Regardless of what happens tomorrow night, it will be the last time the Ohio State seniors will get to take the field with their college teammates. If you’re like me, you get a little sad seeing players suit up for the last time in the Scarlet & Gray.
Each player that comes to Ohio State is part of the overall story of Buckeye football and every one of them has a part to play. Some never see the field and function as scout team heroes. Others go on to national awards and fill the record books with their statistical freakery. Most fall somewhere in between.
The Buckeye senior starters and key contributors have had a variety of paths to this final game. Before we watch them one last time, it’s important to remember their journey they took to get here. (Note: I’m not counting Braxton Miller here because he’s a cinch for a medical redshirt. Unlike our beloved D.J., I don’t expect Miller to leave Ohio State—but what do I know?)
DT Michael Bennett
The Centerville product has long been a fan favorite. A two-year starter, he’s one of those fun, disruptive guys to watch on the defensive line, putting him with the likes of John Simon, Johnathan Hankins, Cam Heyward and Dan Wilkinson. He’s been great since he stepped on campus but injuries have slowed him throughout his career. Bennett has been his best the last half of the season and was a force in the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin, which might have been the best game of his career. He was great against Bama. He’ll need to be outstanding against Oregon for the Buckeyes to win.
DE Steve Miller
A three-year All-Ohio selection at Canton’s McKinley High School, much was expected from Miller. He got on the field early, but never quite managed to capture a starting spot until Noah Spence’s difficulties surfaced. Miller has had a fine senior campaign and made the play of his career against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl with his pick six. We’ll miss all the Steve Miller Band one-liners on Twitter when he’s gone.
DE Rashad Frazier
The Middletown product started his collegiate career at Purdue, transferring to Ohio State in 2012. A bit injury-plagued in 2013, Frazier made plays early in 2014 and then suffered another health setback. He had a superb game against Wisconsin in the B1G championship and has been a key contributor behind Miller and Joey Bosa. I’m not sure we ever saw Frazier’s best, but he has been a valuable contributor this season.
LB Curtis Grant
There are fans who just don’t like the former five-star recruit out of Richmond, VA, because he didn’t become an instant All-American. Some even refuse to see how good he’s become as a senior starter, instead calling for freshman Raekwon McMillan to play. Grant took a while to get it going, but his play has been solid this season. An adjustment by the coaches in the way they used Grant helped slow Alabama’s outside running game in the Sugar Bowl. He’s set career highs in tackles and tackles for loss this year—his second as a starter.
Receptions don't tell the story with Spencer.
CB Doran Grant
The Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s product is maybe the quietest star player Ohio State has ever had. You sometimes forget he’s even on the team. But the Buckeyes don’t. Grant has become an all-conference performer as a senior and has blossomed from solid to great under Chris Ash. He doesn’t possess the post-interception moves of Chris Gamble, the wicked tackling of Antoine Winfield or the dynamic speed of Bradley Roby, but Grant has become one of the great ones at Cornerback U.
RT Darryl Baldwin
A converted defensive lineman out of Solon High, the former No. 90 changed to No. 76 and became a backup to Jack Mewhort in 2012 after playing seven games on defense in 2011. In 2014, he became a starter on the right side. The 6-foot-6, 307-pound behemoth has had a solid season under the tutelage of Ed Warinner and has contributed to Ohio State’s record-breaking offensive season.
WR Evan Spencer
I remember when Spencer made this catch as a freshman against Akron. I thought Tim Spencer’s son from Vernon Hills, IL, would become the next Cris Carter. While that didn’t happen, Spencer became a solid four-year contributor and one of the most devastating run blockers at his position that we’ve ever seen. You could make a case for him being the Sugar Bowl MVP with his TD pass, the block that sprung Ezekiel Elliott’s long touchdown run and the recovery of the onside kick. We’ll miss his contributions all over the field without realizing it.
WR Devin Smith
For three seasons it has been a common running joke that Smith is a one-trick pony. That’s been only partially true at best for the product of Massillon’s Washington High. But his one trick is unreal. Ask any coach if he’d be interested in a guy who routinely catches 40-plus-yard touchdowns and watch their eyes light up. Only David Boston (34) has more touchdown receptions in a Buckeye uniform than Smith (30). Plus there’s that incredible record of never having lost a game in which he’s scored. Smith will be hard to replace.
Heuerman: best recruiting photo ever?
TE Jeff Heuerman
Jim Tressel recruited the Naples, FL, product, who quickly became both a playmaker in the passing game and a destructive blocker on both run and pass plays. He lettered as a freshman and has started since 2012. The Buckeyes haven’t been a team that throws a lot to the tight ends, but when they do, Heuerman typically makes a big play. A leader and team captain, Heuerman will play on Sundays next year while Nick Vannett inherits his place. He’s currently injured but vows to play against Oregon.
Other seniors who are about to make their final mark in the OSU football history books:
- LG Joel Hale – a team-first guy who swapped back and forth between defensive and offensive line depending on wherever he was needed most.
- PK Kyle Clinton – served as a reserve kicker for PATs and field goals behind others throughout his career, but became the primary kickoff man for Urban Meyer this season. Yes, he had some trouble keeping them in bounds, but he mostly did a good job of keeping the other team from reaching the 25.
- LS Russell Doup – a walk-on in 2010, Doup found a way to hang around for five years and make the two-deep as a senior, backing up Bryce Haynes. Much of his career he was one of those scout team heroes I mentioned above. He started as a left-footed kicking specialist and migrated to safety, where he played against Florida A&M last year. He has also appeared on special teams.
- WR Peter Gwilym – a third-year walk-on who hasn’t been seen on the field much outside of the Spring Game. He played in two games in 2013 and is a three-year scholar athlete from Freeport, Maine.
- FB Devin Hill – a former Northland High star in Columbus who went to Purdue and redshirted before walking on at Ohio State three years ago.
- TE J.T. Moore – a converted defensive end, Moore switched to tight end but has had his career shortened by a knee injury. Played in 31 career games, mostly on special teams, but started four as a defensive lineman before switching positions.
- P Jake Russell – a walk-on in 2011, the Twinsburg product was a practice player throughout his Buckeye career.
- CB Nik Sarac – another 2011 walk-on, Sarac is a Cleveland St. Ignatius product who played in two games as a Buckeye last season against Florida A&M and Penn State. He has been a solid practice player throughout his career.
- PK Tim Scott – a practice player out of Norton, Ohio, Scott walked onto the team in 2012.
- LB Nick Snyder – the Westerville South product walked on in 2013 and got into last year’s game against Florida A&M.
