DDN
Buckeyes' Brians both produce
Wideouts were a big part of Ohio State's title-game run in 2007.
By Rusty Miller
Associated Press
Saturday, April 12, 2008
COLUMBUS ? Around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, they're simply called "the Brians."
In 2007, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie accounted for 97 catches, more than 1,600 yards on receptions and 18 touchdowns as Ohio State's top two passing targets. Now they're back and preparing for another year of making big plays as the Buckeyes' bookend ends.
They look nothing alike. Yet their numbers are almost identical.
Robiskie, son of the veteran NFL player and assistant coach Terry Robiskie, led the Buckeyes in catches a year ago with 55 ? just three more than the other Brian. Robiskie, a senior-to-be, piled up 935 yards and 11 touchdowns and was the No. 1 deep target for quarterback Todd Boeckman.
Almost insulted when a reporter says the two Brians are similar in size, Robiskie hastens to point out that at 6-foot-3 and 199 pounds, he's an inch taller and 13 pounds heavier than Hartline.
"And that's not a little bit in football," he said defensively.
Hartline, who will be a junior this fall, totaled 694 yards and six touchdowns on his 52 receptions. His 90-yard return down the Northwestern sideline in a 58-7 win at Ohio Stadium broke by three yards the 57-year-old school record set by Robert Demmel against Iowa. Hartline and Robiskie return punts, although Hartline led the Buckeyes in return yardage (229) and return average (11.4 yards).
Cont...