Four OSU Players Suspended for Season Opener

Ohio State will face one of its toughest tests of the season without its best defensive player and three talented receivers. Those violations were marijuana- and academics-related, a source told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Thursday.

Zettel, who made the all-Big Ten team last season, was joined on the East Division list by Bosa and running back Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State, and quarterback Connor Cook and defensive end Shilique Calhoun of Michigan State. Virginia Tech and defensive coordinator Bud Foster have had all offseason to build on what worked against the Buckeyes last year, and they have the personnel to give Ohio State’s offense trouble like few others teams. When you’re at Ohio State, stuff becomes a major deal.

Junior defensive lineman Joey Bosa put on his helmet during a March 26 practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Virginia Tech was the only team to beat the Buckeyes on their path to the national title, claiming a 35-21 victory in Columbus, and five of the Hokies’ six losses last season were by seven points or less. Middletown native Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, Joey Bosa and Corey Smith have been suspended for “Violating Department of Athletics policy”, the school announced on Thursday.

Meyer said he’s less concerned about the loss of receivers in part because he will be adding a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year to the corps.

The 2015 display features the butter cow and calf standing next to life-size sculptures of Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer and mascot Brutus Buckeye, along with larger-than-life carvings of the coveted national championship trophy and two Ohio State football helmets. “The university and the athletic department has policies that I fully support”.

Mara said the team hasn’t been allowed to examine Pierre-Paul, so it has no idea when he will be able to play. We evaluate everything. And then the social element, that’s obviously the one that you keep one eye open. “We have to come out and play, especially on the road”.

“Is it possible we’ll see all three on the field at the same time?” someone finally asked.

The announcement of the suspensions comes after Ohio State received the No. 1 overall ranking in the first preseason poll released Thursday.

The suspensions of a handful of key players for the first game of the season may ultimately mean little. Coming back to a familiar place position, if Washington is healthy and steps more into that leadership role, the Buckeyes should be very solid along the line, even if others have to miss time.

He also monitors closely the weight room and “social element” associated with the players. “Day one, I’ll personally work with him as a receivers coach”.

College football enters its second playoff season in 2015 and if the first is any indication, it should be another spellbinding year.

Always a highly anticipated Ohio State Fair favorite, the annual butter sculpture display was unveiled today by the American Dairy Association Mideast and is sure to spread Buckeye spirit.

Oh, in case you’re wondering, Ohio State projects to have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2016 and ’17, which suggests Meyer is on the verge of supplanting Alabama’s Nick Saban as America’s best coach (Meyer has three national titles to Saban’s four).