One is a quiet Heisman finalist who came from third-string obscurity last season to score six touchdowns in Miami’s 56-45 Fiesta Bowl-cliniching win over Virginia Tech.
“From a football player standpoint, Willis McGahee is extraordinary,” said OSU football coach Jim Tressel. “He is a tremendous challenge for our football team. He is such a great runner and, as we all know, a receiver with all the big plays he makes.”
The other is a confident 19-year old who was the first true freshman to start a season opener for OSU and who turned in a clutch performance in the Buckeyes’ monumental 14-9 win over arch-rival Michigan.
“Maurice Clarett is a little bit younger but does a lot of the same things as McGahee — excellent power runner, great strength, excellent job as a receiver,” Tressel said.
While the national championship will not be boiled down to one of the many matchups present between the Buckeye and Hurricane players, the highest-profile one is the running backs’ battle between Clarett and McGahee.
“The one thing we have to do is make sure that we control the line of scrimmage. We have to not allow them to make first downs,” said Miami football coach Larry Coker. “Every time when we’ve gotten in trouble, it has been when we let other teams control the clock.”
Throughout the season, Miami has had trouble stopping the run, giving up 171 rushing yards per game to opposing teams.
This should bode well for the Buckeyes, whose strength has always relied on the running game.
“They have a big offensive line. They’re position blockers. They’re patient on their plays. When they have a back like Clarett back there, they have to get on you for a second, and he’ll hit the hole and do the job,” said Matt Walters, defensive tackle for the Hurricanes.
Coker said while McGahee is not as concerned with winning the running backs’ game as he is with winning the national championship.
“I don’t think he sees this as a challenge that ‘I am better than their back,’ ” Coker said. “Our offensive line would like to see Willis have that kind of success, but I think Willis just wants to play great, have a great day and see us win.”
While Miami is the heavily favored team, Clarett said the Hurricanes are still just another team.
“You don’t go, ‘Wow,’ ” Clarett said. “Everybody puts their pants on the same way. Anything can happen that day. I hope we stick to our game plan and worry about ourselves.”
Clarett, who has dealt with an ailing shoulder ever since the Buckeyes’ 19-14 win over Wisconsin, said he is ready to play for the championship.
“I feel like I’m back to 100 percent,” he said. Even if Clarett gets injured again, Miami defensive coordinator Randy Shannon said OSU is more than just one player.
“You’re focusing on Clarett,” he said. “The other running back they’ve got is pretty good. So don’t think that it’s just a one-show deal. We have to stop both backs. We just can’t give up a deep pass. We have to stay focused and be disciplined as a defense and play hard.”
And Tressel knows his team will also have to be ready for more than just one player.
“Miami has the greatest combination of explosiveness and balance of any team we’ve seen this year,” he said. “You have to play your best football to compete against the likes of Miami.”
