Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes earn coveted 'DBU' title from major outlet

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ESPN gives Buckeyes coveted ‘DBU’ title

Ohio State has churned out defensive backs for decades.

That success sending high-level cornerbacks and safeties to the NFL has landed the Buckeyes a highly-coveted title from ESPN. The networked named Ohio State ‘Defensive Back U’ in its positional breakdowns of best schools for each position.

With 31 all-Big Ten defensive backs since 1998, and plenty of them have gone in the first and second rounds of the NFL Drafts in the last two decades. All that together earned the Buckeyes the nod as DBU over LSU, Alabama and other heavy-hitting programs.

The top five according to ESPN:

1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Florida
5. Miami

Buckeyes near top of preseason Coaches Poll

The massive expectations were already placed on Ohio State, far before any pollster sat down to rank college football’s best teams.

But now that the first Coaches Poll of the year has been released, those lofty goals for the Buckeyes are confirmed. They’re expected to compete for a national title this fall.

The Buckeyes will begin the season as No. 2 in the Coaches Poll, trailing only defending national runners-up Alabama. Georgia, Clemson and Notre Dame rounded out the top five.

Ohio State received five first-place votes, showing that there are some coaches who think the Buckeyes are the team to beat in the college football world this fall.

LOOK: Full Coaches Poll

Full coverage of Buckeyes training camp

Practice No. 4 concluded with offensive line coach Justin Frye and select offensive linemen were available following the practice. Lettermen Row staffers Spencer Holbrook and Tim May return with another post-practice and availability video breaking down what they learned.

How will the Ohio State offensive line be in run-blocking situations this fall? Do Ryan Day, Justin Frye and the Buckeyes finally feel better about the depth along the offensive line this preseason? Can the starting five offensive linemen be the best five in the country at what they do — or will struggles pop back up for the Buckeyes?

Frye provided plenty of clarity on how the Buckeyes are working toward where they are used to being. Behind a new offensive line coach in Frye, the momentum and newfound energy in the trenches are permeating into a seasoned backfield for Ohio State. Frye and the Buckeyes linemen broke it down. And Tim and Spencer react to it all in the latest Practice Report.

Miss any of the coverage so far from Ohio State training camp? Catch up here:

READ: Three Big Storylines as Buckeyes open second week of training camp

WATCH: Practice Report as Buckeyes becoming deeper, better along offensive line in preseason

READ: Four Lessons Learned from Justin Frye, emerging Buckeyes offensive line unit

Counting down

Buckeyes season opener vs. Notre Dame: 25 days away

Ohio State vs. Michigan: 109 days away

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