The first-year defensive coordinator has "put them in a crucible'' in fast-tracking his system in order to get ready for No. 5 Notre Dame in the season opener.
Head coach Ryan Day said his team has nothing to be "big-headed'' going into a showdown pitting the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes and No. 5 Notre Dame. He remembers losses to Oregon and Michigan last season. Mark Znidar writes for Wednesday Press Pros.
The Buckeyes' Marvin Harrison, Jr. is expected to join Smith-Njigba, Fleming and Egbuka in making sure the team moves on from Olave and Wilson without a drop-off in production. Mark Znidar writes about him for Sunday Press Pros.
Third-year safety Lathan Ransom has been playing "all over the place'' during preseason practices, and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano are raving about his play. Mark Znidar writes for Press Pros.
Those certainly sound like scary words coming from the first-year defensive coordinator, but the feeling is that the unit is ahead of schedule going into the opener against Notre Dame. Mark Znidar writes the Buckeyes for Press Pros Magazine.