Ohio State's Hall Does Well In College Debut

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What's brewing today with the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes ...

BUCKEYES BUZZ: He's not even in the top two on the depth chart, but a lot of people are talking about freshman TB Jordan Hall.

In his first collegiate appearance in Saturday's 38-0 win over Toledo in Cleveland, the former high school teammate of QB Terrelle Pryor had seven carries for 44 yards, including a 17-yarder. He showed signs of being able to muscle between the tackles, fight for extra yards and enough speed to get outside.

Hall is still far behind starter Dan "Boom" Herron and Brandon Saine, but at least he's got people talking.

"You know, Jordan's been impressive since he's been here," coach Jim Tressel said. "He's a hard-nosed kid, studies the game, has done well running the football every chance he's gotten, so now that we've seen him in a game, obviously it makes it easier to put him into a game."

No one was more impressed than Saine, who stands to lose the most if Hall gets more playing time.

"He's a really tough back. He might be a small guy but he's tough and quick. He's really good," Saine said. "I wish I had those moves. I guess my center of gravity is not low enough."

Despite being impressed with Hall, Tressel said he won't be playing a whole lot more, if at all.

"There's only one tailback and Boom's going to play and Brandon Saine is going to play, so he's going to get his opportunities but to say all of a sudden you get 30 carries or whatever, I don't know that he's warranted that at this point," Tressel said.

Jaamal Berry, another freshman who came in with a glittering resume, is injured and may be redshirted.

ILLINI RUSHERS: Illinois is second in the Big Ten in rushing despite the fact that no individual has even 150 net yards through two games.

Starting TB Daniel Dufrene has a bad ankle and so far has just five carries for 61 yards. Other backs have also been hobbled, but last week's bye week helped them recover for Saturday's game against the No. 13 Buckeyes.

"Yeah, I think they're all a hundred percent, all healthy," coach Ron Zook said. "They all understand they're all important, they're all gonna' play. We need 'em all."

Sophomore Mikel Leshoure is back with the team after missing the Illinois State game due to a suspension over a team rules violation Zook won't discuss.

BIG KAT: Among the athletes being inducted into Ohio State's athletic hall of fame this weekend is former standout LB Andy Katzenmoyer.

"He was a big guy," said Tressel, who was coaching at Youngstown State when Katzenmoyer played for the Buckeyes from 1996-98. "I saw him on TV highlights. I said, 'That's a big guy that can run awfully fast.' He was on some very, very good teams, as I recall. Went on and was projected to do the same at the next level and then what I know of is, his injury stopped all that."

Katzenmoyer played for a year or two in the NFL but was bothered by injuries that shortened his career.

The Big Kat has continued to impact Ohio State's program.

"You know, (three-time All-American linebacker) James Laurinaitis used to wear Andy Katzenmoyer's jerseys around and I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten James Laurinaitis if there hadn't been that connection," Tressel said.