Category: OSU Football (Page 23 of 42)

The Ohio State Buckeye defense is going to have many new faces this season. The three linebackers that were the backbone of last year’s defense are playing on Sundays. Coach Tressel is looking for new leaders and Lawrence Wilson may be a star of the future.

Wilson came out of high school ranked one of the top defensive ends in the country. He studied under Will Smith and Mike Kudla, both very successful in their careers, but very different. Wilson is currently listed at starting defensive end and with the intensity he brings to each practice, coaches expect him to stay at that spot for the next couple years. I will make an early prediction that with the speed training from Butch Reynolds, Wilson will anchor a surprisingly strong defense this year.

The Ohio State Buckeyes open this year’s football season against a very talented MAC school. The Northern Illinois Huskies are the favorites to win the MAC west title. The Buckeyes usually play a mid-level division one school in one of their first two games. This opponent may be more of a challenge than Ohio State originally planned.

The Huskies running back, Garrett Wolfe, is coming off a very successful season. He rushed for over 1500 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. The Bucks rush defense will be tested early as Northern Illinois has a history of success on the ground. The MAC conference is known for competing in high scoring and wide open football games. Coach Tressel may be forced to unleash his talented early and let their speed put this game away.

Two hours before his arrest, Maurice Clarett placed a call to ESPN’s Tom Friend. Friend writes about this call in a fascinating column about the events leading up to Clarett’s arrest.

Friend has some interesting theories about why Clarett was driving around town with loaded guns and a bullet-proof vest. Clarett had been hanging around with some questionable characters who had been giving him money and letting him live large before he screwed up in Denver last year, and now Clarett’s lawyer says Maurice had been receiving death threats.

He better be able to substantiate these threats, because Maurice just happened to be in the area of one of the witnesses scheduled to testify against him when the cops nabbed him the other night, so the prosecutors might choose to draw other conclusions.

In any event, I highly recommend reading Friend’s article.

Marcel Frost was suspended Wednesday for the entire 2006 season.

Ohio State tight end Marcel Frost was suspended for the upcoming season for violating team rules.

Athletic department officials declined to comment on the nature of the violation. Frost will remain on scholarship and will be eligible to rejoin the team next season, school spokesman Dan Wallenberg said Wednesday.

Yet another suspension for the Buckeyes, who just can’t seem to shake their off the field troubles.

Maurice Clarett was arrested again after making an illegal U-turn and having four illegal firearms in his SUV.

Clarett was Maced after a stungun was ineffective as he tried to resist arrest. Sgt. Michael woods told The AP that Clarett was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Woods said, “It took several officers to get him handcuffed. Even after he was placed in the paddy wagon, he was still kicking at the doors and being a problem for the officers.”

Clarett was interviewed by police, who plan to charge him on multiple counts including concealed weaponry.

The former 2002 Fiesta Bowl standout was driving east on Interstate 70 when police pursued him. He then sped across the median and headed west. That’s when state trooper placed a spike strip on the highway, which flattened Clarett’s SUV tires.

Clarett eventually pulled into a restaurant, where officers forced him out of his vehicle after he failed to listen to orders. Woods said they found the handguns as they searched the vehicle although police are not sure who own them.

What is wrong with this guy? Loaded guns and a bullet-proof vest? This is pathetic.