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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > August > 17 > Entry
OSU’s Brandon Saine — Would he leave Pryor in his dust?
COLUMBUS — With all the debate over the rocket-like 4.33 second time in the 40 yard dash Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor supposedly ran during summer drills in Columbus — and only ONE player ran faster at the NFL Combine earlier this year — who better to ask about it than backfield teammate Brandon Saine?
After all, the Bucks’ junior running back from Piqua High is a true track phenom.
He won four state track titles and a national championship in the 60-yard dash when he was in high school. He still holds the Ohio Division I record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.38 seconds. While officially timed at 4.40 seconds in the 40, he’s been unofficially clocked at 4.25 seconds.
With a little tongue-in-cheek needling the other day, Saine was asked:
“So, if they lined you and Pryor up next to each other in the blocks, you’d smoke the guy, right?”
A bit taken back, Saine suddenly turned from a sprinter into a dancer and tried waltzing right around the question.
“Aaaah…I don’t know,” he said with a smile.
“C’mon,” he was prodded. “You’ve probably run hundreds of races.”
Saine grinned and shrugged: “Yeah, I’ve run a few more track meets so maybe I’d have an advantage because I know my way around. But he’s a really fast guy. It’d be a real good, fun race.”
He said he was there the day Pryor supposedly shattered the stop watches: “I wasn’t surprised. He has incredibly long strides He’s a quick guy for as big as he is.”
Asked what he ran that day, Saine said “a high 4.3.”
“Still you’d smoke him, right?” Saine was teased.
By now you could tell he kind of liked the question, though he feigned rebuff: “Man, you are trying to get me in trouble.”
Well then, at least you’re better looking than Pryor, right?”
Saine shock a quick glance at the sophomore quarterback — who happened to be standing about 10 yards away surrounded by reporters — then grinned: “Definitely not.”
When he saw his questioner shake his head in mock disappointment, he shrugged: “Well, we’re both good lookin’.”
Whether they are the best looking backfield mates in college football is for another debate, but they very well could be the fastest this year.
And just as many are anticipating Pryor’s first full season as the Bucks starting quarterback, this could be Saine’s break-out year after two modest seasons at OSU that bear little resemblance to his glory days at Piqua High.
As a high school senior, Saine was Ohio’s Mr. Football, rushing for 1,895 yards and 27 touchdowns on 259 carries, catching 30 passes for another 412 yards and leading the Indians to the Division II state title.
At Ohio State, he rushed for 267 yards as a freshman and, used sparingly last season, ran for just 65 on 26 attempts.
But the other day OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman was talking about Saine being one of the Bucks two primary ball carriers this season.
Thanks to the weight room, Saine said he’s gotten stronger since last season and, more importantly, “I really know what I’m doing now rather than overthinking things and hurting myself.” Because of that he said he’s getting a lot more reps in practice so far this preseason.
Asked if he fantasizes about a return to those glory days he had on the field as a PIqua Indian, he thought a few seconds, then smiled and nodded:
“As I sit here and think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the open field just running away from people. I’d really like that to be part of the picture again. I’d love to just run away from somebody out there.”
“Starting with Pryor?”
He smiled and shook his head, but he was prodded again:
“C’mon, be truthful.”
Finally, he nodded and grinned:
“Sure, that’d be a real good start.”
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Comments
By steve
September 3, 2009 5:33 PM | Link to this
no matter how light hearted or non-controversial the article do people always complain. if this causes a controversy Lee then the team’s got a WHOLE bunch of problems and won’t win 1 game !!!
By Adams McHenry
August 19, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this
Pryor needs to run the ball a lot more than last year, and that should really help his passing game.
By Festoon Fussnucker
August 18, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
But the entire SEC is still way faster, right?
By Max
August 17, 2009 11:35 PM | Link to this
Jon Brandon Saine was not Mr.Football in 2005. He was Mr Football in 2006 FYI
By Jon
August 17, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this
This could be the fastest backfield at TOhioState University . Terrelle Pryor QB runs a 4.33 forty , Brandon Saine RB runs a 4.38 forty or high 4.3 forty and Jamaal Berry Fr RB has jets too …supposedly in the 4.39 forty range ..Go Buckeyes in 2009 . Mr Brandon Saine was Mr Ohio Football in 2005 .
By kontender
August 17, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this
it doesnt matter if saine is faster he is not using it to help ostate and tressell aint either.
By Gracie
August 17, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
J Gaulding must be a friend of the father…who is not even mentioned in Brandon’s bio on the Buckeyes roster. Wonder why? Do you think Brandon forgot? Let that be a lesson to all dead beat dads..your kids might grow up to be somebody and then treat you just like you treated them. No time for you either. Karma is beautiful.
By J Gaulding
August 17, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this
Well of course he has blazing speed. You check-out what his father did at Roth High School, on the football field and is an all state track star. GRAPE CRUSH 4-LIFE
By Lee
August 17, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this
Why do reporters always want to start some type of silly controversy? Show some respect and talk to these players like men, and they will act like men.