OSU notebook: Offensive line boosted by freshman
Hall lives up to recruiting rank
Monday, October 5, 2009
By Tim May and Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
As Ohio State prepares to face Wisconsin this week, the Buckeyes know their depth chart on the offensive line grew one player deeper Saturday.
Freshman Marcus Hall, considered by Rivals.com to be the sixth-best tackle prospect in the nation last recruiting season, played for the first time in the Buckeyes' 33-14 win at Indiana. He relieved starter J.B. Shugarts at right tackle for extended periods and helped spring Brandon Saine for a couple of big runs.
"That was big for him," said junior right guard Bryant Browning, who like Hall is a Cleveland Glenville graduate. "And he was in there on Zach Boren's touchdown, and he was glowing on the sideline. He was talking about how unreal this is, how great this is.
"I thought he did a great job. He always plays hard in practice, and he got the chance to show it."
Backup left tackle Andrew Miller missed the game because of the flu. That created the opportunity for Hall.
Right tackle Jim Cordle missed the past three games and might miss several more as he recovers from an undisclosed ankle/foot injury. So it was important that someone step up onto the depth chart.
"It was good to show the coaches that (Hall) can perform, that if someone goes down you can place him in there," Browning said. "He proved he can perform at the college level and get the job done."