OSU Notebook: Posey could go against brother today

COLUMBUS - After quarterback Terrelle Pryor, maybe the most impressive freshman for Ohio State in its opener last week was wide receiver DeVier Posey.

The 6-foot, 3-inch 205-pound Cincinnati LaSalle graduate caught four passes for 47 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown throw from Todd Boeckman in a 43-0 win over Youngstown State.

He displayed the athletic ability that made him a state champion in the 400 meters last spring and a basketball player with a 33-inch vertical jump. He also stayed calm in his first time in front of 105,000 people at Ohio Stadium.

He says his mom, Julie, might have a little trouble staying calm this week, though, with him playing for Ohio State and his older brother, Julian, playing for Ohio University against the Buckeyes.

"My mom is going to be nervous, I don't know how she's going to make it through it, she's nervous just when we play against somebody else," Posey said.

Julian Posey is a sophomore cornerback for the Bobcats.

If the two brothers get on the field at the same time, it will be the first time they have competed against each other in organized football.

"It's all football to me. I've played him one-on-one in basketball and had chances to beat him but never really did. But I don't think that's going to be the case this time," DeVier Posey said.

Coach Jim Tressel says Posey has been impressive from the time he arrived at Ohio State.

"In the summertime all the older guys kept buzzing about him, whenever we'd see the older guys, we'd say, ‘Are you taking care of the younger guys,' and they'd say, ‘Oh, yeah, that Posey can play,'" Tressel said.

INJURY UPDATE: Safety Kurt Coleman will return today after sitting out the Youngstown State game because of a sprained ankle. Offensive tackle Alex Boone has been treated for an elbow infection this week but is expected to play.

Defensive back James Scott, who did not report for preseason practice, has left the team and is considering a transfer.

GRATEFUL FULLBACK: For most of the summer, the word out of Ohio State was that linebacker Curtis Terry would be converted to a fullback this season, but when last week's opener came around, it was former tight end Brandon Smith filling that position.

Smith says the move was something that happened without a lot of advance notice for him, too.

   "There wasn't much discussion. I was excited to do it. I'm happy to get to play on Saturdays. That's the goal of everyone in that locker room," he said.

AREA CONNECTIONS: Two of the 12 former athletes inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend, Kalida's Amy Langhals and St. Henry's Bob Hoying, have direct connections to the area.

Two others have indirect connections. Former football player, and now OSU assistant coach, Jeff Uhlenhake, has family roots in St. Henry. And gymnast Drew Durbin is the son-in-law of former Lima resident Diane Cockerell Beatty.