Article published August 27, 2007
Sanzenbacher a likely starter for Buckeyes
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Two weeks ago, Dan Sanzenbacher was cautiously optimistic about the progress he had made while working out at Ohio State University over the summer, and hopeful about his prospects for playing a role for the Buckeyes as a freshman in the 2007 football season.
This Saturday, the former All-Ohio wide receiver from Central Catholic could be in the starting lineup for the Buckeyes. Sanzenbacher has apparently made the most of his opportunities at Ohio State, and following an injury to projected starter Ray Small, a sophomore from Cleveland, Sanzenbacher has jumped up the depth chart and onto the field with the Buckeyes' top unit.
"In their recent scrimmage, he had moved up to the No. 3 receiver and was lining up in the slot, practicing with the No. 1 offensive team," Central Catholic coach Greg Dempsey said. "This close to the first game, I'd think that's usually a pretty good indication of who they expect to play, and Dane looks like he's part of that group."
The Buckeyes open at home Saturday against Youngstown State. Dempsey said he would not anticipate any official announcement until later this week, but he has every reason to believe that his former standout on offense, defense and special teams - and two-time City League player of the year for the Fighting Irish - will see considerable playing time on Saturday.
"I'm sure the lineup is still something they are working on, but one day last week the wide receivers coach did say that if the season were starting then, that Dane would be in the lineup," Dempsey said. "They've said they were going to use him."
Sanzenbacher's father, Lee, has made similar observations about his son's likely role with the Buckeyes.
| OSU SCHEDULE |
• Sept. 1 - YOUNGSTOWN ST., noon
• Sept. 8 - AKRON, noon
• Sept. 15 - at Washington, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• Sept. 22 - NORTHWESTERN, TBA
• Sept. 29 - at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (ABC)
• Oct. 6 - at Purdue, 8 p.m. (ABC)
• Oct. 13 - KENT STATE, TBA
• Oct. 20 - MICHIGAN ST., 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
• Oct. 27 - at Penn State, 8 p.m. (ABC)
• Nov. 3 - WISCONSIN, TBA
• Nov. 10 - ILLINOIS, TBA
• Nov. 17 - at Michigan, TBA
HOME GAMES in BOLD |
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"It's looking like he's part of their plans at the receiver position," Lee Sanzenbacher said. "It's not something they have talked about much publicly at this point, but he's been practicing with the starters. We really won't know for certain until game day, though."
Sanzenbacher, who had 151 pass receptions for 2,808 yards and 24 touchdowns at Central Catholic, said recently that he was not going to get distracted by all of the speculation over which freshmen the Ohio State coaches would have sit out this season and red shirt, and which they planned to play.
"The coaches have always told me and the rest of the guys that if you are going to make an impact as a freshman, then they plan on playing you," Sanzenbacher said. "That's been the approach from the first time the subject came up."
While some naysayers who questioned Sanzenbacher's size (5-foot-11, 175) or his ability to play among the elite of Division I college football could look a bit silly come Saturday, Dempsey has never wavered from his original contention that the player who led the Irish to the 2005 state championship would thrive at Ohio State.
"Given an opportunity, I knew he had what it takes to play there, so there was never a doubt in my mind," Dempsey said.
"A year ago, some people were skeptical about him being able to play at a place like Ohio State, but I thought he could get into the mix fairly early. I'm not kidding at all, I thought he'd be in the rotation my mid-season. It looks like he's enhanced his stock and it could very well happen sooner than that, and we couldn't be more thrilled about that possibility."
Contact Matt Markey at:
mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.
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