Freshmen receivers create a buzz in preseason camp
By Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS
As much as coach Jim Tressel is loyal to the seniors on his Ohio State football teams, he also tells freshmen that if they’re good enough, they’ll play.
Now look at the jumble below starting receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher coming out of preseason camp. Taurian Washington and Grant Schwartz, both seniors, are presumed to be the next two players in the rotation.
But there has been a buzz about Corey Brown, a freshman nicknamed “Philly” because he’s from the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby, Pa., and to differentiate him from redshirt freshman cornerback Corey Brown of Monroeville, Pa.
“Philly Brown, he ran a kick back the other day in a live kicking drill; he is impressive,” senior cornerback Devon Torrence said. “For a freshman he looks pretty good. I think he’s going to play this year. I’m not the coach, but he’s a talented kid.”
Anyone could see that, said Chimdi Chekwa, the other starting cornerback. It was apparent this summer to Chekwa as he coached the young cornerbacks in seven-on-seven drills against the young receivers.
“From the beginning, my impression was he was fast; very, very fast,” Chekwa said. “At first I thought my corners were just doing a bad job of technique, until I went and guarded him myself. Then I realized he is really fast. I know he has the speed, and as long as he gets coached up by [receivers coach Darrell] Hazell and listens to his coaches, he’ll be a great player.”
It’s not farfetched that he will get a shot in the rotation as a freshman, much as Ted Ginn Jr. did in 2004 and Duron Carter last season before academic troubles forced him to leave for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.
Also vying for the coaches’ eyes have been redshirt freshman Chris Fields and sophomore James Jackson.
But for Tressel and Hazell, they still bear loyalty to the seniors.
“I think Taurian has had a solid preseason,” Tressel said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s done a good job coaching the young guys. He’s made some solid catches.”
Schwartz was having probably the best preseason of any of the receivers before a sprained foot ligament knocked him out of action last week. He plans to return for the opener Sept. 2 against Marshall.
Last season, Washington was No. 3 coming out of camp, but a couple of drops sent him plummeting down the chart, so much so that he was contemplating a transfer before the Rose Bowl boosted his spirits. Then in the jersey scrimmage Saturday, Washington scored the only touchdown, on a 25-year pass from Terrelle Pryor.
By winning the scrimmage, the offense won the right to wear scarlet jerseys in practice.
“It totally boosts my confidence, but at the same time I was just glad I was able to go out there and help my team [the offense] get the red jerseys and come out with the ‘W’,” Washington said.
But Tressel said Washington hasn’t forgotten last year.
“Taurian has been around long enough to know that’s wonderful, but if you don’t do it tomorrow in practice, or the next day — you have to be good ongoing,” Tressel said. “But I’ve been very pleased with Taurian.”
As for Washington, as much as he espouses being a team player, he also wants to play.
“This is my last year, my last go-round,” Washington said. “I have no other choice, so I want it extremely bad.”
CAPTAINS NAMED
For only the second time in the 121 years of Ohio State football, six players were named captains: offensive lineman Bryant Browning, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, linebackers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, tailback Brandon Saine and Sanzenbacher.
The only other year with six captains was 1982.
All six are seniors, which is normal under Tressel. In 10 seasons, 37 of 38 captains have been seniors. The only exception was linebacker James Laurinaitis being named as a junior in 2007.
That means no captaincy for junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
“I have tried to be a leader throughout my career. I hope this shows that my teammates appreciate what I have done,” said Browning. “Now I am hoping to be one of the leaders of a great team, a championship team.”
Added Heyward: “A leader has a responsibility to take care of business, so now I have to step up to the plate. This is one of those honors you think about since you were a kid, being captain of your team. It’s a tremendous feeling.”