OHIO STATE Leaner linemen shape up for season

The Buckeyes' offensive line started trimming down prior to the Fiesta Bowl.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Forget all those trendy ways of losing weight.
"I'm on the Chipotle diet," Ohio State offensive tackle Adrien Clarke said with a wide grin, referring to a fast-food burrito restaurant. "I ain't on the Slim-Fast diet."
Whatever the regimen -- going with tomatillo salsa and staying away from sour cream? -- it's working for Clarke and the rest of his teammates on the front wall.
The Buckeyes linemen surprised many of their teammates by shedding weight and toning up between edging Michigan in last year's regular season finale and then getting past Miami six weeks later in the Fiesta Bowl.
They felt so good and played so well that they've continued their "losing" ways during the Buckeyes summer workouts leading up to the opener Aug. 30 against Washington.
Benefits
Tackle Shane Olivea said it's just common sense.
"Throughout the season, injuries can sometimes be prevented if you're in better shape," Olivea said. "We took it as a line that we want to get in shape and get more fit. That's what we did for the bowl game. We lost something like 75 pounds as an offensive line from the Michigan game to the Fiesta Bowl."
Coach Jim Tressel and his staff noticed the difference.
"I was really proud of the way they made a major step," he said. "They had a good winter and spring and their summer has been excellent. They're veterans and they have a lot of pride in themselves. They want to play better than they've ever played."
Incentive
Clarke said the linemen had plenty of incentive. He said he heard snide comments about his bulging gut from reporters and assistant coaches.
"You guys knew I was heavy because I heard about it all the time," he said.
Clarke's body may have more definition, but his math remains fuzzy. He said he lost 40-45 pounds and that he was 365 pounds at his heaviest. Yet he says his current weight is 335.
"I'm about 335," he laughed, explaining away the discrepancy. "That's close enough."
Center Alex Stepanovich looks to his left, then to his right, and said he's impressed with the dedication his teammates have shown not only on the field but also at the buffet line.
"We might be a little better athletically -- a little quicker, a little stronger," he said.
Possible side effect
The linemen might also be a little bit feistier. During an intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday, Clarke tangled with defensive lineman Tim Anderson. Clarke said later that he and Anderson were friends and that it was just a "heat of battle moment."