Clarett expects to start for OSU

The freshman running back has played sparingly with nerve damage in his left shoulder.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois coach Ron Turner knows enough about Maurice Clarett to know he'd rather see the Ohio State running back on the sidelines and out of uniform this weekend.
Turner isn't likely to get his wish.
Clarett, used sparingly the last three weeks because of nerve damage in his left shoulder, is expected to start Saturday for second-ranked Ohio State (11-0, 6-0 Big Ten).
Even with the injury, Clarett is a major concern for Illinois (4-6, 3-3), whose defense has struggled against the run and is giving up 197 yards rushing a game.
Deserves the hype
So how much time has Turner spent preparing for Clarett?
"Too much. Too much to allow me to get some sleep," he said. "He's a great player. He's not played like a freshman. He's big, physical, instinctive -- really a terrific football player.
"All the hype he's getting is well deserved."
Clarett, who rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns in Ohio State's opener, generated Heisman Trophy talk early in the season.
That ended with the injury, which has limited Clarett to 18 carries for 91 yards rushing over the last three games.
Clarett concedes he hasn't been the same since. The freshman who was plowing over defenders early in the season says he's had to abandon that bruising style of running, at least for now.
"I'm going to have to if I'm going to last," Clarett said. "The remainder of the season, I'm going to have to choose different ways to fall, not play as aggressive in certain situations."
That hasn't be easy for Clarett.
Must avoid contact
The 6-foot, 230-pound running back had an operation after the fourth game of the season to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Instead of taking it easy, he scored three touchdowns and rushed for 104 yards the next game despite having his knee stitched up at halftime after the incision opened up and began bleeding.
"It's real difficult because when I get into the game I try to run over people or get some contact in," Clarett said.
With Clarett limited, Ohio State has looked vulnerable.
The Buckeyes sneaked by Penn State 13-7 when Clarett was forced to leave the game with the shoulder injury.
Last week against Purdue, the Buckeyes trailed by three points late in the fourth quarter and faced fourth-and-1 at the Purdue 37-yard line. Instead of handing the ball off to Clarett, quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a wobbly pass Michael Jenkins caught for the game-wining score with 1:36 remaining.
Clarett had 52 yards rushing on 14 carries against Purdue, and he hasn't had a touchdown in more than a month after scoring 15 in the team's first seven games.
Krenzel refuses to blame the offense's woes on Clarett.
"I don't feel that it's as much Maurice as just us executing," he said. "Maurice brings a definite element to our offense, but at the same time our lack of execution or lack of putting points on the board isn't due to him not being healthy."
Healthy or not, the Buckeye keep winning.
With Clarett spending as much time on the sideline as on the field, Ohio State has managed to stay in games by keeping the scoring down. The Buckeyes are giving up a conference-best 12 points a game while allowing just 77 yards rushing.
Still, their recent struggles haven't gone unnoticed.
"They're still a good team and we're going to have to bring our A-game to beat them," Illinois receiver Walter Young said. "But we're not scared of any team we play. They're no different."