Football
Buckeyes Stepping Up in Fall Camp
By John Porentas

For Buckeye fans fall camp is a lot like December 24 for little kids. They know the presents are under the tree and pretty soon they will be able to open them, but the wait until the next morning to open them can be just excruciating

It's the same way for Buckeye fans and fall camp. They know the players are in camp, but they just can't wait to find out who is making a move, who is standing out, which young players are making an impression, who will be on the field for the opener, who is likely to be the big play maker in the upcoming season.

Fall camp reports are rife with "insider" tidbits about who made a play at this practice or scrimmage or who had a bad day, but drawing conclusions based on one play or one practice is an iffy exercise at best. The people who really know who is standing out are the coaches and players who are there every day, are actually on the field, and are watching film daily.

Recently two players, Malcolm Jenkins and Anthony Gonzalez and one coach, Joe Daniels, offered some opinions on who is standing out this fall.

Anderson Russell Donald Washington

"In the spring I would say it was Anderson Russell, and in camp now its Curt Coleman and Donald Washington who have stood out to me," said Jenkins of some of his fellow youthful DBs who have caught his eye recently.

"Donald missed a couple of days in the beginning, he had some health issues, but he came back and really caught on quick and is doing a real good job. Curt has been making a lot of plays in camp. He just needs to work on his fundamentals, because he makes plays. I just think he needs to work on the fundamental things to polish off the product," said Jenkins.

Jenkins remains impressed with Russell as well.

"In high school he didn't play safety at all, he was strictly a running back," Jenkins said.

"Coming to play the secondary for the first time at the college level, it was kind of confusing for him, but he dedicated himself to learning the defense and learning everything there is to learn as a DB and he's really excelled being an all-around football player. We call him 100% because everything he does is full speed. He never takes a break. He's always going full go, no matter what it is, special teams or one-on-ones, he's always going full power. Even if he's making a mistake, at least he's going 100%.

Brandon Mitchell

Gonzalez also had a few favorites over in the defensive secondary. One of them is senior safety Brandon Mitchell.

"He's the one who has impressed me the most I think. A lot of that has to do with that fact that as a slot guy you go against safeties more often. Brandon Mitchell has shown me a lot," said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is impressed with Mitchell both on and off the field.

"Brandon is one of my favorite guys on the team, he really is, because he in my opinion has lived the student-athlete experience as best as you could possibly live it. He took care of his academics and he took care of his athletics, and on top of that he's still a very good person.

"It's encouraging to younger guys I think. I know it's encouraging to me. He's one of those people that when I think back about players that I played with, I'm sure he's one of the guys I'll say 'He was one of my favorite guys to play with.'"

Gonzalez is also impressed with a young linebacker.

"Now when you talk about the defense as a whole, the young guy who has stood out to me more than anybody is Tyler Moeller," Gonzalez said.

Tyler Moeller

"Every time I look up he's hitting somebody, and he's hitting them a lot harder than a guy his size should be hitting them. He's the type of kid that you have a feeling that if you threw him on the field he would find a way to make ten tackles a game or something like that. He's always around the ball, he's very physical and a very tough kid. I really like him. He's quiet and he's nice, it's all good stuff."

With the large number of returners on the offensive side of the ball there is very little in the way of surprise names popping up. What is surprising is who people are pointing at as improved.

"Ted (Ginn) since the spring has really come on as a top-flight receiver," said Gonzalez.

Ted Ginn

"He's done so much from a physical standpoint in terms of getting more explosive and getting faster and getting stronger which is scary to think about but it's true. On top of that his knowledge of the game has really taken off in the last eight months," Gonzalez said.

If you think its odd to think of a Heisman candidate as a player who has shown recent improvement, think again. Here's what OSU quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Joe Daniels says about another Heisman candidate, Troy Smith.

"I think he continues to improve," said Daniels.

"One of the biggest assets that Troy has and what he brings to the table is his ability to make plays. That's what he's been doing. He really has the ability to make things happen.

Troy Smith

"I think the key was him learning that he could use his athletic ability to buy time to throw the football. I think he had a lot more confidence in his legs. He would go back and make that first read, and if it wasn't there, he knew what he could do with his legs. Sometimes it worked out well and sometimes it didn't but he had confidence in it.

"What he now understands is that he has some weapons, so now lets get the ball to the weapons, the playmakers, now he's one of them and we have to keep that in mind, but he now understands that process a whole lot more," Daniels said.

While there aren't likely to be many surprise names in the starting lineup on offense, there is a rather surprising development at quarterback where Daniels sees not just one, but several quarterbacks who have made great strides this fall.

"I've been really happy with the other quarterbacks," he said.

"I think Justin is really working hard. He has a great attitude and he's working hard. The two young quarterbacks, Robbie Schoenhoft and Todd Boeckman, they've come a million miles, which is what you want to see in young quarterbacks.

"What I like right now is Justin's attitude and his approach to everything. I think that's a very big thing. You can't forget that he's had lot of experience. He's been under fire and been in front of the 105,000 and that's a big plus for him. Those two young kids, Todd and Robby, are really showing progress.

"Todd (Boeckman) to be honest is probably a little bit further ahead (of Schoenhoft) because he's been around (a longer time). I think this is his eighth year here," Daniels laughed, "so he has a little bit better grasp on the offense than Robby does. They have been battling and doing a great job. I've really been happy with their progress. They're pressing Justin."

Though he probably doesn't figure to see playing time this season, Daniels also likes what he sees in incoming freshman quarterback Antonio Henton.

"Antonio Henton is another guy who we've really been happy with," he said.

"We've got to spoon-feed him a little bit simply because he's a freshman. He's just walked in and we're way ahead, but I'll give him credit, he's really a sharp kid. He really has a great idea what's going on. When we're in a quarterback meeting and we quiz him about some things, he's right on, so he's been impressive," Daniels said.

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