This is the 56th in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
Today is Sunday. Your day of rest. And you’ve earned it. Last night was a doozy. That’s the last time you let anybody convince you that you can make pizza rolls in the toaster.
The official schedule for the Big Ten Football Media Days came out late last week. The Buckeyes will be speaking on day two, which — if we did our math correctly — will coincide with the 100th edition of this here series.
I love it when a plan comes together. Assuming it comes together.
In today’s edition, we will take a look back at an Ohio State record holder, the Garfunkel and Oates of the SEC West, a freshman quarterback in the Big Ten East, and a matchup between a Michigan corner and a Buckeye receiver.
If you missed yesterday’s edition, you’ll want to remedy 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
#45 Michael Jenkins, 2000-2003
Before there was Holy Buckeye, there was Michael Jenkins paying his dues.
As a true freshman in 2000, Jenkins played in every game for the Buckeyes, but did not catch a pass or secure a tackle.
Things would change for him the following year when Jim Tressel took over.
Jenkins once again played in all 12 games for OSU, but this time he started each one of those games, and led the Buckeyes with 49 catches for 988 yards. He had four 100-yard receiving games that year (Akron, Penn State, Illinois, and South Carolina).
As a junior in 2002, he once again led the Buckeyes in receiving, catching 61 passes for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came from 37 yards out on fourth-and-1 at Purdue.
In 2003, Jenkins led the Buckeyes in receiving for a third year in a row. This time he went for 55 receptions and 834 yards, with seven touchdowns. He was a captain and was also named team MVP after the season.
Michael Jenkins was never named All-Big Ten for his performances, but he remains Ohio State’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,898). His 10 100-yard receiving games is second all time to David Boston’s 14, and his 165 career catches is third all time behind Boston (191) and Cris Carter (168).
He is one of just four Ohio State receivers to ever have a 1,000-yard season and he remains the last Buckeye to do it.
Best Games This Fall
#45 Auburn at Mississippi State
Four weeks after they play Alabama State and six weeks before they play Liberty, the Auburn Tigers will head to Mississippi State for an SEC West showdown.
Both teams play at Alabama this year, so this game could be for second place in the division. Though, as Alabama showed last year, second place is all you need!
The Bulldogs have a new head coach in Joe Moorhead, but former coach Dan Mullen left quite a bit to work with. At least offensively.
The player here to watch is Heisman candidate Nick Fitzgerald at quarterback for Mississippi State. He can run and he can throw, and he’ll pose a problem all game long for the Auburn defense.
The Tigers, meanwhile, return plenty as well. It begins with quarterback Jarrett Stidham and a group of a talented receivers, and it ends with a front seven that returns mostly intact after finishing 14th in the nation in total defense last year.
It’s gonna be a good one.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#45 Artur Sitkowski and the Rutgers Offense
A New Jersey native, Rutgers’ true freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski spent his senior season of high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He was originally committed to Miami, and also had offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, LSU, UCLA, and others.
Sitkowski enrolled early and was the star of the Rutgers spring game back in April, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He may win the starting job in fall camp, but if he doesn’t, it may not be too many games into the season before head coach Chris Ash eventually gives way and moves forward with the quarterback that everyone views as the future of the program.
At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he is a tall pocket passer with a very strong arm. He has the ability to open up the passing game for the Scarlet Knights. There will be ups and downs if they do go with him, but this should be the beginning of something pretty good for the Rutgers football program.
Matchup To Watch
#45 Lavert Hill, MICH CB vs. Binjimen Victor
Junior Lavert Hill is arguably Michigan’s best cornerback, but at 5-foot-11, he could be at a disadvantage against taller receivers.
Ohio State junior receiver Binjimen Victor is one such receiver. At 6-foot-4, Victor is a difficult matchup for cornerbacks, as evidenced by his seven touchdowns in just 23 receptions last season.
Hill and the rest of his Wolverine teammates didn’t have any issues with Victor last year, as he went without a catch. J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins each threw to him once in the game. He dropped the pass from Barrett — with Hill in coverage, and the pass from Haskins was uncatchable.
The Buckeyes were able to secure the win without Victor making a contribution. Don’t expect that to happen again, however. If Victor is going to take the step forward that his coaches and teammates are expecting, then he should be a difficult matchup each time he and Lavert Hill meet up against each other this year.