This is the 55th in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
Twelve Saturdays from today you will be watching Ohio State football, but that’s a boring countdown. The more apt countdown is the one that you have now been a part of for 55 days. We are now just 46 days away from the Big Ten Media Days wrapping up, and I’m sure your family has grown tired of asking you about it every day.
When we started the countdown, gas was $1.29 a gallon. Movies only cost a dollar. LeBron was still a Cleveland Cavalier. It’s crazy.
Anyway, in today’s countdown we look at one of the most complete defenders in Ohio State history, a matchup of Bracket Busters, a secondary problem for the Buckeyes, and the kind of deja vu that nobody in the Scarlet and Gray wants.
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
#46 Nate Clements, 1998-2000
Nate Clements came to the Ohio State football program from beautiful Shaker Heights, Ohio. He played quite a bit as a freshman in 1998, helping the Buckeyes with six tackles in their first win over Michigan since 1994.
As a sophomore, Clements earned a starting cornerback job alongside Ahmed Plummer. Clements finished second on the team with 90 tackles, which was 15 more than Antoine Winfield managed the year before.
In 2000 as a junior, he finished third on the team with 68 tackles, and also intercepted four passes and broke up nine others. He also averaged 13.2 yards per punt return on his 39 returns, with a touchdown of 83 yards.
His 513 punt return yards in 2000 were the second-most in school history.
Clements was selected in the first round (21st) by the Buffalo Bills.
Best Games This Fall
#46 Toledo at Fresno State
Fresno State returns a bunch of offense and a whole lot of defense. The Bulldogs return their quarterback, running back, a pair of receivers, most of their offensive line, and their entire back seven. This is almost the same team that went 10-4 last year.
Toledo did Fresno State one better last year, going 11-3 with a MAC Championship to their credit.
The Rockets, however, have to replace their starting backfield. While they lose 1,300-yard running back Terry Swanson, they do return two other running backs who combined for 1,300 yards of their own.
Toledo also has plenty of receiver talent to help out whichever quarterback wins the job.
This game takes place September 29, with Fresno State coming in off of a bye week.
The Bulldogs have non-conference games against Toledo and Idaho at home, but must travel to Minnesota and UCLA. If they can get wins in their two road games, they could be looking at an undefeated season.
The Rockets, meanwhile, will have been tested two weeks earlier when they host the Miami Hurricanes.
Yes, I said “host.”
If Toledo can get past Miami, buzz will build for both Toledo and this game.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#46 The Michigan Secondary
The Wolverines may have the best cornerback duo in the Big Ten, and they could possibly grow to become the best duo in the nation. Juniors David Long and Lavert Hill started last year and should be better this year. Hill was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection last year by the coaches, while Long was an Honorable Mention selection by the Media. They both fit Don Brown’s aggressive defense. Talented sophomore Ambry Thomas could emerge as the No. 3 corner this year over senior Brandon Watson.
Starting safeties Tyree Kinnell and Josh Metellus also return, and while they weren’t perfect, they were consistent. They are veterans now and will be able to do more of what Brown needs.
With the effectiveness of the pass rush from the front seven, the Michigan secondary won’t need to defend as long as most defenses, which only makes them more effective.
Don Brown has been Michigan’s defensive coordinator for two seasons, and in those two seasons the Wolverines have yet to give up 300 yards passing in a game. In fact, in those 26 games over the last two years, Michigan has only given up five 200-yard passing games.
Matchup To Watch
#46 Shareef Miller, PSU DE vs. Isaiah Prince
We’re going back to the scene of the crime for Ohio State right tackle Isaiah Prince. Prince was a major part of OSU giving up six sacks the last time they played a game in Happy Valley. Things went much better for the Buckeyes last year against the Nittany Lions when they gave up just two sacks, but everyone is going to talk about Prince and his 2016 performance when this game comes around.
Prince is ready for those conversations, but he’ll need to be more ready for junior defensive end Shareef Miller, who led Penn State with five sacks last season. Those numbers may not jump out at you, but Miller had five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack last year against the Buckeyes.
Much more is expected this year — of both players.
Beaver Stadium is going to be the most difficult environment of the year for the Buckeyes. If Isaiah Prince can hold up his side of the line against Shareef Miller, then Ohio State’s chances of leaving with a victory go up considerably.