Lots of questions to be answered today at OSU

COLUMBUS — The rigors of Ohio State’s preseason camp tire the body and the mind, yet many players probably experienced fitful sleep Friday night.

Dancing through their heads were visions of the jersey scrimmage today in Ohio Stadium. It will be offense vs. defense, the closest the Buckeyes come to playing a real game before the opener in two weeks, with the winner earning the right to wear the scarlet practice jerseys.

Added to it is the competition for starting jobs and playing time on both sides of the ball.

This time a year ago, the most intriguing question about a veteran-laden team was how freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor might figure in as the season progressed. As it turned out, he was handed the starting job four weeks in.

Even though most fans still wonder how much better Pryor will be this season, he’s now one of the few givens. Today’s action could shed light on how the competition is going at other positions:

U Left tackle: Before the special-teams scrimmage Wednesday, J.B. Shugarts was practicing at left tackle.

Wasn’t he supposed to back up Jim Cordle at right tackle? Weren’t Andrew Miller and Mike Adams competing at left tackle?

Coach Jim Tressel said as camp started that such a move was possible, if Shugarts or any others showed they might belong among the top five linemen, regardless of position.

U Receiver: Dane Sanzenbacher is the returning regular. Expected to step forward are DeVier Posey, Lamaar Thomas and Taurian Washington.

But senior Ray Small, who started the month in Tressel’s doghouse again, got plenty of time running routes and returning punts (his job a year ago) Wednesday. He appears to be back in the mix.

Freshman Duron Carter seems to be improving every day.

U Running back: Daniel Herron and Brandon Saine were projected to share time going into the season. But insiders say highly touted freshman Jaamal Berry was playing up to his billing before an injury set him back this week, that freshman Jordan Hall is better than some expected, and that converted fullback Jermil Martin is running with gusto.

U Linebacker: Tyler Moeller, Austin Spitler and Ross Homan, the lone returning regular, were the projected three starters leaving spring.

Since then, Moeller has been knocked out for the season because of an offseason head injury; Spitler is out because of a calf strain; and Homan limped off Wednesday with what appeared to be a minor knee injury.

Brian Rolle, Etienne Sabino, Andrew Sweat and freshmen Dorian Bell, Storm Klein and Jordan Whiting, along with walk-on Tony Jackson, are gaining ground.

U Cornerback: Devon Torrence appears to have the edge over Andre Amos for the starting job opposite returning regular Chimdi Chekwa.

But the coaches also seem to like the way freshmen C.J. Barnett and Travis Howard have stepped up, and the way Donnie Evege has gotten back into the action after two years of nagging injuries.

U Safety: Maybe this is a surprise, considering seniors Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are returning starters, but Jermale Hines doesn’t want to be just a nickel back. Insiders say his play in practice has him pressing for a regular role.