This is the 44th in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
We are now just 57 days away from the end of the Big Ten Media Days and the unofficial start of the college football (media) season. You can practically see it on the horizon at this point.
It looks like ants.
In today’s edition of our countdown, we take a look at a Wolverine killer, an old face in a new place, the biggest of big-play Buckeyes, and a matchup in The Game featuring two of the biggest playmakers in the Big Ten.
If you missed yesterday’s edition of the countdown, you’ll want to fix that by reading it here.
Now please join us as we continue our countdown of the 100 greatest Buckeyes of The Ozone era (1996-present).
We will also preview one of the 100 most exciting games on this fall’s college football schedule, and one of the 100 things we’re most looking forward to this fall.
Plus, we’ll preview one of this season’s 100 biggest personnel matchups.
Greatest Buckeyes Of The Ozone Era
#57 Anthony Gonzalez
As my memory recollects, back in 2001, my brother and I had planned to go to the Rubber Bowl in Akron to see Massillon and Justin Zwick against Maurice Clarett and Warren Harding in the state semifinals. It would have been a great plan, except Harding was beaten the previous week Cleveland St. Ignatius and some dude named Tony Gonzalez.
We still went to the game to see Zwick and his receiver (and future Buckeye) Devin Jordan, but it was the junior Gonzalez who was the best player on the field. Offensively, defensively, he stood out everywhere. I think the rumors were that he was going to be a Michigan Wolverine. Obviously, he turned out to be a Buckeye, signing in the 2003 class with just 14 other players.
Gonzalez redshirted as a true freshman as the staff tried to decide offense or defensive for him. He didn’t play much in 2004, either, but did get an uptick in playing time when Troy Smith was inserted into the lineup midway through the season. Heading into the Michigan game that year, Gonzalez had five catches for 79 yards on the season. Against the Wolverines, he had two catches for 77 yards and a touchdown — including the tone-setting 68-yarder on the game’s first drive.
It would not be the last dagger he put into the Wolverines’ hearts.
One year later, in Ann Arbor, with 47 seconds remaining on the clock and the Buckeyes down 21-19, quarterback Troy Smith dropped back, escaped pressure, and heaved it downfield to Gonzalez for a first down at the Wolverines’ 4-yard line. Two plays later, running back Antonio Pittman punched it in for the game winner. Gonzalez finished with four catches for 75 yards.
In 2006, Gonzalez contributed four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown against No. 2 Michigan in arguably the greatest game in the history of The Game.
That’s not a bad legacy.
Gonzalez was also an Academic All-American in 2006, Academic All-Big Ten from 2004-2006, and was eventually selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Gonzalez is now a congressional candidate.
Best Games This Fall
#57 LSU at Arkansas
Ah yes, let’s talk some more about Joe Burrow. Unfortunately, he may not even play in this game. Why? Because one week before this game kicks off, LSU plays Alabama. Of course, if the Tigers can beat the Tide in Death Valley on the arm and legs of Joe Burrow, well now you’re looking at a Heisman candidate heading onto the road for the first time in over a month.
Whatever the LSU offense is going to look like next year, they should be settled by the time this game happens in early November. The same can be said for the Arkansas team under new coach Chad Morris as well. The Razorbacks return most of their starting defense from last year, and if Burrow is as good as some Buckeye fans think he is, they’ll need every last stitch of defensive help to have any hopes of containing him.
If LSU does beat Alabama, then this becomes a huge trap game for the Tigers. In fact, you can chalk it up as a loss right now.
But it will still be fun to see how it happens.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#57 Ohio State’s Home Run Hitters
In honor of the Buckeye baseball team making the NCAA Tournament yesterday, I thought it would be fitting to mention the Ohio State football team’s home run hitters, and there’s a few of them.
J.K. Dobbins has worked to improve his stamina, which will allow those warning track shots to find the sixth or seventh row this year. Mike Weber showed glimpses of what he can be when he is healthy, so expect him to provide a heavy bat in the middle of the lineup. Parris Campbell will be in the three hole for the Buckeyes, and if Dobbins is on base, defenses won’t be able to pitch around him.
Expect more power from Johnnie Dixon and Terry McLaurin this year as well. There’s also no reason Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor can’t get their cuts as well. Demario McCall will be the rare pinch-hitter in the Home Run Derby this year. The same could be said for Tate Martell.
And don’t forget about the September call ups like Kamryn Babb, Chris Olave, Jaelen Gill, Master Teague, and Brian Snead.
Matchup To Watch
#57 Khaleke Hudson, MICH SLB vs. Parris Campbell
This is a matchup between two members of the All-Big Ten third team as chosen by the conference coaches last year.
Michigan Sam linebacker Khaleke Hudson had 82 tackles last season, and his 8.0 sacks were good for third in the conference and tops among linebackers. He had 18.0 tackles for loss, which was good for second in the Big Ten behind teammate Chase Winovich’s 18.5.
If you want a comparison, here is the stat line for Hudson last year compared to 2016 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jabrill Peppers, whose linebacker position Hudson took over.
2016: Peppers 71 tackles (38th in B1G), 3.5 sacks (38th in B1G), 15.0 TFLs (5th in B1G), 1 INT, 0 PBUs, 1 FF.
2017: Hudson 82 tackles (20th), 8.0 sacks (3rd), 18.0 TFLs (2nd), 2 INTs, 9 PBUs, 2 FF.
Hudson will find himself in the slot frequently this season, which is also where Parris Campbell will be for the Buckeyes. Will he mirror Campbell on jet sweeps? Will he follow him on mesh routes? Will he be able to keep up with arguably the fastest player in the Big Ten?
Last season, Campbell finished second in the Big Ten with five plays of 50 yards or more. Penn State running back Saquon Barkley led the conference with eight, and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor had five like Campbell. On average, Barkley hit a 50-yarder every 36 touches, Taylor did it every 61 touches, and Campbell did it every 12 touches.
Will Hudson be able to keep up?
