COLUMBUS - Last season as a freshman, Ted Ginn Jr. touched the football a total of 59 times, and put it in the end zone eight times. Six of those touchdowns came on plays that covered 50 yards or more.

Ginn, who has run the 100 meters in 10.5 seconds, returned four punts for touchdowns, and averaged almost 70 yards per return on those trips.

Q: When you first came to Ohio State, did you expect to have this kind of impact right away?

A: I didn't know what impact I would have right away, but I

really wanted to show my teammates even though I looked like a small guy, I could make some plays. I was confident in my ability, but still understood this is Ohio State and that locker room is full of great players.

Q: You started out on defense, then were switched to offense and slowly worked into the rotation. Was it frustrating to lose part of the season as that process unfolded?

A: No, because I knew they were looking at me as a corner, with some offensive touches, but while everybody was settling into their positions you kind of had to let the process go along. Once I was with the offense, I had to learn the playbook, and have the players get confident with me in the game. There were times I felt like I was ready to play more earlier, and other times that I felt like I wasn't really ready.

Q: In the last half of 2004 you provided some of the most exciting plays Ohio State fans had seen in a few years. Is all of that cutting and juking and reversing your field something you practice, is it learned, or is it just instinctive?

A: The simple answer is that when you have that many big guys chasing you, then you just ran as fast as you can in the other direction. It's not something you can design or plan, because the coverage is always different. I just run, try and avoid any contact that might slow me down, and keep moving towards the end zone as fast as I can. When the plays is over, I really don't know how far I ran, or what all cuts I made. Every reception, every return is so

different.

Q: Coach Tressel has talked about using you at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, on punt and kick returns, and possibly at cornerback in the red zone. How much is too much for one player?

A: I don't know - but I would like to do all of those things. I trust the coaching staff to use my talents and abilities to best help this team win. Whatever I can do - if it means playing a little defense, that's fine - whatever helps the team. There's a lot to learn to do all of that, but I am ready for any challenge.

- Matt Markey

First Published September 1, 2005, 2:02 p.m.