Football
Personnel Report
By John Porentas
There will be a little shuffling along the offensive line when the Buckeye take the field against Texas.
Senior offensive guard Ben Person is expected to get the call left guard against the Longhorns. Person has been out with an injury but will get the starting nod in the bowl. That will move Steve Rehring over to right guard. The center position will be manned by freshman Mike Brewster. That would leave Jim Cordle on the sidelines as the game begins. Cordle underwent postseason surgery following the Michigan game but will be available against the Longhorns. OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel says that Cordle will see action, but that Person and Brewster will start because they have taken more practice snaps in preparation for the bowl.
Freshman defensive end Nathan Williams has been in Jim Tressel's doghouse since his arrest on a shoplifting charge during Christmas break. Williams may not see the field against the Longhorns.
"I'm reluctant to say that he's going to be able to play," said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.
"Coach Tressel handles those situations and I know he's paying a very severe price for his mistake. He's not very comfortable right now and rightly so. He screwed up."
The news is better on safety/linebacker Jermale Hines. Hines also missed time as the season wound down due to injury, but according to both Tressel and Heacock, will be available against Texas. He is expected to share time as OSU's nickel back with Tyler Moeller. Brian Hartline
There have rumors that wide receiver Brian Hartline may have broken a team rule while in Arizona and may miss some playing time. OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel would not elaborate on the situation today, but confirmed there will be "discussions" with Hartline.
OSU tailback Beanie Wells says he is healthy for the game. The other issue regarding Wells is his intentions regarding the NFL draft. Wells says he has not yet made a decision, and does say he would like to stick around at Ohio State for a year, but also says he will balance the financial needs of his family in making his ultimate decision.
The other hot tidbit all week has been that the Buckeyes have practiced with both Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman in the same lineup. Earlier OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel said that the Buckeyes would definitely use that alignment, but commenting on that possibility, Beanie Wells said that most players considered that possibility "a joke". OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman seemed surprised to hear that the Buckeyes definitely planned to use the alignment,