• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

2009 NFL early entrants discussion

Jump to latest Follow Reply
plum diamonds buckeye planet
Sort by date Sort by votes
Buckskin86

Buckskin86

Head Coach
Ohio State football: A way early look at the 2009 Buckeyes
by Doug Lesmerises
Sunday August 24, 2008

Six days away from the start of the 2008 season, here's a word of advice for Ohio State fans. Enjoy this season while you can.

Anyone up for replacing 16 of 24 starters next season?

It's the ebb and flow of the college game - a team is young then it's experienced, then young again. There will be a price to be paid next year for the 27 seniors on the roster this year. That's no surprise.

But junior receiver Brian Hartline, out of the blue, made an interesting point on Friday that should leave the Buckeyes even more depleted next year than you might think.

Long story short, get your fill of Brian Hartline now.

The theme of the '08 season for the Buckeyes centers on the seniors like James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins who turned down the NFL to return for their final seasons, and the tightness of OSU's 2005 class played no small part in that.

Hartline, a member of that class, expects that friendship to play the same role in reverse after this season. The guys who redshirted and have a year of eligibility left may not want to feel like leftovers when their friends who are four-year seniors are heading out. For anyone on the edge, the urge will be to leave, not stay. That '05 group, which provided a backbone for the team the last two years, is very close.

"There are probably going to be situations at the end of the this year, that since [the seniors] are leaving, the [redshirt juniors] are going to want to leave, too," Hartline said. "It works both ways."

At this point I dropped a large, "Hmmmm," on Hartline, wondering to whom exactly he was referring - himself - but he didn't bite.

"There are a lot of guys, there's some camaraderie, and it's probably going to be hard to see a lot of the guys they played next to the last four years leave, and they're still here," Hartline said. "So it works both ways. Those guys came back, but you might lose some guys early."

Who could fall into this category? There are 10 redshirt juniors on scholarship, seven of them starters or major contributors. Let's rank them in order of our guesses on who is most likely to go:

1. CB Donald Washington - Great cover guy with off-field issues, makes sense to get out
2. WR Brian Hartline - Could be in for huge year with a quarterback he knows, won't be the same without Boeckman
3. DE Lawrence Wilson - If he hadn't broken his leg and had played as well as many expected, he may have been a candidate to go after last season
4. FS Anderson Russell - Has been growing into his position, could be another guy in line for a huge leap this season
5. DT Doug Worthington - NFL body, dealing with a DUI, but would be a reach to leave
6. C Jim Cordle - Centers don't leave early
7. DT Todd Denlinger - Not going anywhere
8. K Aaron Pettrey - Not even the field goal guy
9. CB Andre Amos - Lost too much time to knee injury
10. LB Austin Spitler - Has been waiting three years as James Laurinaitis' backup, won't give up a chance to play
Click to expand...

Cleveland Sports News, Teams, Scores and Columns: cleveland.com
 
We could have quite a few early entrants this year. Beanie is a top 5 pick, size, speed, and vision. Would be silly to pass up that kinda cash. I think Washington is a lock to go. . Washington is a good cover guy with solid size, and with the pub the Buckeyes will get this season I think he turn some scout heads. Wilson is another one I believe could leave. A good pash rusher, with good size, with a solid season hes gone. I think Hartline is a reach, solid player with good size, hands, and deceptive speed. But in a weak WR class he could take advantage. Russel and Coleman IMO are sleepers to leave early. Both are underrated. Russel is just solid in everything he does, Coleman shows flashes every once in a while why he could be a great safety. I think both are gonna take big leaps this year.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
OregonBuckeye;1237246; said:
Yeah, but you have to. Your future is a lot shorter than the rest of us. :tongue2:
Click to expand...


OK, first off -- I get that you're joking. I know you're not remotely serious.

Nevertheless, I've found that the geezers who tell me not to "wish my life away" are always the guys who pondered the future in their youth and failed to enjoy what they had.

To put it another way: Go ahead and make fun of us old farts. It's your turn. Just don't forget to enjoy all of the "todays" that will make up this season. ...thirteen of them in particular. They're going to be spectacular.
 
Upvote 0
If this epic 2005 core gets the job done, I have a hard time feeling they need to do more at this level (even if I'd selfishly love to have them back). If guys like Donald, Lawrence & Brian tear it up, I wish them well if it is a smart decision on paper.

Besides, they simply open the door for the next great WR & DBs at OSU, quite possibly of the unheralded variety like DW, BR, JL, etc.

Though I demand they take Brandon Graham with them :p
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top