Buckeyes best players

[Duane Long]

This is a list of the top players in the program. Being the best of the best is about being an NFL player. I am projecting talent. This list would be different if I was looking at best college players. This list will be players who have played on a college playing field so no freshmen and no redshirt freshman.

1 - Michael Brewster - This is the best lineman to come into the program since JT has been here. Coaches that have forgotten more about line play than I will ever learn say he should not have been that good as a true freshman. Great athlete and a heavy dose of nasty in his game. That his mistakes stand out speaks volumes about Brewster. At his age we should be looking for what he does right instead of seeing a player so consistently good that we take it for granted.

2 - Cameron Heyward - Athletic and has a huge frame. Great motor. What puts him so high on this list is that 11 teams will be playing 3-4 next year in the NFL. I think he is a DT at the next level but there is a strong argument that he is ideal for the 5-technique, the strong side down defensive end in the 3-4. Tyson Jackson might end up in the top 10 of this current draft because the re-emergence of the 3-4 in the NFL puts more value on the down linemen. The 3-4 is a linebacker defense but the down linemen are no longer just cannon fodder.

3 - Etienne Sabino - Despite the depth he ended up playing last year and he always got my attention when he was on the field. That he seems to be getting looks at every linebacker position and in every defensive set says the staff is looking to get this massive talent on the field as much as possible.

4 - Justin Boren - Playing so early at Michigan shows what kind of talent he is. The word coming out of practice all last year was just write his name into the starting line-up in ink right now. He is nasty.

5 - Devier Posey - With the returning players that we had last year he should have redshirted. He is a special talent. Not many receivers with his size can run the clip screens and get into the open field and do a Ted Ginn impersonation. Unique talent.

6 - Chimdi Chekwa - The best cover corner on the roster last year. That roster would have two possible first day corners on it. One of which Chekwa played ahead of. If he improves his tackling I see him going in the top half of the first round. Cover corners, the guys that can play on an island, are still a much prized commodity. Chekwa has the hips and ball skills to be that kind of corner.

7 - Thaddeus Gibson - Another player that benefits from the NFL teams going to the 3-4 more. He is an ideal edge player. High motor and nasty nasty nasty. Explosive and has speed. Playmaker. Very excited about next season for him.

8 - Terrelle Pryor - I know I am going to hear about this one. A year from now he is probably going to top this list. Right now he is a very gifted prodigy. He needs to get better at reading defenses and decision making. At that point he becomes a potential #1 overall pick in the draft.

9 - Kurt Coleman - Really came on late in the year. Was arguably the best player in the secondary in the last third of the season. Always a hitter and a tackler, he started showing better ball skills late in the season.

10 - Raymond Small - I have said it before and I will say it again, fans have never seen how good Ray Small is. Ted Ginn himself said Ray was the best receiver he has ever coached. He doesn't have Ted Ginn Jr top end speed but may be a better runner after the catch. News that the light may have finally come on says he will be one of the surprise players of this season.

11 - Jermale Hines - I listened to John Madden go on and on about the NFL looking for the hybrid LB/SS players. The first generation of players who play the position in college are becoming draft eligible. That Hines can get bigger is a big plus for him.

12 - J.B. Shugarts - I go back to the USC game for a play that stood out to me from Shugarts. Late in the game, it was all but over, Shugarts nearly takes a personal foul because he is not going to allow a USC player to push him. He was not in there alot but when he was I noticed.

13 - Ross Homan - Currently suffering from a lack of playing time. We are playing two linebackers most of the time and this is a loaded roster at LB. He jumped out at me in the Penn State game where we were able to play three linebackers.

14 - Tyler Moeller - Anywhere else Moeller would be the starter at the Star.

15 - Nathan Williams - Not an ideal sized defensive end. He is compared to Mike Vrabel and will have to go that route to be a pro. He is immensely talented and faster but is not as athletic as Vrabel. Will need to find the right situation to be a pro.

16 - Lawrence Wilson - Goes to the top half of this list if he shows he can shake off the injuries. A broken leg and torn ligaments in back to back years. I need to see him shake off that rust before I put him into the top of the list again.

[Duane Long]

"Duane, I retract that statement. I missed the part about this being on Pro Potential. What do you think of Dexter Larimore's pro potential? "

I don't see a big guy. I don't see a qucik explosive guy. He is young. Ask me again at the end of the this next season.

[greyballs]

I have only seen small glimpses of how good Ray Small can be. Good to hear he is getting out of his own way and putting forth the focus and effort needed. They all smell the same when the bloom - Go Bucks

[O-State]

Duane, I retract that statement. I missed the part about this being on Pro Potential. What do you think of Dexter Larimore's pro potential?

[osugrad21]

I'm wondering if Torrence can make a push for that list if he decides to focus on one sport.

[O-State]

Duane, great list. I see no major flaws. My only gripe is no Sanzenbacher.

[Duane Long]

"Duane: i reaaly enjoy your insights. Why did Tressel burn a redshirt for Thomas, Shugarts and Posey for just a few plays?"

It seems everyone does it. Burn redshirts for the elite players with the idea being that at least you get something out of them since they are so likely to leave after three years. It gives them something to focus on. So many of the elite kids that come to a school like Ohio State are not kids who can sit. So much of what makes them great is their competitiveness and love of the game. If they only play a little they are at least in there competing, and learning. Redshirt players don't get alot of practice reps with the 1s once the season starts. The focus is on the game every week. The players who are going to play need to get all the reps.

[marvin schrager]

Duane: i reaaly enjoy your insights. Why did Tressel burn a redshirt for Thomas, Shugarts and Posey for just a few plays?
Why do you think they are having trouble clising the deal on this years top recruits so far?
Thanks

[Buckeye50]

Great list, no arguement on TP, surprised Ray is that high if it is about NFL, short fast players are not rare in the league and as you said he doesn't have TG Jr speed and unless he improves his stock this year he'll be a very late round pick at best.

Love to see you do a list of the younger guys (2 or more years left) on who's going to be the best college player, I think TP and NW move way up the list.

[Duane Long]

I had Chekwa. I changed the order when I stepped back and looked at it. He was number 6. I will go back and get the profile and add it.

[Duane Long]

"'4 - Jason Boren ' Wow a third Boren brother! Nice! :-) "

You have never heard of Jason? Where ya been??? Stay current, man!!!

I will change it.