Bucks’ future looks bright

By KEN GORDON

Ohio State will return nine starters on offense and should be a top-five team.

PASADENA, Calif. — The depth chart and the preseason rankings will likely bode well for Ohio State next summer.

But to center Mike Brewster, the Buckeyes’ success in 2010 will have little to do with numbers.

Ohio State is coming off an 11-2 season that ended Friday with the Buckeyes finally getting over their big-game bugaboo, beating Oregon 26-17 in the Rose Bowl.

Brewster believes the team will carry the momentum over to the fall.

“We really know how each other plays now, and I think that was big,” Brewster said. “Because sometimes, you can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t have chemistry. ... We didn’t really have chemistry in the beginning of the year, and it takes time to build that.

“And it’s frustrating, but by the end of the year, we made progress. That’s all you can ask for sometimes.”

Many were frustrated with the progress — or lack of progress — of quarterback Terrelle Pryor in his second season as the starter. His interceptions were up from his freshman year (from 4 to 11) and his completion percentage down (60.6 to 56.6).

But as coach Jim Tressel pointed out, Pryor lost most of his supporting cast from 2008. Starting receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline left, as well as standout running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells and three starters on the offensive line.

“We graduated 28 seniors off that team, and three juniors opted to go to the NFL,” Tressel said. “We had to figure out what we had to do first, second and third.”

On Friday, Pryor gave fans high hopes for next season. He had a career day throwing the ball, earning Rose Bowl MVP honors with 266 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the clincher to DeVier Posey midway through the fourth quarter.

Pryor is one of nine offensive starters who will return, including three players who rushed for 600 yards or more last season (Pryor, Brandon Saine and Daniel Herron).

Ohio State loses only left tackle Jim Cordle and tight end Jake Ballard.

“It’s a new year, and expectations for [Pryor] get even higher,” said Posey, who ended the season with 60 catches and eight touchdowns. “It’s not going to get any easier for the kid. It’s never been easy since day one, and he understands that and we understand that, and my expectations for him are even higher now that you can see what he can do on a big stage.”

The defense will be harder hit. Five senior starters are gone, including both safeties (Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell).

But the Buckeyes might have to replace as many as eight starters if juniors Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward and Chimdi Chekwa declare for the NFL draft. In that case, the defensive line would lose six of its top eight players.

The prevailing feeling is that Gibson will leave, Chekwa is a toss-up and Heyward will return. The juniors have until Jan. 15 to make a decision.

Of course, heading into the 2006 season, there were serious concerns about the defense, which returned only two starters. Ohio State went 12-0 and played for a national championship.

No matter who stays or goes, the Buckeyes will be a top-10 and possibly top-five team heading into 2010.