1. OSU is expected to throw the ball 25 times a game this year.

2. Freshman Devon Torrence will be the last person wearing Troy Smith's #10 uniform, as it will be retired this year.

3. Pepper Johnson's son, Dionte, is listed as the starting FB on the Bucks roster and apparently looks very impressive in practice. Big news considering he will be leading the way for Chris Wells in an offense expected to be dominated by a power running game.

4. OSU has nagging injuries at QB, RB, WR, OL, and DL. They area thin at OT with both backups injured.

5. Thad Matta has 11 top 100 players lined up over the next four years.

6. OSU will return three or four starting O-lineman in 2008. The entire interior line and then possibly LT Alex Boone. If Boone leaves early, super freshman Mike Adams (being called the next Orlando Pace and the top O-line prospect in the Midwest) would likely start as a freshman. Adams is giant and incredibly athletic on his feet. He is 6'8" and weighs 310 lbs. as a 17 year old kid.

7. True freshman super prospect Brandon Saine, the 215 lb. running back who broke all of Ted Ginn's sprint records in Ohio last year, has looked outstanding at camp. Saine is expected to challenge Maurice Wells as the change of pace back, but with his size and speed, many feel that he could simply supplement Chris Wells, like Chris did for Pittman last year as a freshman. The #2 running back spot is a battle. If Saine wins, Maurice Wells may transfer to a I-AA school for instant playing time.

8. OSU's chances at getting #2 Guard prospect Josh Jenkins (football) to decommit from West Virginia and commit to OSU are being pegged at 50/50 at this point.

9. OSU's chances at landing #1 overall player and QB Terrelle Pryor are looking like 75%+ with his other schools sharing about a 5-10% each chance. OSU is the team to beat.

10. Defensive starters from the 2002 OSU team currently playing in the NFL: Will Smith, Simon Fraser, Darrion Scott, Kenny Peterson, Matt Wilhelm, Robert Reynolds, Mike Doss, Donnie Nickey, Chris Gamble, and Dustin Fox. Cie Grant is the only player on the team that doesn't currently play in the NFL, but he had a 3 year career before it ended. Every starter played in the pros.

11. Malcolm Jenkins is considered the top cover corner in the nation by some publications. He is being grouped into the Winfield, Plummer, Springs, and Gamble group of recent memory.

12. Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock says this is the most talented D-line he has ever coached. The DE rotation is the deepest in the nation and our DE tandem is probably one of, if not THE best, in the country.

13. OLB Marcus Freeman broke a couple of former DE Mike Kudla's weight room records this spring and ran a 4.48 during his last timing in the 40. He has already showed what kind of player he is, only now he is bigger, stronger, and faster.

14. Ray Small is still the front runner for the return man jobs, but super freshman Brandon Saine and CB Malcolm Jenkins will push him.

15. Several analysts are predicting Chris Wells to finish 2007 with 1,500+ yards rushing this year.

What does Thad Matta have to do with Bucknuts football?!?

Nothing. Just like to throw little nuggets in there so others can get the full scope of Buckeye power.

Expect Ohio St. to spread things out from time to time because they have the receivers to cause match up problems, but they are saying that Wells looks so good at RB that they think he could be approaching 1,000 yards by the time they get to the Purdue game. Cupcake schedule featuring six teams that aren't so good at run defense. Wells would need 170 yards per game. 150 per game agains those guys would put him at 900 yards. The guy has a great shot at a 1,500 yard season for the Bucks with 10-12 TD's. He could be a dark horse Heisman candidate if he can put 1,500 on the board for a top 5 Buckeye team (should they get on a roll). Only a sophomore, so he won't have a shot to win it, but he could be a front runner in 2008.

Their defense is loaded and as deep as any school in the nation not named USC. They are going to have 20+ players rotating consistently on defense all year. They have the best DE tandem in the Big Ten and one of the best in the Nation. They have a top 5 LB group and the best cover corner in the nation.

They also field the top kicking tandem in the nation.

I think a lot of people are underestimating the Buckeyes due to their losses. Amusingly, they will shadow the Bears this year. Both have question marks at QB with the talent to produce if they can be consistent. Both have highly touted running backs that are finally getting the chance to show that they can take the team on their shoulders. Both are loaded with what most consider talented, unproven WR's. Both have a pair of very talented TE's. Both have veteran O-lines returning.

On defense, both are loaded and incredibly deep. OSU has the deepest DE rotation in the nation and so do the Bears. The Bears have outstanding DT's and the Bucks are unproven there though. Both have outstanding LB corps including the best LB in the Nation (Urlacher/Laurinitis) in the middle. Both have very good secondaries, except the Bucks strength is at CB and the Bears is at Safety. And both have lights out kicking games.

Both will rely on the running game on offense, play outstanding aggressive defense, and use their kickers to score points and play field position.