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Buckeyes Have A New Tight End?…And Backup Quarterback?

Okay so let me get this straight.  Todd Boeckman drops back to throw and finds a wide open tight end over the middle - and it’s Rob Schoenhoft??? 

You know I like to think of myself as “in touch” with the Buckeyes, and I like to think of myself as fairly knowledgeable about the team - but I have to be honest here, this one blind sided me.

The Columbus Dispatch reported today that backup quarterback Rob Schoenhoft has been lining up as a tight end in practice recently, and the move has shifted redshirt freshmen Antonio Henton into the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart.

Schoenhoft definitely has the size (6-6, 244) to play tight end, and I don’t question his athletic ability to make the switch as much as I am left scratching my head about Henton as the No. 2 guy at quarterback.

Henton, as you recall, was arrested earlier in the season for soliciting a prostitute who turned out to be an undercover cop.  He was welcomed back to the team, but never would I have guessed that he could possibly become a factor when the Buckeyes hook up with LSU in the BCS National Championship.

However, before I jump the gun here, it is important to point out that Tressel was quoted as saying that Schoenhoft is simply helping out in practice at the tight end spot, and that he has not made a position change. 

But, why would you expose your backup quarterback to unnecessary contact that a tight end must play through if you weren’t serious about him playing the position in the future? 

Plus, Buckeye receiver Brian Hartline made it sound like the move has a chance to be permanent.

“It’s going to be as permanent as he wants it to be, obviously. But I’ve already said to a couple of people, ‘He could turn into a great tight end. You heard it first from me.’

When I thought of Schoenhoft moving to tight end, I immediately thought of all the possible gadget plays that the Buckeyes could run on offense.  Something like the Patriots ran this past Sunday to burn the Steelers - a quick lateral screen from Boeckman to Schoenhoft who then throws it deep to an uncovered Brian Robiskie.  Wouldn’t something like that be interesting to look for against LSU? 

However, I do have some reserves about the move.  As I stated previously, Henton is the piece to this puzzle that scares me.  He is a great athlete and I have no doubt that he can become a solid college level quarterback, but if Boeckman suffers an injury against LSU - does Tressel really have enough confidence in a red-shirt freshmen - whose ego was cracked by an arrest - to come into the national championship game and lead the Buckeyes?  Let’s hope Boeckman stays healthy and we never have to find out the answer to that question.

Henton adds an extra dimension to the quarterback position though.  He has the ability to break out of the pocket and run like a tailback.  The key factor with him - if he is forced into action - will be his mental readiness for the big stage. 

Another interesting reaction I had when reading this was the effect it may have on the Buckeyes recruiting talks with Terrelle Pryor.  If Pryor signed a letter of intent with Ohio State in February, essentially he would have immediately been 5th on the quarterback depth chart, behind Boeckman, Schoenhoft, Henton and Joe Bauserman.  If Schoenhoft moves to tight end for good, it lightens the load at the quarterback position, and gives Pryor an easier chance to move up the depth chart quicker.  Perhaps this move was another chip the Buckeyes are throwing into the ring to land Pryor. 

I don’t know if this was something the Buckeyes took into account when discussing the position switch for Schoenhoft, but it is an interesting side note that is worth mentioning.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 14th, 2007 at 12:38 pm and is filed under Terrelle Pryor, Rob Schoenhoft, Jim Tressel, Antonio Henton, Todd Boeckman, Ohio State Football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.