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Football
Buchanan Swapping Multi-Talented Roles for One Big One
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS — For as long as he can remember, Ben Buchanan has been the ultimate special teamer.

Ben Buchanon
Photo by Dan Harker

He was a three-time All-State field goal kicker, and a U.S. Army All-American in high school who also handled the punts and kickoffs for Westerville Central.

He was brought to Ohio State with the belief he might one day handle all three jobs for the Buckeyes, but for now he is being asked to focus on becoming the master of one.

“Coach (Jim) Tressel approached me early in camp and said I think we’re consistent with our kicking game, we’re going to need to have a consistent punting game,” Buchanan said Saturday after the team’s fall kick scrimmage.

The Buckeyes were far from consistent in any of their special teams a year ago, finishing near the bottom of the Big Ten in field goal percentage, punt average and return yardage. They also struggled on kick coverage, and Buchanan knows they are going to have to be a lot more solid across the board if they’re going to make it to Glendale in 2010.

“I think we made a statement that we’re very focused this year,” said the redshirt sophomore who came to Ohio State in the heralded class of 2008.

“We have big goals for another Big Ten championship and hopefully a national championship in Arizona and that’s going to be in the forefront of our minds.”

At the top of that list for Tressel has always been punting. Over the last 10 years, he has often referred to the punt as “the most important play” in football, which would make Buchanan one of the most important players on the team.

“I love Ohio State. I love what coach Tressel brings to the table for special teams,” he said.

“That’s one of the main reasons I chose to come here.”

Buchanan could have possibly provided them with an extra look on kickoffs or long field goals, where the Buckeyes are leaning towards freshman Drew Basil, but with the primary field goal kicking job all but locked up by senior Devin Barclay, it only made sense for Buchanan to focus in on the one area where he will be needed the most.

“We’re going to need to have a consistent punting game and for me to be able to focus on the one has paid dividends for me,” he said.

Buchanan tried doing all three things for the Buckeyes last fall, but it led to leg trouble in 2009. He started the game against Toledo in week three as the punter and did quite well in place of Jon Thoma who was out with the flu. He might have also stepped in for Aaron Pettrey when he went down with his injury in week nine had Buchanan not been dealing with his own injury at the time.

With Buchanan unable to go, Barclay stepped in for Pettrey and two weeks later he was kicking the Buckeyes to victory in overtime against No. 11 Iowa. 

Although Buchanan would have loved the opportunity to take such a kick, that kick sparked a sequence of events that has allowed Buchanan to become much more focused on what the 2010 Buckeyes need from him. 

“Any time you can focus on just one leg swing I think you’re going to become more consistent,” said Buchanan, who is the only scholarship punter on the roster.

“I think that’s what coach preaches is just consistency. I know I can go out there and hit some good balls, it’s just a matter of every time trying to get that repetitive motion.”

He had that repetitive motion going Saturday at Ohio Stadium. He bombed punts for a 45-yard average during the kick scrimmage. That included three out of his own end zone and handful more that went for more than 50 yards.

“I’ve noticed so far that my first week of camp has been great punting the ball,” he said.

“I’ve been very excited with my consistency.”

Even though he is embracing his lone role on this Ohio State team, Buchanan hasn’t given his dreams of wearing a number of different hats for the Buckeyes in the future.

“I’m an athlete. If I play baseball I’m going to hit the ball, I’m going to throw the ball, and I’m going to catch the ball. That’s how I look at it,” said Buchanan, who has three more years of eligibility remaining. 

“But I’m a team guy. I want to do whatever’s best for the team. I think I can bring things to the table in the kicking front if it was needed, but we have two great kickers in Devin Barclay and Drew Basil.”

Basil looks like he is here to stay, and could be a four-year contributor as a place kicker, but the Buckeyes lose Barclay after the 2010 season. That could open the door for Buchanan to get back into kicking next year if he can prove himself to be consistent from short and mid range.

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