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Pre-Season Selections for Surprise Player of 2005

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After all those years when Coop couldn't find a kicker worthy of the name I'm praying there's a replacement for Nuge... as some have predicted, but I think the big improvement by Youbouty at the end of the year takes the whole defense up a huge notch.
 
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Much improved O line = we control game and tempo. Much improved D line = opponent playing catch up and most pass. Situation will see TG playing on nickel/dime and will force over the middle pass plays. Result - Nate Sally will be a monster next year.
 
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Nice posts everyone. My SURPRISE player in 2005 is Steve Rehring. It's looking like we have solid starters in Sims and Mangold. Barton and Downing came on great in the latter part of the season. Look for Rehring to start at tackle. This will be huge for our run game in that Sims will be able to move over to the guard spot. Look for the Buckeyes to establish the run again in 2005.

Everyone is pulling for Boone to get the nod which would be great if he's ready, but realistically, I would love to see him get a redshirt and work on his overall technique. This guy will be an all-american, but I hope he has a year to develop first.

I also agree with many of you in that we NEED a surprise player to emerge on the D-line. Pitcock will be all Big-ten, but we need an impact season from someone off the edge. Hopefully Kudla will have a "Tressel" senior season. I'm looking for Barrow or Patterson to emerge as an impact player this season. Patterson has every intangible to be great if he can put a whole game together. Barrow just does the little things right and he always seems to be in plays (high school and all-star games).

Mili - I also agree that whoever is chosen at corner, if they perform will be a surprise player in 2005. AY will be moving over to man Fox's vacated boundary corner position. He will hold his own and then some. I'm looking for Shaun Lane to be the other guy. He's had a year to work on his technique and he has the measurables to be a good one. He was a hitter in high school ala Fox and he has the speed to play with most receivers. If he doesn't land this position, O'Neil may just be the real deal as a frosh. I don't think that EJ will secure a starting position. Unfortunately, he's this seasons Bam. He does everything great in the Spring and during practice, but for some reason, once the season is underway, he just doesn't show up. Hopefully I am wrong and he too has a "tressel" senior season.
 
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I was under the assumption that he was. I'll go back and try to find some proof that the staff has already made the decision that he would be playing the boundary spot (thought I read an article with quotes from Snyder about replacing Fox). Personally I think with his experience, that he would be the top guy for the position and that he would want o be on the boundary. Would you not want him there? Why not? This may be a good discussion for its own thread. Who will be playing the boundary and why.
 
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To be honest, we have so much talent on this team, that I really don't think anyone would be a surprise, per say. However, I think that people who will earn starting roles or significant playing time this year, that didn't play much or at all last year, are:

1) J. Huston (he'll get his medical redshirt)
2) E. Haw
3) V. Gholston
4) M. Frost
5) J. Penton

Freshman that could see significant playing time: Boone, Worthington, Wells, Lenix, O'Neal, Gwaltney (if he commits)

Most improved player: TJ Downing
 
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I'm bumping this one so that we can see how everyone did in his/her prediction. Although I didn't make a prediction, I thought that Devon Lyons (injured; redshirt) and Mike Kudla (probable All Big Ten first team) were poised for break-out seasons in 2005; it turns out that I was half-right. Many posters agreed with me on both selections. Others mentioned were:

Erik Haw (pot bust; fourth string)
Rory Nicol (alcohol bust; injured)
Marcus Freeman (injured; backup)
Chad Hoobler (injured; backup)
Jay Richardson (contributing)
Sirjo Welch (dog house?)
EJ Underwood (transferred)
TJ Downing (starting and playing well)
Anthony Gonzalez (3rd WR)
Ashton Youboty (let's not go too far out on a limb....)
Quinn Pitcock (ditto....)
Donte Whitner (how 'bout AJ Hawk? Maybe he'll do something this year, too....)
Nate Salley (c'mon, you chose a three-year starter to have a break-out year?)
Joel Penton (2nd/3rd string)
Steve Rehring (injured)
Justin Zwick (backup)
Alex Barrow (where has he been?)
Vernon Gholston (still waiting....)
Curt Lukens (buried in the depth chart)
Dionte Johnson (has seen some action)
Todd Boeckman (3rd string)
Marcel Frost (getting a chance, finally)
Troy Smith (the surprise was that he'd wouldn't start - good thing that you were wrong!)

The best selections were Alex Boone on offense, who is now starting at right tackle after the injury to Kirk Barton (but Alex probably would've worked himself into the line-up anyway); and Mike Kudla on defense, who is having an All Big Ten (first team) season, and who might even get some All American recognition (maybe 3rd team?).

As far as bad selections, *someone* chose (ahem) Jonathan Skeete (imagine those chants, "Skeete .... "Skeete .... Skeete ...." or was it "weed .... weed .... weed ...."); and some South African homer said Ryan Pretorious (he couldn't beat out the 6th-year Huston, but Ryan might be in the mix next season).
 
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LordJeffBuck said:
As far as bad selections, *someone* chose (ahem) Jonathan Skeete (imagine those chants, "Skeete .... "Skeete .... Skeete ...." or was it "weed .... weed .... weed ...."); and some South African homer said Ryan Pretorious (he couldn't beat out the 6th-year Huston, but Ryan might be in the mix next season).
Click to expand...

:biggrin: Just wait, next year they'll be chanting in Afrikaans before every kick!
 
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I would say the best surprise on defense isn't Kudla, but is Malcom Jenkins. I mean...I dunno, I thought Kudla was pretty good going into the year. He's had a great season, but it hasn't surprised me. Jenkins on the other hand has been an awesome corner, with AMAZING speed, and he's 17. I would say he is the surprise player of the year.
 
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JonathanXC said:
I would say the best surprise on defense isn't Kudla, but is Malcom Jenkins. I mean...I dunno, I thought Kudla was pretty good going into the year. He's had a great season, but it hasn't surprised me. Jenkins on the other hand has been an awesome corner, with AMAZING speed, and he's 17. I would say he is the surprise player of the year.
Click to expand...

That chase down at Minnesota last week was textbook stuff. I like 'em both, but I really like what Kudla has delivered this year and I am expecting him to have one heck of a lot of fun today.
 
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