Please patronize our advertisers to help
keep theOzone.net free for everyone.

Football
Williams Headlines Buckeyes Returning from Injury
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Buckeyes will receive an influx of new talent this fall with the rest of the 2012 recruiting class joining the team on the practice field for the first time.

Some of the most important new faces, however, will be old ones.

With fall camp getting underway this morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center (WHAC) in Columbus, we take a look at the Ohio State players returning from injury for preseason camp, along with those still on the mend.

Jordan Hall
Photo by Jim Davidson

RB Jordan Hall (5-9, 198, Sr.) ~ Foot

Hall injured his foot stepping on a piece of glass a few weeks back and he will miss most or all of fall camp. Expected to be Ohio State’s starting tailback, and key component of Urban Meyer’s first offense, Hall could miss some games after cutting his tendon. Meyer said they aren’t considering a redshirt, however, as they expect him back at least by Big Ten play.

Nathan Williams
Photo by Dan Harker

DE Nathan Williams (6-3, 249, rSr.)  ~ Knee

Williams was supposed to be Ohio State’s best defensive player a year ago before a knee injury sidelined him for the entire season. It has been a long road to recovery after microfracture surgery in the offseason, but Williams is getting closer and closer to being back on the field.

According to Meyer, Williams is ahead of schedule in his recovery. He is running and cutting, but he will not participate in live hitting, at least at the start of camp. When they do cut him loose, they want Williams to be able to play at the high level he is used to. That may not happen until late in camp, or even after the start of the nonconference schedule, but all indications are that he will suit up again this season.

Verlon Reed
Photo by Jim Davidson

WR Verlon Reed (6-0, 200, rSo.) ~

Another player coming back from a serious knee injury, Verlon Reed is expected to be ready to go early in fall camp after missing most of spring. The redshirt sophomore out of Columbus tore his ACL during an onside kick play in Ohio State’s 10-7 loss to Michigan State last October.

The former high school quarterback did have nine catches for 132 yards before the injury, and he had cemented himself as a starting wideout across from Corey “Philly” Brown. His injury opened the door for Devin Smith, but Reed should work his way back into the rotation quickly this fall.

He was running and cutting at full speed over the summer, and if healthy, Reed is a speedy weapon who could fit the mold Meyer is looking for in a hybrid playmaker.

Evan Spencer
Photo by Dan Harker

WR Evan Spencer (6-2, 205, So.) ~ Shoulder

Spencer broke a small bone in his shoulder during spring practice and had to miss the back half of Meyer’s first camp in Columbus. He was running primarily with the first-team offense before the injury, and all indications are that Spencer will be green-lighted to start camp.

He said the injury was only going to take a few weeks to heal, and Meyer mentioned Spencer as one of the faster performers in the 40-yard dash this summer. With Hall on the sideline, Meyer is desperately searching for playmakers, and Spencer could be a guy who gets a few reps in the hybrid role this fall for Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman.

Curtis Grant
Photo by Dan Harker

LB Curtis Grant (6-3, 235, So.) ~ Neck

After working his way onto the first-team defense during the front half of spring ball, Grant suffered a stinger that kept him out of the last week of practice, including the spring game.

Meyer recently indicated he thought Grant should have played through the injury, so there is no question he will be back and ready to go at the start of camp. The big question is whether he can stay healthy and prove his toughness to Meyer and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell.

If not, the Buckeyes could have serious issues at middle linebacker, especially without Storm Klein.

DE Se’Von Pittman (6-3, 259, Fr.) ~ Knee

One of Ohio State’s early enrollees in the spring, Pittman suffered a minor knee sprain that kept him out of action for most of camp. He did a lot of work on the side, but didn’t get the head-start he probably wanted, and needed, with guys like Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence coming in this fall.

All indications are that Pittman will be ready to go at the start of camp and he is certainly one of the young guys to keep an eye on this fall.

C Jacoby Boren (6-2, 283, Fr.) ~ Shoulder

The younger brother of Justin and Zach, Jacoby Boren has already been called a “tough nut” by his new head coach. Now he has to prove it. Boren showed enough promise in the spring that the coaches asked him to get his shoulder surgery done then so he could be ready for fall.

Initial projections were that he would not be back on the field until after the opener, but older brother Zach says it could be closer to the middle of fall camp.

Once healthy, Boren should be the backup center to Corey Linsley.

DB Jamie Wood (6-1, 207, rJr.) ~ Shoulder

A backup safety a year ago, Wood had shoulder surgery in January and missed all of spring practice. He is expected to be a backup again this year as a redshirt junior, but there are no guarantees he will be completely ready for contact at the start of fall camp.

Donate by Check :

Ozone Communications
1380 King Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Help us bring you more Buckeye coverage. Donate to the-Ozone.

Click here to email this the-Ozone feature to a friend...or even a foe.

(c) 2010 The O-Zone, O-Zone Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.