Buckeyes Preview 10/6/17: Maryland Terrapins @ Ohio State

By Jason Disantis, @JasonInCLE


The J.T. Barrett led Buckeyes put together their most complete game of the season as they pounded Rutgers 56-0. This was the second year in a row the Silver Bullets pitched a shutout against the Scarlet Knights who have lost the last two years to the Buckeyes by a total of 114-0.

Barrett, who threw three touchdown passes, tallied 286 yards through the air making him Ohio State’s career passing yardage leader.

“I think it’s a tremendous honor,” Barrett said on his record. “I came to Ohio State, I always wanted to be a quarterback there, and win football games and be productive. This is a great honor and I’m just going to focus on winning football games.”

Northeast Ohio product Demario McCall led the Buckeyes in rushing, taking full advantage of his opportunity, with 103 yards and a touchdown on eleven carries. McCall also did some damage in the passing game with a 35 yard touchdown catch.

Mike Weber made the most of his carries piling up a career-highthree touchdowns while J.K. Dobbins only got six carries in a game that got out of hand quickly for Rutgers and allowed the Buckeyes to get others involved.

The tenth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) enter this Saturday as another heavy favorite as the Maryland Terrapins (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) come to Columbus.

The Terrapins opened the 2017 campaign with a big upset on the road against #23 Texas and are coming off a 31-24 road win in their Big Ten opener against Minnesota.

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer knows that this Terrapin team isn’t the same one the Buckeyes rolled over 62-3 last year.

“Playing a very good Maryland team that beat Texas,” Meyer said. “And came back with their third-string quarterback and really looked much improved against Minnesota. A very good team.”

That third-string quarterback is Max Bortenschlager, a sophomore who will now lead the Terrapins the rest of the year after season-ending knee injuries to Tyrrell Pigrome and KasimHill.

“I’m feeling good after the win, but that only lasts so long,” said Bortenschlager. “Just have to look forward to this week and just have to build off last week.”

Inadvertently, Buckeye quarterback Dwayne Haskins played a big part of Bortenschlager getting to Maryland. When Haskins, who was a local kid originally committed to Maryland, flipped to Ohio State a scholarship opened up. Bortenschlager, who was committed to Buffalo at the time, was convinced by Maryland offensive coordinator Walt Bell to come to the Terrapins. While Bortenschlager isn’t as flashy and Pigrome and Hill, he’s steady, plays within himself, and knows what his coaches need from the quarterback position.

In Maryland's win against Minnesota Bortenschlager attempted just two throws of 20 yards or more and ended with only 154 yards passing. But he also threw two touchdowns and did not throw an interception.

“I think he was confident and comfortable with the game plan,” Maryland coach DJ Durkin said. “That’s Max. He’s the same guy. He’s got a quiet confidence about him, and he went out and played that way.”

Helping take the pressure off of Bortenschlager is running back Ty Johnson whose 34 yard touchdown run put the Terrapins ahead of Minnesota with a 1:10 left last week. Johnson, who leads Maryland in rushing with 411 yards on the year, totaled 130 against the Gophers to go along with what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.



The Buckeyes defense will also have to lock down the Terrapins leading receiver D.J. Moore.

Moore had a big game against Minnesota with eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Moore has 30 receptions on the year to go along with 403 yards and five touchdowns.

Durkin, a former assistant coach for Urban Meyer, knows the task is tall for the Terrapins. Maryland will have to try and stop the No. 5 total yardage and 11th ranked scoring offense in the nation. Add to that the problem of trying to rack up points against the No. 16 scoring defense and it could prove to be a long day for the Terrapins. But Durkin knows that the bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable opportunity this weekend,” Durkin said. “This is a great football team that we’re playing, and I mean that -- great.”



What: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins
When: Saturday October 7, 2017 at 4:00 PM ET
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus Ohio
Watch: FOX
Spread: OSU -30.5
Over/Under: 60
Money Line: OSU -12500, Maryland +5000

Buckeyes Preview: Ohio State vs. Bowling Green

By Jason Disantis, @JasonInCLE

After a bitter sweet end to the 2015 season the Ohio State Buckeyes are back with a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball to try and contend for a Big Ten and National Championship.  Last season ended with a historically talented team beating Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.  The Buckeyes then went on to dominate the NFL draft by having two players picked in the top 5, three more picked in the top 20, another 5 in the next two rounds, and 12 players total for the whole draft.  With all of that success comes many questions as to whether or not the youth of this football team can grow up quick enough to keep the Buckeyes in the National Championship hunt.  Here are 5 players to keep your eyes on this season, beginning with Saturdays battle against the Falcons of Bowling Green State.

1.  J.T. Barrett
With Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones moving on to the NFL the quarterback position is all J.T. Barrett's.  Barrett had his ups and downs last season but eventually settled in as the starter for the Buckeyes, but never reached his 2014 form.  J.T. is one of the few veterans on this team and thankfully for the Buckeyes it comes at the most important position on the field.

If Barrett can play like he did in 2014 not only can he keep the Buckeyes in the playoff hunt, he will put himself in the Heisman discussion.  Despite everything J.T. brings to the table physically, the skill that might be the most important this year is his leadership.  With 12 players moving on to the NFL including offensive stars Zeke Elliot, Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett will have to lead a group of talented young players through this season with minimal mistakes if the Buckeyes want to find themselves back in the playoff.

2.  Raekwon McMillan
The defense will be anchored this year by middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan.  The third year standout from Georgia is coming off of a 119 tackle season and looking to solidify his stock as the top middle linebacker in next years draft (if he decides to enter).  McMillan is everything you look for at his position and with Joey Bosa, Von Bell, Eli Apple and Darren Lee all leaving for the NFL, Raekwon will have to lead this young, but talented, Buckeyes defense.

3.  Mike Weber
Mike Weber has some of the biggest shoes to fill this season.  He will be taking over for the number 4 pick in the draft and Buckeye fan favorite Ezekiel Elliot.  Originally thought to be splitting time with Bri'onte Dunn, the running back from Michigan now has been named the starter after Dunn was dismissed from the team for domestic violence.  At 5'10 and 215 pounds he fits the build for what you are looking for in a running back.  The Buckeyes have a lot of young talented players on offense and although Weber was named the starter, don't expect the redshirt freshman to immediately have the workload, or success of Zeke.  

4.  Tyquan Lewis/Sam Hubbard
Although Joey Bosa got most of the attention at defensive end, Tyquan Lewis was able to make a name for himself as a pass rusher.  Lewis took advantage of Bosa being the center of attention last year with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss.  Things will be tougher for Lewis this year with Bosa gone but that is something he is going to have to get used to if he wants the same accolades.

Sam Hubbard will be on the other side of Tyquan Lewis.  In a rotation roll last year he found the quarterback 6.5 times with eight tackles for loss.  Recruited to be a linebacker, the former lacrosse standout was also used and tight end in practice before the coaching staff decided to move him to the defensive line.  Now at 6'6 and 265 pounds he mixes athleticism with size and speed that you will not find in many others at his position.  Don't be surprised if sacks and TFL's double this year.

5.  Curtis Samuel
Curtis Samuel was the recipient of quite an honor from coach Urban Meyer last week.  "I think he's our No. 1 playmaker on offense right now," Meyer said.  The do-it-all H-back has the skills to give defenses headaches at running back, wide receiver, and anywhere else Meyer may want to line him up.  Despite the high praise from Meyer, Samuel will most likely split time with often injured but dynamite senior Dontre Wilson at the hybrid position.

These are just 5 player/positions I have highlighted but this team is filled with young dynamic athletes who, if they can learn on the fly, have the ability to put the Buckeyes back in the National Championship playoff.  With a tough road test against the Oklahoma Sooners early in the year, these Buckeyes will have to grow up quick.  If they can get past Oklahoma they have a great chance to run the table until a showdown against Michigan at the end of the year.


What:  Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Bowling Green State Falcons
When: Saturday September 3, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where:  Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Watch:  Big Ten Network
Line:  OSU -28, O/U 64