lynell hamilton was in the horseshoe last year (SDSU)... Darby was the only talent left on that offense after Prothro got hurt.
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OSU FOOTBALL
Pittman has fans on Ohio State team
Buckeyes' tailback may not be getting most of the attention, but he'll get most of the carries.
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
COLUMBUS — Maybe having three Heisman hopefuls on one team is too much to ask.
Ohio State junior tailback Antonio Pittman rushed for 1,331 yards last season, but Ted Ginn Jr. and Troy Smith are the only Buckeyes being mentioned as candidates for college football's most coveted trophy. Receiver Anthony Gonzalez thinks that's an injustice.
"Tony Pittman is my Santonio Holmes this year — a guy that's incredibly productive and incredibly talented who, for whatever reason, doesn't get the recognition he deserves," Gonzalez said.
"He's a smaller back, but he breaks more tackles than any 198-pound guy I know. I kid him about that: 'When are they going to throw your name out there?' I don't know how much he pays attention to it. But it bothers me."
Even some of the state media may be guilty of overlooking Pittman. With newcomer Chris Wells turning in consistently strong showings since spring practice, one TV reporter asked coach Jim Tressel whether the imposing freshman from Akron was ready to leapfrog Pittman.
To Tressel, that was tantamount to heresy.
"Oh no. Antonio Pittman will start at tailback," Tressel said. "That's probably as solid as anything. But (Chris Wells) will get to play."
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Wells is a human pile-mover and could give the Buckeyes the goal-line power they've lacked since 2002.
"Chris is a different-type back, more of a power guy," Gonzalez said. "But at the same time, he has pretty darn good speed, and he also has good cutting ability.
"Pittman obviously is going to get the majority of the carries. But we, as players, have no doubt that Chris is going to make a positive contribution."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at [email protected]
OSU FOOTBALL
Pittman has fans on Ohio State team
Buckeyes' tailback may not be getting most of the attention, but he'll get most of the carries.
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
COLUMBUS — Maybe having three Heisman hopefuls on one team is too much to ask.
Ohio State junior tailback Antonio Pittman rushed for 1,331 yards last season, but Ted Ginn Jr. and Troy Smith are the only Buckeyes being mentioned as candidates for college football's most coveted trophy. Receiver Anthony Gonzalez thinks that's an injustice.
"Tony Pittman is my Santonio Holmes this year — a guy that's incredibly productive and incredibly talented who, for whatever reason, doesn't get the recognition he deserves," Gonzalez said.
"He's a smaller back, but he breaks more tackles than any 198-pound guy I know. I kid him about that: 'When are they going to throw your name out there?' I don't know how much he pays attention to it. But it bothers me."
Even some of the state media may be guilty of overlooking Pittman. With newcomer Chris Wells turning in consistently strong showings since spring practice, one TV reporter asked coach Jim Tressel whether the imposing freshman from Akron was ready to leapfrog Pittman.
To Tressel, that was tantamount to heresy.
"Oh no. Antonio Pittman will start at tailback," Tressel said. "That's probably as solid as anything. But (Chris Wells) will get to play."
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Wells is a human pile-mover and could give the Buckeyes the goal-line power they've lacked since 2002.
"Chris is a different-type back, more of a power guy," Gonzalez said. "But at the same time, he has pretty darn good speed, and he also has good cutting ability.
"Pittman obviously is going to get the majority of the carries. But we, as players, have no doubt that Chris is going to make a positive contribution."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at [email protected]
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
morning-journal
Quietly composed
JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
08/31/2006
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COLUMBUS -- The Antonio Pittman you see today is far different than the one who arrived on campus during the spring of 2004.
That Pittman should've still been in high school, but he graduated early to enroll at Ohio State in time for spring practice. He was cocky and brash, comparing himself to Clinton Portis and bragging about how he'd start right away as a true freshman.
Only now, after rushing for more than 1,300 yards last year as a sophomore, has he been humbled.
Makes no sense, right?
The humbling of Antonio Pittman began on his first day of spring practice in '04, when he tried taking the campus bus to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, missed his stop and wound up completely lost.
''I ended up over on West Campus,'' Pittman said. ''I had no idea where I was.''
Pittman called running backs coach Dick Tressel to try and find his way back, but Tressel was busy with practice, so Pittman left him a voice mail asking for help. By the time he finally arrived, practice was nearly over. The entire team couldn't help but crack up.
''That never happened again,'' he said.
The one place Pittman has never been lost is on the football field. He won the starting job almost by default last year, then went out and rushed for 1,331 yards, the most by any Ohio State tailback since Pepe Pearson in 1996.
And still, no one seems to appreciate what Pittman means to the offense.
When freshman Chris Wells arrived on campus in the spring, most fans assumed it was only a matter of time before the No. 1 high school recruit replaced Pittman as the starter. That kind of talk sends the blood pressure of offensive coordinator Jim Bollman -- recovering from offseason heart surgery -- skyrocketing.
''Antonio Pittman is THE No. 1 tailback,'' Bollman says anytime the topic is broached. ''All the great backs who have been here and Archie is the only guy to gain more yards than him as a sophomore. C'mon, who's going to come in here and take his place? No way.''
It's easy for Ohio State players and coaches to get defensive when talking about Pittman, because no one else seems to ever do it. Pittman rushed for 962 yards during the Big Ten season last year, good for fourth in the conference, and quarterback Troy Smith calls him one of the three best tailbacks in the country.
''I'm biased, of course,'' Smith said. ''He's 195 pounds and he runs like he's 235, but you won't be able to really see that until he runs into you at full speed.
''He doesn't get enough credit in our offense because of the flash or flair of a couple of other players, but he deserves all the credit in the world. It wasn't a breakout 1,300 yard season, but it was a quiet 1,300 yard season. Whether you get 1,300 yards the modest way or the flashy way, it's still 1,300 yards.''
Smith recalled a moment in the Fiesta Bowl last year, when Pittman -- already battling a hamstring injury -- had his hands on his pads and seemed to be winded late in the fourth quarter.
''He was getting to that stage where he was looking tired, pulling on his pants and huffing and puffing,'' Smith said. ''I was yelling at him to get out and get a sub and he said, ÔNo man, I'm O.K.' And the next play, we called his number and he busted it for a 60-yard touchdown run with (Notre Dame safety Tom) Zbikowski right on his tail. That was probably the defining moment that let me know we have a great tailback and we need to continue to feed him the ball.''
Pittman's touches were scattered early on last year. He didn't reach 20 carries in a game until Ohio State played Iowa in the fourth game of the season. He didn't crack 20 again for another three games, when the Buckeyes traveled to Indiana.
That lack of work allowed him to stay fresh while defensive linemen tired in the second half of the season. The addition of Wells this year could allow Pittman to feel fresh again in the second half despite his expected increase in workload.
''You need two tailbacks,'' Pittman said. ''There's no way you can do it alone carrying the ball by yourself all the time. I'd be dead by the sixth game.''
While some players may get defensive by Wells' presence, Pittman welcomes him. Both prepped in the Akron area, and Wells will likely take over as the starter once Pittman leaves Ohio State.
But not until.
As the Buckeyes prepare to face Northern Illinois on Saturday, Pittman will likely again get lost behind Huskies tailback Garrett Wolfe, who finished second in the nation last year with over 1,500 yards rushing.
That's fine with him, and the rest of the Ohio State players and coaches who are well aware of what Pittman provides.
''I look for him to take the step that he took last year and then some,'' coach Jim Tressel said. ''That's a lot. But I think Antonio Pittman is that good.''
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Dispatch
GROUND RULES
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
It wasn’t until Antonio Pittman slowed down that everything started coming to him — the yards and touchdowns, that is. He’s still waiting for the recognition. The junior running back from Akron was in a hurry to get to Ohio State, graduating early from high school and enrolling in spring quarter 2004.
That didn’t work out so well. On the first day of spring practice, he got lost on the campus bus system and missed all but the last five minutes.
When he saw the field as a freshman, Pittman either rushed into the line too quickly or dashed out of bounds too soon. He split time with Lydell Ross but fought nagging injuries and never seized the job.
Last season, Pittman learned how to read defenses, wait for a crease and cut it back.
After a slow start, he chewed up yards and scored touchdowns in bunches, ending with 1,331 yards and seven touchdowns.
"I think the game just kind of slowed down," fullback Stan White Jr. said of Pittman’s success. "Instead of running through life and using your athletic ability, maybe you can see the weakside linebacker is coming over the top and make that backside cut. And just the holes seem that much bigger and the play goes that much slower for you."
Pittman had a hard time describing how it all came together.
"I was more patient," he said, "and it’s just … I really can’t explain, because it just clicked. I just got into a zone where it was truly a comfort zone."
Only one other Buckeyes running back gained more yards as a sophomore: Archie Griffin with 1,577 in 1973.
Griffin went on to win two Heisman Trophies. In contrast, it seems Pittman can only dream of such success.
He might have posted the quietest 1,300-yard season in history. He was only an honorable mention all-Big Ten pick, as the four players ahead of him in rushing yards garnered firstand second-team honors.
Pittman has to settle for the adoration of those who know him best.
"Antonio Pittman doesn’t get enough backing nationally," quarterback Troy Smith said. "Everybody knows who he is in the state of Ohio, but I think nationally, he’s one of the top three backs."
Receiver Anthony Gonzalez said he teases Pittman about his low profile.
"Tony Pittman is my Santonio Holmes this year, a guy who is incredibly productive, incredibly talented, but for whatever reason just doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves," Gonzalez said. "I always kid him about that, ‘When are they going to throw your name out there?’ "
Two years ago, a younger, brasher Pittman might have been upset about the slights. Back then he compared himself with NFL standout Clinton Portis and subtly campaigned for playing time.
Now, he accepts his anonymity.
"Most of the guys who put up yards like that, they have a lot of touchdowns," said Pittman, who didn’t score until the eighth game last season. "Touchdowns play a big factor in it. But I’m not mad about my season. … I’m happy I got 1,300 yards."
Another sign of Pittman’s newfound maturity is how he has handled the arrival of freshman Chris Wells. Coaches have made it clear that Pittman is the starter and have downplayed talk of splitting carries.
But Pittman has welcomed Wells. Part of that is because he has learned the value of selfpreservation.
"It really doesn’t bother me, because you always need two (backs)," Pittman said. "This is going to be a long season for us, no bye week, and you can’t imagine yourself going out there taking all the carries every game. You’d probably be dead by Week Five."
Pittman chuckles at Wells’ barreling, shoulder-lowering style. It might be a crowd pleaser, but the older, wiser back knows there is a price to pay.
"You need to save your body," he said. "You’ve got to make somebody miss."
As the undisputed starter on a veteran offense for the nation’s top-ranked team, this might be the season in which Pittman’s achievements can’t be missed.
"Coming in as a recruit, I always imagined myself (as the) starting tailback and everything," he said. "But to have the season I had last year and coming back to the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, that’s a lot.
"Just to get that opportunity, it means a lot."
[email protected]
Dispatch
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Dispatch
Thursday, August 31, 2006
GROUND RULES
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
It wasn’t until Antonio Pittman slowed down that everything started coming to him — the yards and touchdowns, that is. He’s still waiting for the recognition. The junior running back from Akron was in a hurry to get to Ohio State, graduating early from high school and enrolling in spring quarter 2004.
That didn’t work out so well. On the first day of spring practice, he got lost on the campus bus system and missed all but the last five minutes.
When he saw the field as a freshman, Pittman either rushed into the line too quickly or dashed out of bounds too soon. He split time with Lydell Ross but fought nagging injuries and never seized the job.
Last season, Pittman learned how to read defenses, wait for a crease and cut it back.
After a slow start, he chewed up yards and scored touchdowns in bunches, ending with 1,331 yards and seven touchdowns.
"I think the game just kind of slowed down," fullback Stan White Jr. said of Pittman’s success. "Instead of running through life and using your athletic ability, maybe you can see the weakside linebacker is coming over the top and make that backside cut. And just the holes seem that much bigger and the play goes that much slower for you."
Pittman had a hard time describing how it all came together.
"I was more patient," he said, "and it’s just … I really can’t explain, because it just clicked. I just got into a zone where it was truly a comfort zone."
Only one other Buckeyes running back gained more yards as a sophomore: Archie Griffin with 1,577 in 1973.
Griffin went on to win two Heisman Trophies. In contrast, it seems Pittman can only dream of such success.
He might have posted the quietest 1,300-yard season in history. He was only an honorable mention all-Big Ten pick, as the four players ahead of him in rushing yards garnered firstand second-team honors.
Pittman has to settle for the adoration of those who know him best.
"Antonio Pittman doesn’t get enough backing nationally," quarterback Troy Smith said. "Everybody knows who he is in the state of Ohio, but I think nationally, he’s one of the top three backs."
Receiver Anthony Gonzalez said he teases Pittman about his low profile.
"Tony Pittman is my Santonio Holmes this year, a guy who is incredibly productive, incredibly talented, but for whatever reason just doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves," Gonzalez said. "I always kid him about that, ‘When are they going to throw your name out there?’ "
Two years ago, a younger, brasher Pittman might have been upset about the slights. Back then he compared himself with NFL standout Clinton Portis and subtly campaigned for playing time.
Now, he accepts his anonymity.
"Most of the guys who put up yards like that, they have a lot of touchdowns," said Pittman, who didn’t score until the eighth game last season. "Touchdowns play a big factor in it. But I’m not mad about my season. … I’m happy I got 1,300 yards."
Another sign of Pittman’s newfound maturity is how he has handled the arrival of freshman Chris Wells. Coaches have made it clear that Pittman is the starter and have downplayed talk of splitting carries.
But Pittman has welcomed Wells. Part of that is because he has learned the value of selfpreservation.
"It really doesn’t bother me, because you always need two (backs)," Pittman said. "This is going to be a long season for us, no bye week, and you can’t imagine yourself going out there taking all the carries every game. You’d probably be dead by Week Five."
Pittman chuckles at Wells’ barreling, shoulder-lowering style. It might be a crowd pleaser, but the older, wiser back knows there is a price to pay.
"You need to save your body," he said. "You’ve got to make somebody miss."
As the undisputed starter on a veteran offense for the nation’s top-ranked team, this might be the season in which Pittman’s achievements can’t be missed.
"Coming in as a recruit, I always imagined myself (as the) starting tailback and everything," he said. "But to have the season I had last year and coming back to the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, that’s a lot.
"Just to get that opportunity, it means a lot."
[email protected]
Dispatch
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Dispatch
Thursday, August 31, 2006
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Pittman up for proving himself again
COLUMBUS - Antonio Pittman started out as nothing more than a hood ornament on Ohio State's high-octane offensive machine last season.
But while Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes were grabbing most of the headlines, Pittman surprised everyone by putting together a splendid sophomore season. He finished with 1,331 yards rushing, the 10th-best single-season mark in school history. Pittman's production was mighty impressive. Only one other Buckeyes tailback - two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin - gained more yards as a sophomore (1,577 in 1973). Griffin was a first-team All-American in his second season on the banks of the Olentangy River. Pittman labored in obscurity - he wasn't a first or second-team All-Big Ten pick.
"I'd have to rank last season as a great one," Pittman said. "There weren't high expectations of me. But I believed in myself, the coaches believed in me, and my teammates believed in me, and things worked out great. "But this is a new year, and I have to prove myself all over again." The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Pittman got stronger as last year unfolded. He averaged 18.3 carries and 93.8 yards in the first six games; 22.1 and 128 in the final six. He scored seven touchdowns in the final five games after getting blanked in the first seven, and he gained 100 yards or more seven times. On top of that, Pittman scored the game-clinching touchdowns against Michigan in the regular-season finale on a three-yard run with 24 seconds left, and against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on a 60-yard jaunt with 1:46 to play. "Antonio Pittman doesn't get enough credit because of the flash and flair of a couple other players in our offense," Smith said. "Antonio is probably the best back that I've ever played with, the best back I've ever handed the ball to. He's only 195 pounds, but he runs like he's 230." Even so, Pittman will get pushed for playing time by freshman Chris Wells, a more ballyhooed back from the same hometown of Akron. The 6-2, 230-pound Wells was considered the top high school tailback in the country last year. He has been enrolled at Ohio State since January. Buckeyes running backs coach Dick Tressel compared Wells to Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown. Wells was the leading rusher in the spring game, as Pittman nursed a sore hamstring. Pittman will get the start at tailback for top-ranked Ohio State in Saturday's home opener against Northern Illinois, but Wells also will see a lot of action. "Everybody wants the job," Pittman said. "I want it. Chris Wells wants it. Maurice Wells wants it. Just like anyone else who comes in, they want to play. But it's up to me to stay hungry, hold onto the job and keep my spot. "There are only so many carries to go around. We all have to be patient." In 2004, Pittman was the highly touted freshman fighting to take carries away from veteran tailbacks Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Pittman finished second in rushing with 381 yards, but he averaged a team-high 5.3 yards per carry. Now that he's a junior, Pittman is hoping for more carries, not fewer. "My two goals are to get 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns," he said. Pittman might be able to pull it off. He has plenty of miles left on his odometer.
Pittman up for proving himself again
COLUMBUS - Antonio Pittman started out as nothing more than a hood ornament on Ohio State's high-octane offensive machine last season.
But while Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes were grabbing most of the headlines, Pittman surprised everyone by putting together a splendid sophomore season. He finished with 1,331 yards rushing, the 10th-best single-season mark in school history. Pittman's production was mighty impressive. Only one other Buckeyes tailback - two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin - gained more yards as a sophomore (1,577 in 1973). Griffin was a first-team All-American in his second season on the banks of the Olentangy River. Pittman labored in obscurity - he wasn't a first or second-team All-Big Ten pick.
"I'd have to rank last season as a great one," Pittman said. "There weren't high expectations of me. But I believed in myself, the coaches believed in me, and my teammates believed in me, and things worked out great. "But this is a new year, and I have to prove myself all over again." The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Pittman got stronger as last year unfolded. He averaged 18.3 carries and 93.8 yards in the first six games; 22.1 and 128 in the final six. He scored seven touchdowns in the final five games after getting blanked in the first seven, and he gained 100 yards or more seven times. On top of that, Pittman scored the game-clinching touchdowns against Michigan in the regular-season finale on a three-yard run with 24 seconds left, and against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on a 60-yard jaunt with 1:46 to play. "Antonio Pittman doesn't get enough credit because of the flash and flair of a couple other players in our offense," Smith said. "Antonio is probably the best back that I've ever played with, the best back I've ever handed the ball to. He's only 195 pounds, but he runs like he's 230." Even so, Pittman will get pushed for playing time by freshman Chris Wells, a more ballyhooed back from the same hometown of Akron. The 6-2, 230-pound Wells was considered the top high school tailback in the country last year. He has been enrolled at Ohio State since January. Buckeyes running backs coach Dick Tressel compared Wells to Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown. Wells was the leading rusher in the spring game, as Pittman nursed a sore hamstring. Pittman will get the start at tailback for top-ranked Ohio State in Saturday's home opener against Northern Illinois, but Wells also will see a lot of action. "Everybody wants the job," Pittman said. "I want it. Chris Wells wants it. Maurice Wells wants it. Just like anyone else who comes in, they want to play. But it's up to me to stay hungry, hold onto the job and keep my spot. "There are only so many carries to go around. We all have to be patient." In 2004, Pittman was the highly touted freshman fighting to take carries away from veteran tailbacks Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Pittman finished second in rushing with 381 yards, but he averaged a team-high 5.3 yards per carry. Now that he's a junior, Pittman is hoping for more carries, not fewer. "My two goals are to get 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns," he said. Pittman might be able to pull it off. He has plenty of miles left on his odometer.
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Congrats Pitt!
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[SIZE=+2]Six area players among Doak Walker Award candidates
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]10:44 AM CDT on Thursday, August 31, 2006
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]From Staff Reports[/SIZE] Two Big 12 players and four other area running backs are among the candidates for the 2006 Doak Walker Award announced today.
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson, who led Big 12 running backs in rushing last season, is among the players listed, along with Texas' Selvin Young.
Among the players from the area are backs from TCU – Aaron Brown and Robert Merrill. TCU is one of only four schools to have more than one candidate. SMU's DeMyron Martin and North Texas' Jamario Thomas were also named.
The complete list of candidates:
Josh Allen, Sr., Maryland
Micah Andrews, Jr., Wake Forest
Toney Baker, So., North Carolina State
Lance Ball, Jr., Maryland
Adam Ballard, Jr., Navy
Kyle Bell, Jr., Colorado State
Yvenson Bernard, Jr., Oregon State
Lorenzo Booker, Sr., Florida State
Ahmad Bradshaw, Jr., Marshall
Aaron Brown, So., TCU
Andre Brown, So., North Carolina State
Curtis Brown, Sr., BYU
Thomas Brown, Jr., Georgia
Michael Bush, Sr., Louisville
Hugh Charles, Jr., Colorado
Tashard Choice, Jr., Georgia Tech
Kenneth Darby, Sr., Alabama
James Davis, So., Clemson
BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Jr., Mississippi
Lynell Hamilton, Sr., San Diego State
Mike Hart, Jr., Michigan
Keegan Herring, So., Arizona State
Stevie Hicks, Sr., Iowa State
Kenny Irons, Sr., Auburn
Brian Leonard, Sr., Rutgers
Rafael Little, Jr., Kentucky
Kregg Lumpkin, Jr., Georgia
Marshawn Lynch, Jr., California
Chris Markey, Jr., UCLA
DeMyron Martin, So., SMU
Darren McFadden, So., Arkansas
Ronnie McGill, Sr., North Carolina
Robert Merrill, Sr., TCU
Tyrone Moss, Sr., Miami
Brandon Murphy, Jr., Miami of Ohio
Branden Ore, Jr., Virginia Tech
Adrian Peterson, Jr., Oklahoma
Antonio Pittman, Jr., Ohio State
Kory Sheets, Jr., Purdue
Steve Slaton, So., West Virginia
Ontario Sneed, So., Central Michigan
Tyrell Sutton, So., Northwestern
Jamario Thomas, Jr., North Texas
Marcus Thomas, So., UTEP
Pierre Thomas, Sr., Illinois
Justin Vincent, Sr., LSU
Darius Walker, Jr., Notre Dame
Garrett Wolfe, Sr., Northern Illinois
Albert Young, Jr., Iowa
Selvin Young, Sr., Texas
The winner will be announced on Dec. 7, the Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held Feb. 15, 2007.
Link
[SIZE=+2]Six area players among Doak Walker Award candidates
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]10:44 AM CDT on Thursday, August 31, 2006
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]From Staff Reports[/SIZE] Two Big 12 players and four other area running backs are among the candidates for the 2006 Doak Walker Award announced today.
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson, who led Big 12 running backs in rushing last season, is among the players listed, along with Texas' Selvin Young.
Among the players from the area are backs from TCU – Aaron Brown and Robert Merrill. TCU is one of only four schools to have more than one candidate. SMU's DeMyron Martin and North Texas' Jamario Thomas were also named.
The complete list of candidates:
Josh Allen, Sr., Maryland
Micah Andrews, Jr., Wake Forest
Toney Baker, So., North Carolina State
Lance Ball, Jr., Maryland
Adam Ballard, Jr., Navy
Kyle Bell, Jr., Colorado State
Yvenson Bernard, Jr., Oregon State
Lorenzo Booker, Sr., Florida State
Ahmad Bradshaw, Jr., Marshall
Aaron Brown, So., TCU
Andre Brown, So., North Carolina State
Curtis Brown, Sr., BYU
Thomas Brown, Jr., Georgia
Michael Bush, Sr., Louisville
Hugh Charles, Jr., Colorado
Tashard Choice, Jr., Georgia Tech
Kenneth Darby, Sr., Alabama
James Davis, So., Clemson
BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Jr., Mississippi
Lynell Hamilton, Sr., San Diego State
Mike Hart, Jr., Michigan
Keegan Herring, So., Arizona State
Stevie Hicks, Sr., Iowa State
Kenny Irons, Sr., Auburn
Brian Leonard, Sr., Rutgers
Rafael Little, Jr., Kentucky
Kregg Lumpkin, Jr., Georgia
Marshawn Lynch, Jr., California
Chris Markey, Jr., UCLA
DeMyron Martin, So., SMU
Darren McFadden, So., Arkansas
Ronnie McGill, Sr., North Carolina
Robert Merrill, Sr., TCU
Tyrone Moss, Sr., Miami
Brandon Murphy, Jr., Miami of Ohio
Branden Ore, Jr., Virginia Tech
Adrian Peterson, Jr., Oklahoma
Antonio Pittman, Jr., Ohio State
Kory Sheets, Jr., Purdue
Steve Slaton, So., West Virginia
Ontario Sneed, So., Central Michigan
Tyrell Sutton, So., Northwestern
Jamario Thomas, Jr., North Texas
Marcus Thomas, So., UTEP
Pierre Thomas, Sr., Illinois
Justin Vincent, Sr., LSU
Darius Walker, Jr., Notre Dame
Garrett Wolfe, Sr., Northern Illinois
Albert Young, Jr., Iowa
Selvin Young, Sr., Texas
The winner will be announced on Dec. 7, the Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held Feb. 15, 2007.
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Don't you just get a feeling that Pittman is going to make a statement on national TV with Wolfe on the other side? This could be a lot of fun to watch.
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Absolutely. I'm looking for about 150 through three, then a nice dose of Beanie in the 4th.
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Pitt
Pitt had a good game . He ran well and got the TD I thought he deserved. I actually thought he was stopped on his TD but he ran though the tackler/block
Pitt had a good game . He ran well and got the TD I thought he deserved. I actually thought he was stopped on his TD but he ran though the tackler/block
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Pittman not forgotten on OSU offense
[FONT=verdana,Times New Roman,Times,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By TODD PORTER, Copley Ohio Newspapers Writer[/FONT]
COLUMBUS ? It didn?t take Mack Brown long to ponder what kind of game he?d like to see Saturday night.
The head coach of the defending national champion Longhorns has a redshirt freshman at quarterback. He?d like to control the football, eat some clock and hope Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith has an off night.
Texas may not be the only team when the top-ranked Buckeyes head to Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night capable of controlling the football.
Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman has emerged as one of the Big Ten?s top running backs, though he has not received much attention nationally.
Coupled with the Buckeyes? veteran offensive line, running the football against a Mid-American Conference opponent wasn?t all that difficult. A better test will be Saturday night against a Texas defense that returns seven starters, including five from the front seven.
?Personally, I think Antonio Pittman is one of the best backs, if not the best running back in the country,? Smith said. ?But I?m a little biased, and I don?t care.?
Ohio State finished last season with seven straight wins. In five of those games, Pittman rushed for more than 100 yards.
Yet much of the attention from Ohio State fans is on freshman Chris ?Beanie? Wells. He ran hard and strong in the Buckeyes? opener last week. In fact, Tressel favored Wells over Pittman in short-yardage situations, and it paid off. Wells, however, lost a fumble inside Northern Illinois? 10-yard line.
?Well, ?Beanie? is going to be a good player, and I think his debut was excellent,? Tressel said. ?Obviously, we can?t have the ball on the ground, and he knows that. If he continues to grow the way he?s been growing, he?s going to be a big part of who we are.?
But Tressel has made it clear ? in fact gone out of his way to do so ? that Pittman is the team?s starting running back.
Brown is painfully aware of what Pittman gives Ohio State?s offense. He adds a second dimension that takes some of the attention, and pressure, away from Smith.
Pittman didn?t score his first rushing touchdown until the eighth game of the season a year ago. He got into the end zone last week. As usual, he ran over the right side of the line where Kirk Barton and T.J. Downing ? two Stark County linemen ? opened the hole.
?That was a great feeling,? Pittman said. ?But what?s important to me is winning. It doesn?t matter how many yards I get or touchdowns I score. As long as we win.?
If Pittman rushes for more than 100 yards, and Smith has the same kind of game he has had the last three games, Ohio State?s offense should be in fine shape.
Pittman not forgotten on OSU offense
[FONT=verdana,Times New Roman,Times,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By TODD PORTER, Copley Ohio Newspapers Writer[/FONT]
COLUMBUS ? It didn?t take Mack Brown long to ponder what kind of game he?d like to see Saturday night.
The head coach of the defending national champion Longhorns has a redshirt freshman at quarterback. He?d like to control the football, eat some clock and hope Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith has an off night.
Texas may not be the only team when the top-ranked Buckeyes head to Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night capable of controlling the football.
Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman has emerged as one of the Big Ten?s top running backs, though he has not received much attention nationally.
Coupled with the Buckeyes? veteran offensive line, running the football against a Mid-American Conference opponent wasn?t all that difficult. A better test will be Saturday night against a Texas defense that returns seven starters, including five from the front seven.
?Personally, I think Antonio Pittman is one of the best backs, if not the best running back in the country,? Smith said. ?But I?m a little biased, and I don?t care.?
Ohio State finished last season with seven straight wins. In five of those games, Pittman rushed for more than 100 yards.
Yet much of the attention from Ohio State fans is on freshman Chris ?Beanie? Wells. He ran hard and strong in the Buckeyes? opener last week. In fact, Tressel favored Wells over Pittman in short-yardage situations, and it paid off. Wells, however, lost a fumble inside Northern Illinois? 10-yard line.
?Well, ?Beanie? is going to be a good player, and I think his debut was excellent,? Tressel said. ?Obviously, we can?t have the ball on the ground, and he knows that. If he continues to grow the way he?s been growing, he?s going to be a big part of who we are.?
But Tressel has made it clear ? in fact gone out of his way to do so ? that Pittman is the team?s starting running back.
Brown is painfully aware of what Pittman gives Ohio State?s offense. He adds a second dimension that takes some of the attention, and pressure, away from Smith.
Pittman didn?t score his first rushing touchdown until the eighth game of the season a year ago. He got into the end zone last week. As usual, he ran over the right side of the line where Kirk Barton and T.J. Downing ? two Stark County linemen ? opened the hole.
?That was a great feeling,? Pittman said. ?But what?s important to me is winning. It doesn?t matter how many yards I get or touchdowns I score. As long as we win.?
If Pittman rushes for more than 100 yards, and Smith has the same kind of game he has had the last three games, Ohio State?s offense should be in fine shape.
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