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Thursday, February 21, 2013
 Possibilities to start at LB for OSU
By Brent Sobleski
Ohio State is preparing to reload at linebacker after Etienne Sabino, Zach Boren and Storm Klein graduated. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and his staff emphasized the position as a priority within this year's recruiting class. The Buckeyes are now loaded at linebacker after a pair of successful recruiting classes. Exactly which linebackers will step up to play alongside Ryan Shazier have yet to be determined.

The key for the Buckeyes' second line of defense is the development of Curtis Grant at middle linebacker. Otherwise, a pair of freshmen could be starting for a potential national championship contender:

Austin Ward
Ohio State's situation at linebacker
"There's lots of hype around (freshmen, Mike) Mitchell and (Trey) Johnson, and with good reason based on their natural ability. But I've always felt the position is too difficult to really count on true freshmen consistently, which makes the haul the Buckeyes had at linebacker in last year's class even more valuable heading into spring. Between Camren Williams, David Perkins, Joshua Perry and Jamal Marcus, Ohio State should be able to find two starters -- but it might only need one if Curtis Grant finally flips the switch and becomes the middle linebacker everybody expected him to be already. If he doesn't, I would expect Williams to get the first look at middle linebacker and Perry to have a crack on the strong side."