The 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Buckeye's 123rd season overall, the 100th as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the second as a members of the Big Ten Leaders Division. The team was led by head coach Urban Meyer in his return to coaching after retiring from Florida in 2010 due to health concerns. The Buckeyes played their home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes finished the season undefeated with 12 wins (12–0 overall, 8–0 in the Big Ten), Big Ten Leaders Division champions and ranked third in the AP Poll. Due to findings of an investigation conducted by the NCAA during the previous season, Ohio State was ineligible for both the Big Ten Championship Game and an appearance in a bowl game for the 2012 season.
Following their first losing season since 1988, the Buckeyes hired Urban Meyer, who won two national championships with the Florida Gators, as the head coach in November 2011. Meyer and his staff brought in a top five recruiting class while returning 20 starters and starting quarterback Braxton Miller for spring and fall camp. Ohio State entered the season ranked in the middle of the Big Ten, with many expecting a transition season for Meyer and the players. The Buckeyes opened the season with blowout victories against Miami (Ohio) and UCF. Ohio State would defeat Michigan State 17–16 and Nebraska 63–38, games they lost in 2011, to move to 6–0 on the season. The Buckeyes would hold in overtime games against Purdue and Wisconsin later in the season, winning eleven straight. The Buckeyes capped off their undefeated season with a 26–21 victory over arch rival Michigan, denying the Wolverines a share of the Legends Division title.
At the end of the season, several players were recognized with postseason awards for individual accomplishments. Braxton Miller was named the Big Ten offensive player of the year, while John Simon was named the Big Ten defensive player of the year. Also, three players were named to the AP All-American Team, including Johnathan Hankins, Bradley Roby, and John Simon.
Before the season
Spring practice
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Ohio State opened their spring practice on March 29 for the first time under the direction of Urban Meyer. At the opening of practice John Simon, Johnathan Hankins, Garrett Goebel and Adam Bellamy started on the defensive line with Travis Howard and Bradley Roby starting at cornerback. Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett were the starting safeties on opening day. The running back position rotated between Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde, Rod Smith and Bri'onte Dunn with Braxton Miller starting at quarterback.
The annual spring game for the Ohio State Buckeyes was held on April 21 at Ohio Stadium on a rainy afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. Urban Meyer began the afternoon with a 1-on-1 circle drill held at midfield before the start of the game. At the conclusion of drill the Buckeyes took the field and split into two teams, a Scarlet and Gray team. Starting quarterback Braxton Miller started for the Scarlet team with backup Kenny Guiton starting for the Gray team. The first touchdown came from the Scarlet team in the first quarter with a run yard touchdown run from Carlos Hyde. Starting kicker Drew Basil kicked a 41-yard field goal at the beginning of the second quarter to extend the Scarlet lead to 10–0. The Gray team got on the board with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Guiton, but a second field goal from Basil would allow the Scarlet to enter the locker room at halftime with a 13–7 lead over the Gray. During the third quarter the Gray team would take a 14–13 lead over the Scarlet team on a four-yard touchdown run from Guiton. However, under Miller, the Scarlet team would drive down and score a touchdown on a Rod Smith run, giving them a 20–13 lead and eventually the victory.
During the game, quarterback Braxton Miller completed 24 of 31 passes for 258 yards with wide receiver Michael Thomas catching 12 passes for a total of 131 yards during the game. The game gave fans a glimpse of Meyer's new spread offense that the Buckeyes will adopt during the season. Linebacker Ryan Shazier led the team with eight tackles. Running back Jordan Hall did not play during the game due to health and precautionary reasons and starting lineman John Simon did not play for a long period during the game.
Fall camp Nine separate Ohio State players were on the preseason award watch list in twelve different award categories. These included Johnathan Hankins and John Simon for the Bednarik Award; Corey Brown for the Biletnikoff Award; Etienne Sabino for the Butkus Award; Drew Basil for the Lou Groza Award; Jake Stoneburner for the Lombardi Award; and Braxton Miller for the Maxwell Award. Prior to fall camp, both Stoneburner and Jack Mewhort were suspended from the team indefinitely following their arrests, while senior linebacker Storm Klein was dismissed from the team for his arrest. Klein was later reinstated by head coach Urban Meyer, while still serving a two-game suspension. Ohio State opened their fall camp on August 3 with all players reporting.
Personnel
Coaching staff Urban Meyer accepted the head coaching job at Ohio State in November 2011 after coaching at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida, where he won two national championships. Meyer retained only three coaches from the previous years staff, including former interim head coach Luke Fickell and defensive line coach Mike Vrabel. Meyer brought in Tom Herman and Ed Warinner to replace Jim Bollman as offensive coordinator, while Everett Withers and Fickell replaced Jim Heacock as defensive coordinator. Meyer also brought over strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti from his staff at Florida.
Name Position Seasons atOhio State Alma materUrban MeyerHead coach 1stCincinnati (1986)Tom HermanOffensive coordinator, Quarterbacks1stCalifornia Lutheran (1997)Ed WarinnerCo-Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line1stMount Union (1984)Luke Fickell Co-Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers11thOhio State (1997)Everett WithersAssistant Head Coach, Co-Defensive coordinator, Safeties1stAppalachian State (1985)Stan DraytonRunning Backs2ndAllegheny College (1993)Zack SmithWide Receivers1stFlorida (2007)Mike VrabelDefensive Line2ndOhio State (1996)Tim HintonTight Ends, Fullbacks1stWilmington (1982)Kerry CoombsCornerbacks1stDayton (1983)Parker FlemingGraduate Assistant1stPresbyterian (2010)Mickey MarottiAssistant Athletic Director for Football Sports Performance1stWest Liberty (1987)
Departing players Following the 2011 season, four Ohio State players were selected in the 2012 NFL draft. Mike Adams was selected in the second round, DeVier Posey in the third, with Daniel Herron and Nate Ebner selected in the sixth. Other key players to depart due to graduation included Joe Bauserman, Michael Brewster and J.B. Shugarts on offense and Dionte Allen, Tyler Moeller, Andrew Sweat, and Solomon Thomas on defense. Transfers out before the 2012 season included Jamaal Berry who transferred to Murray State, Jeremy Cash who transferred to Duke, Jordan Whiting who transferred to Louisville and Kenny Hayes who transferred to Michigan State. DerJuan Gambrell and Dominic Clarke were both released from the scholarships in January following a violation of team rules.
Returning starters Ohio State has 20 returning starts from the 2011 season, including nine on offense and defense, as well as two on special teams. Quarterback Braxton Miller started in eight games during the 2011 season and will return to lead the Buckeyes in 2012.
Offense Player Class Position Braxton Miller Sophomore Quarterback Zach Boren Senior Fullback Jordan Hall Senior Running Back Chris Fields Junior Wide Receiver Corey Brown Junior Wide Receiver Jake Stoneburner Senior Wide Receiver Andrew Norwell Junior Tackle Marcus Hall Junior Guard Jack Mewhort Junior Guard
Defense Player Class Position John SimonSeniorLineman Johnathan Hankins Junior Tackle Garrett Goebel Senior Tackle Nathan Williams Senior Defensive End Etienne Sabino Senior Linebacker Travis Howard Senior Cornerback Bradley Roby Sophomore Cornerback C.J. Barnett Junior Safety Christian Bryant Junior Safety
Special teams Player Class Position Drew Basil Junior Kicker Ben Buchanan Senior Punter
Roster 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes rosterQuarterbacks 5 Braxton Miller – sophomore 12 Cardale Jones – freshman 13 Kenny Guiton – junior 17 Justin Siems – senior 19 Levi Ratliff – freshman
Running backs 2 Rod Smith – sophomore 7 Jordan Hall – senior 25 Bri'onte Dunn – freshman 28 Warren Ball – freshman 30 Mark Salano – freshman 32 Darryl Wood – sophomore 34 Carlos Hyde – junior 44 Zach Boren – senior 49 Adam Homan – senior
Wide receivers 8 Ricguan Southward – freshman 9 Verlon Reed – sophomore 10 Corey Brown – junior 15 Devin Smith – sophomore 16 Evan Spencer – sophomore 18 Tyrone Williams – sophomore 29 Taylor Rice – senior 33 Frank Epitropoulos – freshman 80 Chris Fields – junior 83 Michael Thomas – freshman 85 Frank Kangah – freshman 87 Peter Gwilym – freshman 88 Stacey Blount – sophomore
Tight ends 11 Jake Stoneburner – senior 81 Nick Vannett – freshman 82 Ryan Carter – freshman 86 Jeff Heuerman – sophomore 89 Blake Thomas – freshman Offensive line 50 Jacoby Boren – freshman 55 Tommy Brown – freshman 57 Chase Farris – freshman 60 Joey O'Connor – freshman 62 Logan Beougher – freshman 64 Ivon Blackman – junior 65 Pat Elflein – freshman 66 Kyle Dodson – freshman 67 Ben St. John – sophomore 68 Taylor Decker – freshman 69 Eric Kramer – sophomore 70 Tim Trummer – freshman 71 Corey Linsley – junior 73 Antonio Underwood – sophomore 74 Jack Mewhort – junior 76 Darryl Baldwin – sophomore 77 Reid Fragel – senior 78 Andrew Norwell – junior 79 Marcus Hall – junior
Defensive line 8 Noah Spence – freshman 43 Nathan Williams – senior 50 J.T. Moore – sophomore 52 Johnathan Hankins – junior 53 Garrett Goebel – senior 54 John Simon – senior 56 Dalton Britt – senior 63 Michael Bennett – sophomore 72 Chris Carter – freshman 88 Steve Miller – sophomore 90 Tommy Schutt – freshman 91 William McCary – senior 92 Adolphus Washington – freshman 94 Rashad Frazier – sophomore 95 Se'von Pittman – freshman 96 Kharim Stephens – senior 97 John Holman – sophomore 97 Cladius Mbemba – freshman Linebackers 5 Camren Williams – freshman 6 Etienne Sabino – senior 10 Ryan Shazier – sophomore 14 Curtis Grant – sophomore 15 Joshua Perry – freshman 20 Ross Oltorik – senior 25 David Perkins – freshman 32 Storm Klein – senior 34 Jamal Marcus – freshman 36 Connor Corwell – freshman 38 Craig Fada – freshman 42 Luke Roberts – freshman 43 Nathan Williams – senior 48 Joe Burger – freshman 59 Stewart Smith – senior
Defensive backs 1 Bradley Roby – sophomore 2 Christian Bryant – junior 3 Corey Brown – junior 4 C.J. Barnett – junior 7 Travis Howard – senior 12 Doran Grant – sophomore 16 Zach Domicone – senior 18 Najee Murray – freshman 19 Orhian Johnson – senior 21 Jamie Wood – junior 23 Tyvis Powell – freshman 28 Ron Tanner – freshman 30 Devan Bogard – freshman 33 Nik Sarac – freshman 35 Vincent Patrella – senior Punters 17 Ben Buchanan – senior
Kickers 20 Russell Doup – sophomore 24 Drew Basil – junior 26 Kevin Niehoff – freshman 39 Kyle Clinton – sophomore
Long snappers 41 Bryce Haynes – freshman 56 George Makridis – juniorSources: 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes football roster
Depth chart Starters and backups.
Recruiting class Ohio State's 2012 recruiting class was ranked third by Scout, fourth by Rivals and sixth by ESPN. Prior to Urban Meyer being named the head coach of the team 13 player were committed to the Buckeyes, with an additional 12 signing after Meyer's hiring. On National Signing Day, 25 players total were signed to the class. The Ohio State class included five players from the ESPN 150: defensive ends Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Se'Von Pittman, offensive guard Joey O'Connor and defensive tackle Tommy Schutt.
Schedule