2007 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Preview

2007 Ohio State Buckeyes season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Ohio State Buckeyes football preview as well as the 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule. Dont miss our football picks for college games against the spread and bookmark our college football point spread page offering up to the minute odds & lines.

Coach: Jim Tressel (7th year at Ohio State)
Team Name: Buckeyes
2006 Overall Record: 12-1
Returning Starters: 11

Last year the Ohio State Buckeyes (12- 1 overall, 8-0 Big Ten) performed magnificently until they got to the BCS Championship game where they were whipped by the Gators 14- 41. Starting QB Troy Smith and other prominent playmakers are gone. Head coach Jim Tressel (6 years at OSU, 62- 14) still has a fine team, but many lack experience.

With the exit of Troy Smith look for a more disciplined offense. The starting QB could be junior Todd Boeckman or sophomore Robbie Schoenhoft. Neither has much experience and the competition in camp should be tough. Both are big with strong arms. Sophomore RB Chris Wells (104 CAR, 576 YDs, 5.5 AVG, 7 TDs) has power and speed but has to hold onto the ball. The Buckeyes can use consistency from him. At receiver, junior Brian Robiskie (29 REC, 383 YDs, 13.2 AVG, 5 TDs) and sophomore Brian Hartline (17 REC, 256 YDs, 15.1 AVG, 2 TD) will provide sure-hands and smarts. The wildcard is receiver Ray Small—a speedy sophomore capable of turning up just about anywhere.

The defense features MLB James Laurinaitis (115 tackles, 53 solo), who won the Bronco Nagurski Trophy in 2006. The line-backing unit is stellar. The frontline is almost all new, with junior DE Vernon Gholston being the only returning starter. Gholston is a massive and often unstoppable presence. Junior corner Malcolm Jenkins, who has speed, experience and smarts, will be the stabilizing force in the secondary. Although the rest of the front and secondary lack experience, there's plenty of talent and potential. In 2006 the "D" held opponents to 12.8 PPG, placing 5th in the nation.

Does this club have a chance at the Big Ten title again? Yes, they do. But they've also got some competition too. Swing games are at Penn State and Michigan and at home versus Wisconsin. Boeckman/Schoenhoft and company will have to gel quickly as will the defensive line and secondary for the Buckeyes to repeat.

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Sep 1	Youngstown St	Home
Sep 8	Akron	Home
Sep 15	Washington	Away
Sep 22	Northwestern	Home
Sep 29	Minnesota	Away
Oct 6	Purdue	Away
Oct 13	Kent St	Home
Oct 22	Michigan St	Home
Oct 27	Penn St	Away
Nov 3	Wisconsin	Home
Nov 10	Illinois	Home
Nov 17	Michigan	Away

 

For more info on the 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.