COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Call them The Replacements.
In its season opener, No. 15 Ohio State found itself relying heavily on several players who few might have expected to be such integral parts of the team just a short time ago — before more prominent players were suspended or quit the team.
Joe Bauserman, Andrew Norwell, Carlos Hyde, Dominic Clarke and Verlon Reed all made their first career college starts. And almost all played extremely well in the Buckeyes’ 42-0 thrashing of Akron.
Once afterthoughts who were counted on to add depth at quarterback, on the line, at tailback, in the secondary and out wide, they’re now central figures for the Buckeyes as they prepare to take on Toledo on Saturday.
