Something else on the line in '08

[generaladm]

If all that happens then its just further proof we are watching some of the greatest days in OSU histoy.

Just the fact that I mentioned back to back undefeated seasons and there weren't people lining up to call me an idiot says something about how strong our program is right now.

We're supposed to have 2009 as our "down year". The core seniors are gone and these freshmen (then sophs) are too young to dominate. But who knows, lately our down years still mean outright Big 10 championships and trips to the NC game, so maybe you're right.

It's impossible to predict how the loss of so many seniors will effect the 09 team, but there will be a lot of experienced players stepping into those slots. Here's the best case (no early defections) scholarship roster for 09 by unit:

QB
Bauserman, Pryor

RB
Beanie, Saine, Herron, Hall, Hyde (Thomas, at times; hopefully Berry)

FB
Martin, Z. Boren, A. Homan

WR
Hartline, Small, Sanzenbacher, Washington, Schwartz, Posey, Stoneburner, Thomas, Carter, Fields, Jackson (yikes!)

TE
Ballard, Delillo, Fragel

OL
Cordle, Kerr, Boren, Miller, Smith, Browning, Adams, Brewster, Shuggarts, Blankenship, Linsley, Mewhort, Longo

DL
Wilson, Worthington, Denlinger, Rose, Heyward, Gibson, Larimore, Johnson, Goebel, Rowell, Mobley, K.Wells, Thomas, Williams, Fellows, Simon, Newsome, Bellamy (Hopefully C. Adams)

LB
Spitler, Homan, Rolle, Hines, Sabino, Sweat, Bell, Whiting, Klein

S
Russell, Coleman, Gant, Moeller, Oliver, Domicone, Pentello, MacDougald, Wood

CB
Washington, Amos, Chekwa, Scott, Evege, Howard, Johnson, Barnett, Brown, Clarke, Green

K
Pettrey, Buchanan

P
Thoma (Buchanan)

That's 19 seniors and 18 Juniors returning with lots of big game experience. The only positions that don't return seniors are QB and FB. All of the defensive units are strong and deep. While it's a bit unreasonable to think that the entire senior class would return intact (I think Beanie and Wilson are the most likely to turn pro, maybe Russell), it was even less likely that the 08 class would return with only one loss. If Beanie comes back for 09, I'd say OSU would be the front runner for Big Ten champs, and have a legit shot to run the table.