OSU Buckeyes

Everybody is chasing the elite recruits, and championships aren't usually won unless there's a pretty impressive constellation of four- and five-star athletes on a roster.

But those guys also aren't typically solely responsible for taking a program to the next level, and it can often come down to which coaching staffs properly identify and develop the players without as much buzz coming out of high school -- or the ones intent on proving those doubts wrong at the next level.

BuckeyeNation will look at five of those players on the Ohio State roster that will be key to making a title run, all of them capable of outplaying that three-star label.

No. 5: Jordan Hall

• Who: The senior running back was forced to redshirt due to a pair of injuries that limited him to just three games in a season that had once held a lot of promise for the projected starter in the backfield. He was productive in his two complete outings, rushing for 192 yards on 34 carries in nonconference wins over California and UAB, and with plenty of time to heal and the decision made to return, he'll once again have a shot at playing a significant role for the Buckeyes before leaving campus.
• Then: There were some questions about his durability when he signed back in 2009 out of Jeannette (Pa.) High School, though his relative lack of size when he was listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds certainly had no impact on the fluke injury he suffered last summer when he cut his foot on a piece of glass and required surgery that kept him out of training camp and the first two games. The scouting report praised his ability to hit the hole decisively, make defenders miss and his hands -- and with a potential role as a hybrid weapon available for him in Urban Meyer's spread offense, that last trait could be critical.
• They said it: "Hall may have played in the shadow of Terrelle Pryor last year but is a good player in his own right and a versatile running back prospect. ... Overall, Hall is a well-rounded back that will be highly sought after because of his versatility as a runner. Projects best in a zone-read type offense, similar to what he played in at high school, which will utilize his quickness and soft hands in space. Skills in the return game add to his upside." -- RecruitingNation in 2009
• Now: Elected a captain even while battling through his freak injury a year ago, Hall's work ethic and experience will again provide veteran leadership and help set the tone for the Buckeyes. He isn't likely to take back the starting gig that Carlos Hyde flourished in down the stretch last season, with the bigger, more bruising rusher forming a dynamic one-two punch with quarterback Braxton Miller and piling up touchdowns in the red zone. But Meyer had plans for using both of them in the backfield with Miller before injuries scrapped them, and Hall can do some things as a receiver that will bring some variety to the offense and another element of danger for a unit already returning almost every starter from the Big Ten's most explosive offense.

Ohio State hardly needs motivation thanks to the chip on its shoulder already firmly in place after sitting out the postseason with a perfect record. But just in case any players required any extra fuel heading into workouts or wanted a little help putting together some goals, BuckeyeNation is here to lend a hand with some records that could be in reach with another productive offseason.

TOTAL OFFENSE

• Who owns it: Braxton Miller already has officially taken the crown after putting up 3,310 yards as a sophomore, sneaking past Bobby Hoying's single-season mark of 3,290 despite not getting the chance to play in the Big Ten title game or a bowl. The true bar Miller has to clear, though, no longer shows up in the record book for the Buckeyes -- and there's still some work to be done to surpass the 3,526 yards Terrelle Pryor rolled up in 2010 that have since been erased from existence.
• Who wants it: Might be pretty obvious, but Miller will be chasing down this record and plenty more heading into his third season as the starting quarterback. Individual numbers and awards don't seem to matter much to the humble leader of the Ohio State offense, but he should be in line to post more video-game statistics as he continues to develop his game and get more comfortable in Urban Meyer's system.
• Relevant number: Miller just barely topped 2,000 passing yards last season, and while that represented marked improvement for the Buckeyes through the air, Meyer is clearly expecting that total to go up next fall. Miller only would have needed to throw for 18 more yards per game to tie Pryor, a reasonable amount that could come fairly easily if improved mechanics and ability to read defenses bumps up his completion percentage a few more points from the 58.3 he turned in as a sophomore.
• Offseason checklist: The Buckeyes clearly had no problem getting production out of Miller during the perfect season, and at times he looked like the only consistent threat on the field. But there have also been regular reminders from Meyer and the coaching staff that the multitalented star has only scratched the surface as a quarterback, with his footwork on top of the list of things to focus on during offseason throwing sessions, spring practice and training camp. Everything starts from the ground up with Miller, and while his happy feet make him electrifying as a rusher, they can throw off his delivery as a passer in the pocket and mask his arm strength, making them a top priority over the next few months.
• Attainable goal: The record is officially already his, so there's not much question Miller is capable of reaching it. But with the possibility of two more games next season and an offense loaded with experienced playmakers around him, from an offensive line with four returning starters to two established targets at wide receiver and a full stable of running backs, Miller and the Buckeyes should have no problem piling up offense.

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel paid the heaviest price in the tattoos-for-memorabilia scandal, but the school's compliance department took a beating as well.

The details that emerged about Ohio State's compliance structure -- or lack thereof -- didn't paint the athletic department in a good light. Ohio State in February approved a new university compliance office, and the school appears to be taking the right steps to prevent similar violations from happening again.

As The Toledo Blade first reported this week, Ohio State sent the NCAA a 805-page report that, among other things, details new policies in place that increase athlete education about violations, prevent memorabilia sales and track car ownership (a major issue with former quarterback Terrelle Pryor). Ohio State is directly addressing the issues that surfaced in the scandal.

Check out the full report.

From The Blade:

An athletics compliance staff bolstered from five workers to a dozen is leaving little to chance. According to the report reviewed by The Blade, the school nearly tripled its number of rules education sessions, charged a former NCAA investigator with monitoring its highest-profile players, and reached out to 2,000 area businesses -- then employs exhaustive measures to verify the lessons take hold.

Among the safeguards include random audits to ensure current players have not sold or exchanged gear or awards, and license-plate software that allows school officials to determine car ownership.

One of the most publicized elements of the old compliance structure was the lack of a staff member in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Ohio State's football headquarters. Ohio State added former Tennessee compliance director Brad Bertani to its staff to deal specifically with football. Bertani has his office in the WHAC and travels with the football team.

Ohio State is also focused on ensuring no school-issued memorabilia is sold while athletes are still playing.

Players used to be able to purchase and take home gear and apparel like bowl-game jerseys or the alternate Nike helmets worn against Michigan in 2009 and 2010. Now, the uniforms will be kept in a secure container at the football facility until the player leaves the school.

As for awards like Big Ten championship rings or the gold pants trinket the Buckeyes receive for beating Michigan, players can still take those home. But they must be able to produce the goods in "random audits." Athletes sign a form acknowledging the school can make them "prove that I have not sold these items."

These are encouraging steps for a department that justifiably took a beating after the scandal. While time will tell how effective these measures will be, Ohio State deserves credit for directly addressing some major problems.

One of the tangential figures in the downfall of Jim Tressel and NCAA sanctions died this weekend.

Jeannette, Pa., businessman Ted Sarniak III, died on Friday at a Pittsburgh-area hospital, according to the funeral home handling the arrangements. He was 68.

Read more from the Associated Press.

Welcome to Across The Field, a regular feature on BuckeyeNation where we'll point you to noteworthy Buckeyes coverage here and elsewhere. Think something should be included? Send a pitch to espnkendrick@gmail.com.

Football

• Athlon has made its 2012 predictions, and they see a rosy future, even if the Buckeyes can't go to the Rose Bowl.
• The Sporting News' Matt Hayes isn't among those who have drunk the Urban Meyer Kool-Aid.
• ESPN.com Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg believes the Ohio State wide receivers need a home run summer.
• BuckeyeNation's Austin Ward writes: Meyer took to the road in hostile territory, and vowed to recruit hard in Michigan.
• After visiting Michigan for a camp, it was on to Pennsylvania in Meyer's tour of enemy territory. (AP)
• Defensive end John Simon, who could have left for the NFL this spring, says "we’re going to go out there and play for each other and for Buckeye Nation" this fall. (Lantern)
• Sophomore defensive lineman Michael Bennett likes the new coaching staff's in-your-face approach, and Meyer believes in Bennett. (Dispatch)
• Meanwhile, Tyler Moeller's football career quietly ended, as he took a medical sales job. (Lantern)
• Former backup lineman Brian Bobek, who left Ohio State after his freshman season, will land at Minnesota and be eligible in 2013. (ESPN's Adam Rittenberg)

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