Drew Thurman (6:02 pm)

As disappointed as I am that Washington decided to go pro, my grief has been overshadowed by the amount of ESPN coverage on Mark Sanchez deciding to go pro. No doubt I agree with Carroll's concerns, but I can't believe he actually aired them out to the world.

I have to say though, Sanchez had to go pro. He doesn't want to be Matt Lienart "Part Deux," and why would he want to wait around and come out with guys like Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford. Thanks for the concern though, Petey!

The news does have an impact for Ohio State fans too. The Trojans roll into Columbus to play in "The Shoe" on September 12th, and will have to do so now with a new starter at quarterback. The Buckeyes are going to be really young across the board, especially corner (thanks Donald!), and you have to think USC having a first year starter will benefit Ohio State. The Buckeyes got the best of McCoy in year two of the Texas series, let's hope they can repeat that same feat against the Trojans! 

Drew Thurman (12:29 pm)

It is official, corner Donald Washington will declare for the NFL draft. This does indeed hurt the Buckeyes for next season, who have already lost starting cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to graduation. Outside of Chimdi Chekwa, know one totally knows what to expect from the position. Some have knocked on Washington's talent or the impact of him leaving, but I personally think the Buckeyes will miss him, especially early on next season. Anyways, this is his statement released from Ohio State:

“I’m very excited to take the next step and pursue my dream of playing in the National Football League, but it has been a difficult and emotional decision.

“I thank Coach Tressel and all those within the OSU football program for creating such a terrific environment for me to succeed both athletically and academically. I have had tremendous experiences at Ohio State and at Franklin Central High School with Coach Lance Scheib, who continues to be an integral part of my life.

“I will especially, and most importantly, miss all of my teammates and brothers. I wish them nothing but the best and continued success.

“I would also like to give my word that I will uphold the Buckeye tradition of doing my best off the field, as well as my best in competing with the premier athletes around the world on the field in the NFL.”

Drew Thurman (4:47 pm)

There has been a lot of news coming out today, and unfortunately I have been out doing business all morning and early afternoon. So here we go...

1) Today we found out that Kurt Coleman is indeed staying for his senior season. Reports are that Jim Tressel flexed for Coleman, and he then realized that he needed another season to buff up. Just the word on the street! Seriously though, this was huge for the defense next season. He is one of the most aggressive and hard hitting guys on the field for the Buckeyes, and his experience will be needed! This is what he said:

“My decision to come back is a lot about helping this team. I feel we can do anything next year. We have a lot of great leaders coming back and an excellent group of underclass talent. For me personally, my family and I felt this was the best decision for me, to make my career at Ohio State even better than it has already been."

2) In that same article listed above, Steve Helwagen talks about several of the other juniors. Ray Small is staying put, and rumors are that Anderson Russell and Jim Cordle will be as well. Donald Washington has yet to make his decision, and is the only junior for the Buckeyes that has yet to do so.

3) On the other end of the spectrum, wideout Brian Hartline is headed to the NFL Draft. Hartline has had a solid career at Ohio State, and anyone who says he will not be miss next season is wrong. I realize that he was not a huge factor in some of the biggest games this season, but his experience will be missed. With that said, I am excited about the future at wideout (can you say Duron Carter, DeVier Posey, Jake Stoneburner, Lamaar Thomas, Corey Brown, Dane Sanzenbacher, James Jackson, Taurian Washington, and Chris Fields)!!!

4) Mark Schlabach of ESPN has already posted his early Top 25 rankings for 2009. The Buckeyes came in at number six, which shocked me. I was not suprised though that Florida came in at number one yet again!

5) Ivan Maisel has posted his best and worst moments of this year's bowl season. He gives Ohio State the award for the best loss, and I was glad to see yet another media member recognize it. He does gets some shots in about Pryor's no show at media day, and the Big Ten's sorry bowl record.

Drew Thurman (7:25 pm)

Star defensive tackle Corey Adams has chosen to stay in his home state, and attend Arizona State. This is unfortunate for the Buckeyes, because Adams was the exact kind of defensive tackle needed. So I guess farewell Mr. Adams, we barely knew ya! 

Drew Thurman (1:51 pm)

Just a season ago, the direction of the Buckeye program seemed pretty clear and reassuring. There were a bevy of seniors returning after a national championship game appearance, and things looked exciting for the 2008 season. Now just a year later, there are more questions surrounding the Ohio State program than lies Rich Rodriguez has told his recruits while at Michigan.  

So, I decided to take a look at some of the biggest questions and issues that Tressel and the players have to answer in 2009. Here are five of the biggest questions that need answering:

1) Who is leaving early for the NFL draft or transfers?

Rumors are flying around about guys like Hartline, Russell, D. Washington, Coleman, Cordle, T. Washington, and Bauserman. Obviously some of these guys will be more devastating to lose than others, but the Buckeyes cannot afford a mass exodus. The team will be hard pressed for leadership and experience next year, and one has to hope they will choose that opportunity over being middle to late round picks. This is especially the case for the guys in the secondary. If Coleman, Russell, and Donald Washington leave, the Buckeyes could really be hurting next season! 

2) What recruits does Tressel and the staff nab to cap off the 2009 recruiting class?

The 2009 class is already loaded with potential talent, but there are few huges catches still left out there. The big names to watch for are Tajh Boyd, Marcus Hall, Marlon Brown, and Corey Adams. All of these guys have the ability to come in and make a statement from day one, and that is huge for a team that just lost a valuable senior class. Grabbing one or more of these guys would be icing on the cake for the 2009 class, just as Pryor was at the end of the 2008 class.

3) Will Tressel make any changes to his staff?

Anyone who is objective at all can tell you that some of Tressel's assistants are not pulling their own weight. Of course, the two that take the biggest amount of criticism from fans are defensive coordinator Jim Heacock and offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. It is easy to make arguments for why either one of these men should be replaced, but I would much rather see Bollman go then Heacock. Unlike Heacock, Bollman's unit didn't really improve as the season progressed, and Tressel had to take the rein's of the offensive line. I would really love if Tressel would bring in a true offensive coordinator, but I would settle for Bollman's duties with the offensive line to be replaced.  

4) Can the offensive line get better while getting younger?

This year's offensive line was maybe the most disappointing unit for the Buckeyes. Even Alex Boone, who has the intangibles to be an NFL starter, looked mediocre for most of the season. So I say without reservations that I am excited to see some of the talented youngsters take over the offensive line next season. Brewster and Browning will be back (and Cordle if he stays), and should be joined by sophomores J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams. The other addition that many forget about is Justin Boren, the transfer from Michigan, who will be playing guard. These guys will probably prevail to start on the line, and their success or failure could determine where the team goes in 2009.    

5) Who in fact will fills the back seven?

The Buckeyes back seven this season was probably the second best unit in the country behind USC. Unfortunately, now the Buckeyes get ready to depart with guys like James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, and Marcus Freeman. On top of that, as number one described, Washington, Russell, and Coleman could potentially be out the door. What exactly this unit looks like will determine how good the 2009 defense will be. The linebacking core, though inexperienced for the most part, is deep and should be pretty solid. Still though, no one really knows overall. Add that to all the questions with the secondary, and it is easy to see that this is one of the biggest questions for the success of the 2009 team.   

What other questions do you have? Any we left out?

Drew Thurman (10:45 am)

A few days ago Buckeye fans found out that highly sought out quarterback Tajh Boyd had trimmed his list to two schools, and now another Ohio State prospect has done the same. According to the East Valley Tribune, senior defensive tackle Corey Adams has two schools left in the running. He eliminated USC, which was a huge shocker, and is going to choose between Ohio State and Arizona State.

This is big news for Ohio State because defensive tackle has been one of the weakest positions this season. At 6-4 290, Adams has the intangibles and size to be a big time player in the middle of the defensive line. The biggest challenge is going to be pulling him away from his home state of Arizona. In fact, Adams' coach feels Arizona State might have the edge.

"Adams has been mum on his choice, though Sanders (his coach) thinks he is leaning towards Arizona State. Sanders said Adams’ father didn’t even know the direction he was leaning."

This is a big story to watch play out over the next month. Adams will be making his choice on National Signing Day (Feb. 4), and is one of a handful of recruits still on the board for the Buckeyes.  

Drew Thurman (4:43 pm)

Beanie Wells announced today that he is bypassing his senior season and will enter the NFL draft. He has had an incredible three year ride at Ohio State, and he had some very nice things to say about his departure.

"I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, my teachers and the academic advisors for all they have done, and I definitely want to thank the Buckeye fans for all their support, Wells said in a statement. Ohio State has become like a family to me, and it will always be that way. But in the best interest of my family, it's time to move on and take a chance at fulfilling my lifetime dream of playing in the NFL."

Ohio State and its fans have a lot to thank Beanie for as well. Not only has he rushed for 3,382 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career, but he has carried the Buckeyes in many respects. He has had over 200 rushing attempts each of the last two seasons, and despite missing time for injuries, has put the team on his back.

Beanie will probably always be remembered as one of the premiere backs at Ohio State, and his combination of size and speed do not come along very often. Even more than that though, Beanie will be engraved in the hearts of the Buckeye Nation forever for his ability to take a run to the house at any moment. Especially against Michigan, where he had a big run each of his three seasons to sink the Wolverines hopes of beating Ohio State.

So thank you Beanie, we wish you the best in the NFL. Make us proud!

Drew Thurman (8:03 pm)

According to Daily Press out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, Tajh Boyd is down to Ohio State and Oregon. Clemson has been making a late surge for Boyd, but he may not even visit this weekend as he planned.

"I've got it basically down to Ohio State and Oregon," he said. "I'm comfortable with those schools. And I'll probably commit in the next two weeks."

So things are looking much better for the Buckeyes than many have been thinking of late. With that said, the rumors that Oregon is number one on his list may not be that far from the truth. The article does not mention any of Boyd's comments on the Buckeyes, and instead highlights what he says about Oregon.

"Oregon, their facilities are off the chart," Boyd said. "They have underwater treadmills and a whole lot of different technology some hospitals don't even have. That's a reason why Oregon is real high on my list."

Interesting stuff, and the decision should come in the next few weeks. The Buckeyes really could use a commitment from Boyd, as I feel he could be a great quarterback following Pryor. If you saw him in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, you know he is the real deal!

Drew Thurman (5:59 pm)

Last night's game no doubt messed with the hearts of the Buckeye faithful. Most fans would have no doubt told you that above all else they wanted Ohio State to get some respect back, and were primarily worried about not getting blown out. As each second ticked off the clock though, it became increasingly evident that the Buckeyes could actually pull this thing off, they could beat what many believed to be the best team in the nation. Fate was cruel though, and the Scarlet and Gray Nation was forced to watch a McCoy to Cosby slant that would sink the dreams of an upset with 16 seconds left on the clock.

This loss will obviously go down in Buckeye lore, and it may be one of the most hurtful losses in Buckeye history. There was a lot to take away from the game though, and quite a few things I noticed that were both positive and negative, so let's take a look:

Negatives:

First Half - I said this last night and I will say it again, the missed opportunities in the first half came back to haunt the Buckeyes. Ohio State controlled the tempo and momentum throughout the first half, and had nothing more than a three point lead to show for it. Drives continued to stall somewhere between the 30-40 yard lines, and the Buckeyes had three field goal chances, two that were actually made. Had at least one of those three drives gotten punched in, we would have been looking at a different outcome.

Third Quarter - Just as crucial to the final outcome as the first half was the third quarter. Texas had the ball first, and put together an incredible six and half minute drive. On that drive, the Longhorns killed the Buckeyes on third downs, and actually converted twice of fourth down (including a faked punt). That drive in my opinion also set up the next scoring drive due to the exhaustion of the defense. The Buckeyes went three-and-out twice, and put the defense in a very bad situation. I understand many of you are probably mad at Tressel's playing calling on those three-and-outs, but it was obvious that he wanted to run the ball to take time off the clock. It's hard to disagree with that too much, even though I would have liked to have gotten a first down before committing to the run.

Pryor Throwing - Terrelle is a superstar in the making, but his limited throwing ability in this game hurt. Now given, Boeckman came in and threw the ball in his place at times, but the Buckeyes needed Pryor's arm as well. The Longhorns committed to stop his mobility, and he had some very nice opportunities down the field.

Brian Hartline - I really want to know where Hartline was in this game. I have feeling it hurts your draft stock when you make a big ZERO catches in the biggest game of the year!

Gibson's Penalties - I like Gibson's aggressiveness and his future is very bright, but the two personal foul penalties really hurt.  

The Blitz - I have already seen a lot of Buckeye fans complaining about the defense on the last drive, but its always easier to point out mistakes after the fact. The blitz on the touchdown throw was not my favorite call, but in Heacock's defense (which I rarely take part in), Texas had picked apart the zone the entire drive. So Heacock went for the big play, and neglected to use the back of the end zone as a defender. Like I said, it was not my favorite call, though many fans have completely overreacted.

Positives: 

Todd Boeckman - Boeckman has taken a lot of heat this season, but he rose to the occasion in this game. In fact, without his throwing presence the Buckeyes would have not been in this game. I am sure he would have wanted to be remembered for a final win, but he did end his career with a gutsy performance.

Boom Herron - If nothing else I think we once again saw the emergence of Boom. It did hurt to loose Beanie, but Herron stepped up nicely in the second half with 30 yards and a touchdown. I am a big Herron fan, and I think he will be starter next season if Beanie does indeed depart. Most have already handed the starting job off to Hyde or Berry, but I would not diminish Herron's role.

The Intensity - It was very refreshing to see the passion that the Buckeyes played with. I can get over a loss, but I cannot get over playing without heart (*cough* Florida *cough*). The team fought hard all night, and when things looked bleak they played their best football to get back in the game. This team came a long way from the one that rolled over when things got rough in the past three big games.

National Respect - It's hard to say you win over the public's perception with a loss, but I think this game has that ability. The media and fans everywhere were expecting a blowout, and instead they got the best game of the bowl season thus far. Ohio State showed in this game that they were as fast as Texas, that they did indeed have a premiere defense, and that things are not falling apart for Tressel (by the way, everyone please shut up about firing him).

On top of that, I think we will see a very hungry team next season (especially Terrelle Pryor). A large senior class may be heading out the door, but next year's team may be way better than anyone thinks!

Drew Thurman (12:09 am)

Well, I will pretty much be chewing on this one until next season. The team played its heart out, and it would have been great to send the seniors out with a win. Many of you might blame the fact that the Buckeyes left too much time on the clock or the missed tackle at the end, but it came down to missed opportunities in the first half, and a third quarter where Texas dominated the time of possession. I could not be more proud of our team (I feel we outplayed Texas), but it kills not to get the "W." A full recap will be up tomorrow...