Behind The Box Score

With the USC Trojans on the schedule this season, it seems that this is the last marquee non conference game for the Ohio State in a few years as this has been a trend for the Buckeyes. After facing off against Texas in 2006, it took two years before USC was on the schedule. Well, the Miami game next season willl be better than this year’s USC game as many have predicted the matchup in The Horseshoe will showcase two of the best teams in the country.

Playing over 20 true freshmen a season ago, the Hurricanes look to be one of the biggest up and coming teams of the decade. Led by Randy Shannon, the U has put out some of the best recruiting classes in recent years, and should climb up in the discussion among the top teams in Florida. The key players for this squad are QB Jacory Harris, a sophomore who directed the high school national champ Miami Northwestern teams from 2005-’07. Harris can get it done on the ground and in the air and stands tall in the pocket, at 6’4″ he has proven he can win. At wide receiver, Aldarius Johnson has shown signs of the All-Pro Andre Johnson, who was also a Hurricane. Johnson caught 31 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Not too spectacular, but Johnson was the team’s leading receiver and will show alot about his maturity as the Hurricanes take on three top 25 teams in their first four games. On defense, the Canes are just as scary with LB Sean Spence and freshman safety Ray Ray Armstrong. Spence is a heavy hitter who last season compiled 65 tackles including 9.5 for a loss. Spence also is an alum of Northwestern, was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year along with being a Freshmen All-American on just about every list. Armstrong is another beast, a true freshman, has showed signs of Sean Taylor in camp this fall, and at 6’5″ will be a force to be reckoned with. The Hurricanes look to be back on top and 2010 is the year.

The Buckeyes on the other hand, have some glaring commodities with the Canes. First, the past few seasons the Buckeyes have plucked stars from the Sunshine State and hope to showcase that southern speed in the game next season. Some of the best signees include C Mike Brewster, who started at center last season as a true freshman and is one of the top linemen in the nation. Brewster, out of Orlando, wasn’t the only Florida native to come north to Columbus. Along with Brewster, Jim Tressel got commitments from MLB Etienne Sabino and CB Travis Howard, each from Dr Krop High School in Miami along with RB Jamaal Berry out of Palmetto High School, also located in Miami. For the Florida talent has been the best in recent years, the Buckeyes have been one of the biggest customers. The defense is what needs to improve and Ohio State added more Florida flair in CB Chimdi Chekwa, LB Brian Rolle, and CB Orhian Johnson. The offense also improved with five star wide receiver Duron Carter, son of Chris Carter, who was mentioned thoroughly in an exclusive earlier this week. The Hurricanes may be improving but the Buckeyes are right up there with them and the good thing for Ohio State is that they are already at the top.

Now back to the game, each team features dual threat quarterbacks but Terrelle Pryor is the better signal caller, featuring better speed and arm strength. Ohio State is loaded at running back, but the Canes are deep as well. Both defenses fly all over the field and it is unknown which team will come out on top. So when you think that the Trojans coming to Columbus is big, just wait til Miami brings the storm in 2010, a game that should be the best of the year, along with a game that will decide the fate of each team’s season.