Football
Spring Personnel Report
By John Porentas

Spring football is a time for teaching, evaluating and experimentation. OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel and his staff will do some of all of that this spring. Some players, however, will not be on hand or will be limited in their level of participation.

* Defensive end Robert Rose, fullback Aram Olsen, offensive linemen Mike Brewster, Ben Person and Steve Rehring will not have contact this spring due to off-season surgeries.

* Running back Beanie Wells will also be limited due to off-season wrist surgery.

"Chris Wells still has a cast," said Tressel.

"The problem you have in Chris' situation isn't in running the ball, it's in pass protection.

"As a receiver I don't care if he drops the ball as long he works on where he needs to be in routes.

"The problem is if they're bringing a blitz and he's got to stay or if we have a run called and the quarterback check it to a pass and all of a sudden he has to be a pass protector. In the live scrimmage, at least for a couple of weeks, he won't be cleared to go live with anyone.

"The problem with wrist injuries is that those bones are so small and the healing is so slow that if we reinjure it all of a sudden you're back to long recovery. I know Chris at this moment won't be able to scrimmage."

* In addition to the injury situation Tressel said there will be some experimentation to try to take advantage of some special skills.

"Devon Torrence is going to play a little bit of corner," said Tressel.

"Maybe 10 percent of the time starting out with one concept, kind of like we did with Chris Gamble. If he can handle that concept without affecting his offense then you add another one. Devon is such an explosive athlete, and he loves to be busy."

* The Buckeyes lost a great defensive end in Vernon Gholston as well as backup Alex Barrow to graduation. Tressel said that the OSU staff will ask a couple of players to take snaps at defensive end to help shore up the numbers at that position. Both Thaddeus Gibson and Mark Johnson will move from linebacker to defensive end this spring.

"Thaddeus and Mark are doing a lot like Vernon," said Tressel.

"We lost Alex Barrow from that position as well. We lost two of those two type guys, so we looked around and asked where we could afford to take someone from.

"Especially with Curtis Terry, we didn't think Curtis would be here this spring but with his medical redshirt from last year you have one more linebacker than you thought you had.

"Mark and Thaddeus, who are in that 250 to 260 pound range, we think they fit that spot like Vernon played."

* With the injury to Olsen and the graduation of all of OSU's other fullbacks on last year's squad, Tressel will do a lot of shuffling of players and experimenting to fill that position.

"Fullback is going to be an interesting experiment this spring. Ryan Lukens has moved over from defense. Aram Olsen was a guy who in the recruiting and in the planning and in the projection was to be a guy who should be ready to roll this year. Unfortunately he's had an injury that won't allow him to practice this spring.

"There are going to be some other guys doing some auditions over there at fullback. Not as full-time fullbacks but as guys (who will take snaps at fullback) along with what else they do.

"Brandon Smith is a tight end who will take on some fullback duties. J. D. Larson one of the tight ends will be doing a little bit of fullback.

"A guy like like Austin Spitler, about five percent of his time is going to be spent over at fullback. Andrew Sweat is a guy who coming is primarily going to be a linebacker buy may get a little bit of opportunity at fullback.

"A young guy named Tom Ingham (6-1, 243) who walked on is an undersized defensive lineman. As you watched him in the winter drills he really has excellent quickness. Tom Ingham is a guy who reminds us a little bit of Tank (Waley) in that he's played in the trenches, knows what goes on in the trenches, and he's shown quickness.

"Andrew Sweat is a young guy who if he's going to help us this year might be able to help us at fullback more. He's a linebacker for the moment, but who knows can evolve there. Spitler will definitely not end up at fullback."

Tressel emphasized that Spitler's involvement at fullback will definitely be part time, and that his actual position will remain linebacker.

* Tressel said that the Buckeyes have absolutely no academic issues pending and that no players are currently in danger of losing playing or practice time as a result of grade issues.

* Tressel reported that there is a change on his coaching staff. Butch Reynolds had been OSU's speed coach but has now left the program to pursue other interests.

* Tressel also reported that defensive back Eugene Clifford was granted a medical redshirt last year and will be practicing this spring.

* Offensive lineman Jon Skinner missed last season due to injury but is expected to participate in spring drills.

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