For Buckeyes, the best is yet to come: Ginn turns electricity into consistency

With Santonio Holmes headed to the NFL, Ginn must step up this season.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ted Ginn Jr. has had two terrific years at Ohio State.
According to those who see him on a daily basis, the best is yet to come.
"Not only is it possible, in my opinion he's going to go past the expectations," fellow Buckeyes wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez said Tuesday, four days into Ohio State's spring practice schedule. "He's playing so well right now. Teddy, he's going to be better than anybody thinks."
Ginn has produced a lot of SportsCenter-quality highlights in two seasons, but has remained somewhat in the shadow of the Buckeyes' acknowledged top receiver, Santonio Holmes. Now that Holmes has given up his final year of eligibility to enter the pro draft, Ginn has grown, right before everyone's eyes.
"There's a major difference in his receiver play," receivers coach Darrell Hazell said. "He's understanding things a whole lot better. I think he was kind of sitting in the wings a little bit last year. Now he's stepped out and he's making a lot of plays."
Ginn was so spectacular as a freshman that many looked at his stats a year ago (51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs; one kickoff return TD; one punt return TD) and thought he had a bad season. One reason why many thought Ginn regressed a year ago might have been because he didn't influence as many games as he did in his first year, when his four punt return touchdowns set Ohio State and Big Ten records.
But that's not really fair.
More consistent
He replaced flash with consistency, turning into more than a one-catch-a-game deep threat. As the season progressed, quarterback Troy Smith looked for Ginn more often on important pass plays in Ohio State's 10-2 season last fall.
"I just look at it as a guy out there playing receiver," said Ginn, who's added five pounds and now is 6-foot and 180 pounds. "I can be a possession [receiver], I can be a big-play [receiver]. It really doesn't matter."
Now Ginn is being mentioned as one of the early front-runners for the Heisman Trophy. He doesn't back away from that talk.
"It'd be a great honor to win that award," he said. "But I'm not going to set my whole season on the Heisman. I'm going to set my whole season on playing hard ... and getting better every game."
With Holmes gone, more will be expected of Ginn. Holmes was Smith's primary target, catching 53 passes for 977 yards (2.7 yards more per catch than Ginn) with 11 touchdowns.
Hazell believes that Ginn has shown he accepts the added responsibility. He said Ginn is asking more questions and showing more leadership in spring workouts.
"I just feel more relaxed, more calm," Ginn said.
His teammates say that those who don't see Ginn in action until the Buckeyes' Sept. 2 opener against Northern Illinois won't recognize the new Ginn.
"I guess people won't see it until we get the season started, but I'm telling you: Be ready," Gonzalez said. "Be ready. He's going to have a heck of a year."