DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Ohio State's Todd Boeckman has been a pleasant surprise this season, but tackle Kirk Barton likes to jest that the offensive linemen deserve the credit because they're keeping their quarterback as clean as a surgeon's hands.

The Buckeyes have allowed just seven sacks this season, the second-lowest total in the Big Ten and one fewer than they had through seven games last year. And Barton believes he and his mates should be getting more than just a pat on the back from Boeckman.

"He'd better start taking us out to dinner," Barton said.

Boeckman probably can't afford to take those big eaters out for a meal. But if they can keep him on his feet at that same rate for five more games, he just might take them to the national title game.

The fifth-year junior from St. Henry is first in the Big Ten in passing efficiency and has completed a league-leading 65.6 percent of his tosses — slightly better than Troy Smith's school-record clip of 65.3 percent in 2006.

OSU opponents have focused on Chris Wells and the ground game by loading up the line of scrimmage with defenders — stacking the box, in football vernacular — figuring a rookie QB couldn't beat them. But future foes may rethink that strategy.

Although he's had some wobbly stretches, Boeckman is hitting a comfort zone.

"When I came out in that first game against Youngstown State, I was still a little nervous, still a little shaky at times," he said. "That carried over into Washington. Going into that hostile environment, I definitely wasn't at my best in the first half. I guess that just goes with (a lack of) experience, letting the crowd get to you.

"These last couple games, I've improved and have gotten a lot more confident. Going into the Purdue game, I felt 10 times more confident than I did at Washington, just from the experience factor. I didn't let the crowd and the environment get to me."

He also didn't let a long wait in the shadows get to him. Before reaching prominence at OSU, Boeckman had to grayshirt (delay his enrollment for one year) and then redshirt (spend a year in the program without playing).

"He's been a trooper," Barton said. "Not a lot of people can sit out for four years and finally start.

"He's a great player. We've done a decent job protecting him up front and a decent job running the ball. It's a team thing, but Todd is definitely doing his part."