Here's some good news: the start of spring drills is just around corner, and the annual Spring Game is set for April 21 in Ohio Stadium.

Coach Jim Tressel is not a one-and-done kind of coach who gains perpetual satisfaction by winning one championship. History shows that Ohio State's leader will have the Buckeyes back in the national title hunt…sooner rather than later. In 21 seasons he has taken eight teams to a national championship game, and he's won five times. That's an average of one title game appearance every three years. So you can bet that Tressel and Co. will have no problem refocusing the players this spring on a new season, reloading an offense that loses seven starters, and crafting a rock-solid defense led by All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Headlines will be dominated with quarterback issues. Troy Smith, one of the greatest quarterbacks in Ohio State history, and backup Justin Zwick, are gone. That leaves the position wide open among three players: fifth-year junior Todd Boeckman from St. Henry; redshirt sophomore Rob Schoenhoft from Cincinnati; and redshirt freshman Antonio Henton, from Fort Valley, Ga. Give the nod to Boeckman as No. 1 entering spring drills. Seniority has its place with Tressel...at least for starters. Sophomore-to-be Chris Wells will be the featured tailback as Antonio Pittman has elected to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Wells is big. He's fast. And he was impressive in relief of Pittman this past season, rushing for 576 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 52-yard run for a score in the win over Michigan. Maurice Wells is the only other running back besides Wells and Pittman with carries last year. Three-year letterman Dionte Johnson takes over the graduated Stan White Jr. at fullback.

Brian Robiskie (third on the team with 29 receptions and 383 yards), Brian Hartline and Albert Dukes will form the core of a receiving unit that was decimated by Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez's decisions to enter the NFL Draft. That makes 26 Buckeyes to leave school early for a shot at the pros. No problem. The team will adapt. It always does. Despite the loss of Doug Datish and T.J. Downing, the offensive line should be formidable with LT Alex Boone, LG Steve Rehring, RT Kirk Barton and TE Rory Nicol all returning. Boone and Rehring are each 6-8 and about 325 pounds. Two-year lettermen Jim Cordle and Ben Person are in line to replace Datish and Downing, respectively. Defensively, Ohio State loses four stalwarts along the front line: All-American Quinn Pitcock (133 career tackles, including 27.5 tackles-for-loss and 14 sacks), David Patterson (23 starts), Joel Penton and Jay Richardson. Two all-Big Ten defensive backs - strong safety Brandon Mitchell and cornerback Antonio Smith - also are gone.

Laurinaitis, who won the Bronco Nagurski Award and was a finalist for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards as one of the nation's top defensive players as a sophomore, displayed the ability to alter outcomes of games in his first season as a starter. He's only going to get better, as will an impressive group of returning linebackers that include Marcus Freeman, Larry Grant, Ross Homan and Curtis Terry. Freeman started 11 games, ranked third on the team in tackles, and also displayed impressive coverage skills.

All-Big Ten end Vernon Gholston will anchor the defensive line after a terrific sophomore season. He started all 13 games and registered 14 tackles-for-loss, including 7.5 sacks, among his 44 tackles. Opposite Gholston, Lawrence Wilson has experience at end with three starts last year, and three sacks recorded among his 14 tackles. Both tackle positions are wide open, so expect spirited battles among the competitors this spring and fall. The secondary is by no means depleted. All- Big Ten cornerback Malcolm Jenkins leads the way. The junior has 16 starts already to his credit and last season he established himself as a big-play performer with four interceptions, including a 61-yard return for a score against Penn State.

Free safety Jamario O’Neal and nickel back Donald Washington have six and eight starts, respectively, to their credit. Nick Patterson, Andre Amos and Aaron Gant are all returning lettermen.

The special teams will take a major hit with the loss of Ginn as a return man. Punter A.J. Trapasso and kicker Aaron Pettrey are back.