NEXT GAME
Ohio State at Michigan State, 8 p.m. Saturday, ABC, 1410
Braxton Miller’s name keeps popping up in interviews at Ohio State this week for obvious reasons.
Eleven months ago, the Wayne High School graduate steered the Buckeyes into the Big Ten title game against Michigan State, and when Ohio State lost 34-24, the dream script for Miller and the Buckeyes throughout the offseason featured them getting another chance to beat the Spartans this Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
Miller’s shoulder injury in August flipped that story line. J.T. Barrett took the helm of Ohio State’s offense and has excelled, throwing 18 touchdown passes in the five-game winning streak the No. 14 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0) take into this game.
Miller has stayed involved with Ohio State’s preparations as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
“All the reports I get from the trainers are his rehab is going as scheduled, if not ahead of schedule,” said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman on Monday. “He’s attacking it very vigorously, very passionately. He’s in meetings. He’s engaged with our guys when he’s not in the training room.”
Miller completed 8 of 21 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown and rushed 21 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State last season. As a sophomore in 2012, in a 17-16 victory at Michigan State, Miller completed 16-of-23 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed for 136 yards on 23 carries.
Those numbers, nor the fact that Miller won the last two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards, did not impress Michigan State senior linebacker Taiwan Jones, the team’s second leading tackler.
When media covering Michigan State asked Jones this week to compare Miller and Barrett, he said, “I feel like J.T. works better in this offense. He has a better arm. He’s a way better quarterback than Braxton. It’s a big challenge for us. We look forward to it.”
Miller heard those comments and responded on Twitter.
“Never heard of the kid,” Miller wrote. “No. 34. 4 years unnoticed.”
The Buckeyes will have to notice Jones and the rest of the Michigan State defense Saturday. The No. 8 Spartans (7-1, 4-0) have forced 22 turnovers, best in the Big Ten this season.
One of Michigan State’s starters is Dunbar High School graduate R.J. Williamson. The junior has started five games at free safety. He’s tied for third on the team with 34 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Michigan.
Michigan State ranks fifth in the nation in total defense (279.4 yards per game).
“They’re grown dudes,” Herman said. “They’re very physically developed. I can’t praise enough how fundamentally sound they are in what they do. They’re never out of place, never out of a gap. They never get fooled. They never get tricked. They’re as sound an outfit as we’re going to play in my time here.”
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