This is the 43rd in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
I was at a seminar on Saturday as a keynote speaker on how to write the perfect intro to any piece of writing, big or small.
One of the chunks of advice that I gave to those six people was that it doesn’t matter what you say, so long as you say it and it’s not too many words.
“Remember,” I said, “this is just an intro. It’s like an on-ramp. There’s no reason to treat it like the highway.”
During the question-and-answer portion, I had a custodian ask me to help put the chairs back.
If you missed yesterday’s countdown, I would recommend remedying that egregious error, which you can do 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
#58 Matt Wilhelm, 1999-2002
Matt Wilhelm came to Ohio State from Elyria Catholic and was part of a 1999 recruiting class featuring the likes of Craig Krenzel, Mike Doss, Tim Anderson, Ben Hartsock, and Richard McNutt.
Wilhelm played in 11 of 12 games as a true freshman in 1999, but won the starting middle linebacker job as a sophomore in 2000. He finished fourth on the team with 66 tackles. He tied defensive end Brent Johnson with 15.0 tackles for loss, however. He started once again in 2001, but missed some time due to injury. This time he finished third on the team with 63 tackles and finished fifth with 7.0 tackles for loss.
As a senior in 2002, Wilhelm led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles, including 15 against Michigan and 10 against Miami in the BCS National Championship Game. His 19.5 tackles for loss were seven more than any other Buckeye, with three of those TFLs coming against the Hurricanes.
Also in that national title game, Wilhelm knocked Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey from the game in a red zone situation in double-overtime. Even bigger than that hit was his deflection on Dorsey’s final pass, ending the game and securing Ohio State’s first national title since 1968 (or 1970).
Wilhelm was named a First-Team All-American as a senior.
Best Games This Fall
#58 Texas at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State won 13-10 in overtime in Austin last year in the most unlikely overtime score involving an Oklahoma State team in galactic history.
The Big XII is wide open this year, especially if Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray heads to the MLB, which is a distinct possibility. Whoever wins this game could have an edge in the standings prior to the final four weeks of the season.
Both teams will have bye weeks prior to the game, so there will be plenty of preparation, but will there be timing issues?
This game takes place on October 27, so the Pokes should have their quarterback situation settled by then. Since Texas has two “experienced” starters, they may not ever get settled.
I would not expect this game to finish with 23 total points scored.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#58 The Badger Offense
Wisconsin’s offense returns 10 starters, with some of those starters in very close competitions to keep their respective jobs. Running back Jonathan Taylor is back, as is quarterback Alex Hornibrook and five offensive linemen with starting experience. They will need to find a left tackle, but this being Wisconsin, they have options. Throw in tight ends with experience and you have a typical Wisconsin offense that will be a pain for most defenses to handle.
What is going to set this Badger offense apart from past offenses, however, is a group of receivers as deep and talented as Wisconsin has had in many years.
Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor were productive freshmen a year ago, and Quintez Cephus and A.J. Taylor had promising sophomore seasons. Together, the four of them combined for around 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Another year of improvement should make Alex Hornibrook a more accurate quarterback. With so few starters returning on defense this year, he may have to lead the Badgers to a few shootouts this season.
Matchup To Watch
#58 Trace McSorley, PSU QB vs. Chase Young
Kids in Ohio grow up imagining having a walk-off sack against Penn State, and probably so do kids who grew up in Maryland like Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley is the odds-on favorite to win the Silver Football this year, and the Buckeyes would have no problem with him winning the award, provided he doesn’t win it against them. Attempting to make sure that never happens, Chase Young is going to have his sights set on McSorley on first, second, third, and fourth down. And if there’s a fifth down invented between now and then, he’ll be eyeballing McSorley then too.
McSorley is a quarterback that can escape, so when a pass rush comes from the edge, the defender also needs to worry about containment. With Penn State returning their starting offensive tackles, Young is going to face off against experienced Nittany Lions every step of the way.
He can set the tone for the Buckeyes in this game, or he can take himself completely out of the play with an undisciplined pass rush.
As one of the most dynamic players in the conference, McSorley excels at making defenders pay for their mistakes. He also gives his receivers time to get away from the secondary. Chase Young needs to eliminate that time. If he does, the Buckeyes are going to have a good night in Happy Valley.
“One of the chunks of advice that I gave to those six people was that it doesn’t matter what you say, so long as you say it and it’s not too many words.
“Remember,” I said, “this is just an intro. It’s like an on-ramp. There’s no reason to treat it like the highway.”
During the question-and-answer portion, I had a custodian ask me to help put the chairs back.”
Very funny
I have Wilhelm as #56