Quarterback Joe Germaine is gone. So is wide receiver David Boston, a first-round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals. And flanker Dee Miller. And All-World offensive lineman Rob Murphy, who neglected the first portion of student-athlete and is ineligible. And linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, a first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots. And safety Damon Moore.
We could go on. In total, Ohio State lost 10 starters from a team that came up four points shy of an undefeated season in 1998.
But Ohio State, which went 11-1 last season (loser only to Michigan State) and opens the season ranked No. 11 by The Post, has returned to the exhalted ranks of college football’s elite. The Buckeyes don’t rebuild; they reload.
So when Ohio State takes on Miami today at Giants Stadium in Kickoff Classic XVII, don’t assume for a second that Buckeyes’ cupboard is bare. Not only does Ohio State have the most talented and deepest defensive line north of Tallahassee, but Michael Wiley is poised to establish himself as the next great Ohio State back.
“I don’t have any worries at all about anybody replacing anybody at any spot,” said linebacker Na’il Duggs, who you’ll find around Miami players holding the football. “I just don’t have any doubts in my mind about that. Guys will step up and do their part.”
“That’s the way it’s always been,” continued Diggs. “We’ve always been able to reload on offense and defense. As a team, Ohio State always reloads as long as I’ve been here. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen it done.”
The same was true of Miami in the ’80s and Early ’90s. But then the NCAA dropped the hammer on the Hurricanes and this is the first in coach Butch Davis’ five seasons that he can award the full complement of 85 scholarships. Davis has 82 scholarship players on hand, led by linebackers Dan Morgan, Nate Webster and Michael Smith.
The ‘Canes, who went 9-3 last season and are ranked 16th by The Post, probably still are a year away from having the talent, depth and experience across the board to be a top-10 team, but the swagger is back.
“I don’t expect us to lose this season,” said running back John Jackson, who replaces Edgerrin James.
The Buckeyes could blow up those expectations today. Austin Moherman steps in for Germaine, but if the redshirt freshman is not effective, Ohio State coach John Cooper won’t hesitate to turn to sophomore Steve Bellisari. Wiley will get the ball early and often and test a Miami defensive line that’s a year away from dominating.
Defensively, Diggs will lead an experienced linebacking corps that will have a lot of pressure relieved by the fearsome foursome up front. Keep an eye on No. 79, sophomore Ryan Pickett, a future NFL first-rounder. The secondary has two impact players in Ahmed Plummer and Gary Berry.
“We have some veteran players coming and if these guys play better than they have in the past, we’ll have a chance to be the kind of team we want to be,” said Cooper. “These guys weren’t the people we expected to win games for us last season, but now they are.”
Prediction:Davis has done a great job of rebuilding Miami. But we’ll take reload over rebuild in an early-season game. Ohio State 23-16.
