing that can happen to us. Someone will have to come and fight their way back into the lineup when they're eligible to play."

With that said, here's a look at how Ohio State plans to fill in the gaps:

-- Quarterback. Senior Joe Bauserman and freshman Braxton Miller are officially listed as co-starters, but Fickell said Tuesday that Bauserman would get the first snaps on Saturday.

"It's leadership," Fickell said when asked why Bauserman will start. "He's done a really good job through camp. I've been impressed with the things we've asked him to do and what he's done."

But Fickell insisted that both quarterbacks would be needed this year and that he wants to see them in the heat of competition. Especially the youngster, Miller.

"Obviously, his abilities have impressed us all, and that's why he's here," Fickell said. "Until you do it and perform, we'll keep our judgments to ourselves. We know he can do it. We know he has the ability to do it. Being able to handle all the situations is what's important. We don't lack confidence in what he does, I can tell you that."

-- Running back. If there's a real chance at a Wally Pipp situation, maybe it's here. Daniel "Boom" Herron rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, but the Buckeyes have a stable of impressive, young backs who have a chance to shine in the first five games.

That stable will be a little lighter early on, as Jaamal Berry is questionable for the opener with lingering hamstring problems. Junior Jordan Hall, a versatile, do-it-all performer, is listed as the starter, with bigger backs Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith as his backups. Even without Herron, Ohio State expects its running game to be the strength of the team.

-- Wide receiver. DeVier Posey is the best and by far the most experienced wideout on the roster. In his absence, sophomore Corey "Philly" Brown must take on a larger responsibility as the No. 1 target.

"He's a guy who has really stepped up from the spring," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said. "He's the one guy who's really got any experience. But it's a totally different role for him now than last season."

Brown might be playing more of a complementary role if Posey were eligible. Instead, younger players will be pushed into action. Redshirt freshman Verlon Reed won a starting receiver's job out of fall camp.

"The wide receivers have [been] unbelievable," Fickell said. "They've been as impressive a group, as I think, throughout camp. Maybe that's a little because we knew we had a lot of young guys, and we didn't know what to expect."

-- Left tackle. Mike Adams is one of the best, if not the best, offensive tackles in the league. Bauserman and Miller won't have that security blanket. But the Buckeyes feel they're in good hands with sophomore Andrew Norwell, who was an ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman team member last season.

The problem with Adams' absence is it hurts the overall depth. Ohio State lists three true freshmen as backups on the offensive line, and redshirt freshman Eric Kramer is next in line behind Norwell.

"I'm not going to lie," center Mike Brewster said, "we're a little thin."

-- Defensive end. Solomon Thomas sealed the Sugar Bowl win with his interception against Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, but he was likely ticketed for a backup role. Ohio State should still be in good shape up front with senior Nathan Williams and promising sophomore Johnathan Hankins at end, while tackle John Simon can slide outside as well. Again, experienced depth is the biggest issue, as a pair of freshmen are currently listed as the backups at defensive end.

Reinforcements will arrive by Game 6. The Buckeyes hope the new guys -- don't call them "the replacements" -- can hold the fort until then.

Joe Bauserman or Braxton Miller? That's been the main question most of the past month for Ohio State.

And the Buckeyes' official depth chart for Saturday's opener against Akron has it listed exactly that way at quarterback: Joe Bauserman or Braxton Miller. Both Bauserman, a senior, and Miller, the true freshman, will play against the Zips, and the Buckeyes traditionally try to play two quarterbacks early in the season. But we still don't know who will start, though the smart money remains on the veteran Bauserman getting the first snap.

That wasn't the only interesting thing about the depth chart.

Jordan Hall is listed as the starting tailback, with Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith sharing backup duties. Conspicuously absent is Jaamal Berry, who was dealing with some hamstring issues in preseason camp.

Redshirt freshman Verlon Reed has claimed a starting spot at the 'X' receiver position ahead of Chris Fields, who is backing up Corey "Philly" Brown at the 'Y' position.

The biggest surprise, if you want to call it that, is redshirt freshman Bradley Roby listed as the starter at right cornerback. Talk about a young two-deep there. His backup is true freshman Doran Grant. If you're Akron, don't you have to test those young guys early?

The depth chart illustrates how young Ohio State is at some key positions. Nine starters are either freshmen or sophomores (10, if you count Miller). Four of the top backups on the offensive line are freshmen, while the other is sophomore guard Ivon Blackman. That's a group that can't afford many injuries. Of the 22 players on the defensive two-deep, only six are seniors, and only three of those (Tyler Moeller, Andrew Sweat and Nathan Williams) are starters.

Chalk up the relative lack of experience as another challenge this season for Luke Fickell.

The Ohio State backfield won't have its "Boom" for the first five games this season. But it could still be explosive.

Dan "Boom" Herron, who led the Buckeyes with 1,155 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, will just be a spectator while serving his five-game suspension to start the year. A quartet of players is trying to replace him, and despite their relative inexperience, they could still comprise the strength of the Ohio State attack.

"You'd have to say those running backs are a big part of the offense, whether it's running or receiving," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said when asked to identify a strength on his side of the ball.

The Buckeyes have many talented options, even if a clear cut No. 1 tailback hasn't yet emerged.

Sophomore Jaamal Berry and junior Jordan Hall have already made their mark as special teams aces, and they're the swiftest of the bunch. Sophomore Carlos Hyde and redshirt freshman Rod Smith are both 230-plus pound power backs. Bollman says all four will play this year, and all are good receivers. He'll be able to mix and match as he pleases.

"You're never afraid to run any of them, and you can keep them fresh, which is a big deal," he said.

If there's been a slight surprise this camp, it's been Hyde. Seemingly behind the others after spring practice, he has taken a lot of first-team reps with Berry missing time because of a nagging hamstring injury. Hyde has shown an aggressiveness and willingness to use his strength.

"I have a better feel for the offense; I'm comfortable now when I'm running plays that I know what I'm doing," Hyde said. "I understand I'm a big guy, and I try to use that to my advantage when defenders try to tackle me."

Berry has dealt with injuries during his young career but has the skill set to take over as the main ball carrier. Hall will get a lot of playing time, but not always necessarily in the backfield. He has lined up as a slot receiver plenty this preseason and figures to pose a versatile threat.

"He's a guy who's not real big, but he's really a talented, talented overall football player," Bollman said. "He's a great return man, he's been a Wildcat quarterback for us, he's a nifty runner and a good blocker and a great receiver. This is a guy who makes plays."

Smith appeared destined for a breakout season after drawing raves during last year's bowl practice and having a good spring. But Bollman said he's "maybe in the learning stages a little bit more" than his other competitors because of his inexperience.

Regardless, the Buckeyes look to have a little bit of everything at their disposal in the backfield.

"We could bring back the thunder and lighting thing with me and Rod as the big guys and Jaamal and Jordan as the quick and fast guys," Hyde said. "That would be a pretty sweet combination."

With a first-time starter at quarterback, even less experience at wide receiver and a veteran offensive line, it makes sense that Ohio State will rely heavily on its run game at the beginning of the year. Even without Herron, the Buckeyes should remain a powerful team on the ground.

"I feel like me, Jordan, Jaamal and Ron will step up to the plate when the time is needed," Hyde said. "And when we get 'Boom' back, then we'll be even better."