This is the 51st in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
We have reached the peak, and are now beginning our descent down the final 50 days of this countdown.
It has been an amazing seven weeks, but it is going to pale in comparison to the next seven weeks.
(I don’t know if this is true, but I needed more words for the intro.)
In today’s countdown, we talk about one of the great defensive ends in Ohio State football history, a rematch from a great game in 2017, the end — or continuation — of an era, and an early-season matchup at Jerry World.
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
#50 Vernon Gholston, 2004-2007
Vernon Gholston was one of two Top 10 NFL Draft picks in Ohio State’s 2004 class. He was selected sixth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, while teammate Ted Ginn was selected ninth overall by the Miami Dolphins one year earlier.
The two players, however, had much different beginnings. While Ginn emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the nation as a true freshman, Gholston was a little-used rookie from Detroit. He played in six games and didn’t register a tackle.
As a sophomore, he improved significantly and battled for a starting spot, but a broken hand in the season opener ended his season. He could have gotten back on the field later in the season, but Jim Tressel opted to use a redshirt.
It was in 2006, then, that people got their first really good look at Vernon Gholston. He started all 13 games and earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors with 15 tackles for loss, 49 tackles, and 8.5 sacks.
As a fourth-year junior in 2007, Gholston set an Ohio State record with 14 sacks. Interestingly, those 14 sacks came in just seven games that year. He had a 4-sack game against Wisconsin, then two weeks later he dropped three sacks on Chad Henne and Michigan. He was named a First-Team All-American following the season.
His 22.5 career sacks are still good for seventh in school history.
Best Games This Fall
#50 USC at Texas
This is a rematch of a 2017 classic from week three last year. Trailing USC 14-10 late in the fourth quarter, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger — a true freshman — led the Longhorns down the field and found Armant Foreman for a 17-yard touchdown with 45 seconds to play. That also meant 45 seconds left for USC quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold took the Trojans on an 8-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. With USC having the momentum at home, they went on to score on their very first play of overtime. Texas managed to score four plays later.
The Longhorns took the ball down to the 3-yard line on their next possession, but Ehlinger would fumble the ball away. USC kicked a field goal a few plays later for the win.
Needless to say, Ehlinger wants another shot, especially at home. This game takes place in week three, so the Trojans will have a couple of games with which to solidify their offensive situation with Darnold now off to the NFL.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#50 Bill Snyder’s Abrupt Retirement
There is a segment of the college football population that believes Bill Snyder is going to retire right around the start of the season because he wants his son Sean to be the next head coach at Kansas State. The reason Bill — who will turn 79 during the season — would have to pull a stunt like this is because the rest of the KSU brass isn’t sold on Sean Snyder as the next man in charge.
We’ve seen what happens when Kansas State brings in the wrong head coach, as they did with Ron Prince (and everybody before Bill Snyder.) Maybe Sean is the perfect man for the job because he a) wants it; b) has reportedly been running quite a bit of the program behind the scenes; and c) he’s easy to blame if things go wrong.
Is Sean Snyder the man for the job? Who knows, but this is a Kansas State program that does well with the status quo. All you have to do is bring in a bunch of JUCOs and play a bunch of non-conference patsies, and you’ve got yourself a pretty good shot at a bowl game.
Matchup To Watch
#50 Shawn Robinson, TCU QB vs. Justin Hilliard
Shawn Robinson played in six games as a true freshman for TCU last year. He actually started in the 27-3 win at Texas Tech, but completed just 6-of-17 passes for 85 yards. He did rush for 84 yards on 10 carries, however.
Robinson was the No. 6 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class, which gives you an idea of the potential he will bring with him to Jerry World. He still has to win the job, though.
Speaking of needing to win the job, this game takes place the third week of the season, which means that Tuf Borland may or may not be back at middle linebacker for the Buckeyes. If he isn’t, then it will be either Justin Hilliard or Baron Browning. As of this writing, I expect Hilliard to hold it down, while also trying to track down Shawn Robinson.
Whoever is at middle linebacker for the Buckeyes will have their hands full with TCU’s spread, which will only be made more dangerous by Robinson’s ability to escape from trouble and create new life.
