Ballard, Coleman and Worthington to Represent Buckeyes at Big Ten Media Days

With the upcoming Big Ten football media days scheduled for July 27 and July 28 in Chicago, tight end Jake Ballard, safety Kurt Coleman and defensive tackle Doug Worthington will be in attendance for the scarlet and gray. The three seniors are expected to be key contributors on a team that manyexpect to capture a fifth straight Big Ten championship.

By Mark Silverman

With just 20 receptions in his first three seasons, Ballard should have an opportunity for more production this season. The Ohio State offense is expected to rely on the tight ends to a greater extent than in recent years. Ballard could be the x-factor in what hopes to be an improved red zone offense.

Coleman has had a productive career at Ohio State, but it’s now time to crank it up a notch. We have seen flashes of his big-play potential, yet never on a consistent basis. The loss of linebacker James Laurinaitis to the NFL Draft opens the door for Coleman to assume leadership of the silver bullets.

Worthington, a fifth-year senior, will get a clean slate as the new season approaches. It was last July when he was arrested for driving under the influence and the 2008 campaign was never the same for Worthington. He has recovered well since the incident and will help anchor a defensive line that is capable of putting up big numbers.

Other Big Ten notables that are slated to appear include Illinois senior quarterback Juice Williams, Minnesota senior wideout Eric Decker and Penn State’s senior quarterback/linebacker duo of Darryl Clark and Sean Lee. The list of invitees includes 17 All-Big Ten selections from a year ago. Decker will represent all players when speaking at the kickoff luncheon on July 28.