BuckeyeGrove.com - Thinking about the punting game

June 24, 2009

Brandon Castel
Staff Writer

It isn't a glamorous position, but punters have been incredibly important to Ohio State during the Jim Tressel era. From Andy Groom to B.J. Sander to A.J. Trapasso, the Buckeyes have consistently featured one of the best punters in the Big Ten.

We take a look at what the position will look like in 2009 as OSU looks to replace Trapasso.

Key losses: A.J. Trapasso
Returning lettermen: Jon Thoma
Spring newcomers: None
Help is on the way: None

Punter
48 Jon Thoma (6-2, 201, Sr.)
17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 200, rFr.)
39 Derek Erwin (5-10, 191, rFr.)
91 Gregory Eisenhardt (5-9, 182, So.)

1. Considering the importance placed on special teams at OSU, could losing A.J. Trapasso be comparable to losing someone like James Laurinaitis?

Not exactly. Don't get me wrong, Trapasso was a very solid punter for Ohio State for quite a long time. While James Laurinaitis started for three years on the defense, Trapasso was actually the Bucks' starting punter for the last four seasons. It's never easy to replace a good punter, especially one that averaged more than 40 yards per punt for four straight seasons. That is the kind of consistency coaches dream of on special teams, but let's not make a punter into a middle linebacker.

Yes, special teams hold a high significance at Ohio State, but there were seven punters in the Big Ten who averaged 40+ yards per punt last season and Trapasso was actually at the bottom of that list. He averaged 4.5 punts per game, which is a lot different than playing 40 snaps a game on defense.

2. With that being said, are the Buckeyes equip to handle replacing Trapasso?

Punter is always a tough position to replace because you never really know what the next guy is going to be like. In most cases, the last time your backup punter kicked a ball in a game was high school, so it's hard to know for sure how good he can be. That being said, the Buckeyes have had had to replace big name punters like Groom and Sander in the past and everything has turned out OK in most cases. They seem to be in good shape, as senior Jon Thoma and star recruit Ben Buchanan are battling it out for the starting punter spot.

3. As a former walk-on, what are Jon Thoma's chances to win the starting job this year?

At the very worst, his chances are 50-50 right now. If anything, Thoma has a slight edge coming out of spring practice based on the fact Buchanan didn't do anything to force himself ahead of the senior. Thoma is a former walk-on, but don't let that fool you. He is a heck of an athlete and can really boot the ball. Watching the kick scrimmage this spring, he didn't look quite as consistent as Trapasso has in the past, but it hardly seems fair to hold him to that standard during a spring practice. Thoma is already the primary holder on extra points and field goals and there's definitely a good chance he will get the first opportunity to be the team's punter this fall.

4. What will it take for Ben Buchanan to step up and take the job away from Thoma?

Buchanan has the leg, no question about it, and he has been preparing his whole football career for this opportunity. The Buckeyes brought him in to be the future on special teams, but they're not going to hand him the starting job as a redshirt freshman. He is going to have to wow some people during fall camp or hope that Thoma struggles if he wants to leapfrog the senior for the starting job. It's certainly a possibility, but right now it's probably 55-45 in favor of Thoma heading in to fall camp.

5. Looking ahead, where does Buchanan seem to fit best?

Buchanan was a kicker and punter in high school and he has said he would like to do both in college as well. Based on the fact the Buckeyes haven't brought in any other kickers or punters, I would guess they think he can handle that role. If he doesn't win the starting punter job this season, he will certainly take on that role next year when Thoma is gone. He could also become the team's kicker next year with Aaron Pettrey also being a senior this year. The Buckeyes will also have former MLS player Devin Barclay to compete with Buchanan for the kicking job next year. Barclay will be a senior in 2010, which means Buchanan should be kicking and punting as a junior in 2011 at the very latest.

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