OSU LB Moeller may miss season

He reportedly had a seizure after suffering a serious head injury in a bar.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The annual ritual of Ohio State football players reporting for preseason camp was marred by the news Sunday that one player likely is out for the season because of a serious head injury.

Linebacker Tyler Moeller remained hospitalized last night in fair condition at OSU Medical Center. Team sources said Moeller suffered the injury in July during a trip to Florida, when his head hit the floor. Some reports have said Moeller, 21, was punched in a bar.

Moeller was not immediately hospitalized. He returned to Ohio last week, and apparently suffered a seizure several days ago.

Details of Moeller’s treatment are unclear, but sources say the normal recovery time for such an injury is two to three months, and it could be longer than that before he is cleared to play football.

Calls to Moeller’s family were not returned.

Adding to the negativity yesterday was the fact that defensive end Robert Rose and receiver Ray Small did not report to camp, likely for academic reasons.

Tellingly, OSU is only holding two roster spots open, apparently for Rose and Small. The NCAA allows teams to have 105 players in preseason camp, and 103 reported yesterday.

Once the 105-man roster is set, no one can be added until after the first game.

Moeller is a fourth-year junior from Cincinnati who was expected to play a prominent role this season. In spring practice, he was listed as the starting strongside linebacker.

In his first career start last year at Illinois, he recorded seven tackles, including two for loss, and forced a fumble.

He redshirted as a true freshman in 2006, but it’s possible he could gain a sixth year of eligibility through a medical redshirt.

Last week, Dispatch sources said Rose was struggling to remain academically eligible. He declined comment when approached at a charity function, but indicated he would be with the team soon.

Rose likely would not be a starter this season, but Small’s absence would be felt. He was the Big Ten’s leading punt returner last season with a 15.1-yard average.

Small has had a long string of off-field issues. He was held out of most of 2008 spring practice and stripped of his No.4 jersey (he wore 82 last year).

He was listed among the walk-ons in the 2008 media guide, and then suspended for two games late last season.

The team could be waiting for Small and Rose to complete classes in the second session of summer quarter. Finals are Aug. 25-27.

The players who did report yesterday chuckled at the 90-degree heat and humidity (the heat index was 95) — one of the first sweltering days of what had been an unusually comfortable summer.

“That’s just the football gods for you,” defensive tackle Todd Denlinger said. “It’s going to make us tougher.”

The Buckeyes lost some star power from last season, including linebacker James Laurinaitis, running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. The offense will feature seven new starters.

Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Jim Cordle said the turnover could be rejuvenating.

“It is a young team; it’s a talented team,” he said. “It’s exciting to see how things develop over the next 30 days — who steps up and what kind of plays we’re going to run and what kind of system. So it’s just exciting because there is some uncertainty.”