COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Buckeyes will be represented by three senior leaders at the 2009 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days and 38th annual Kickoff Luncheon, set for July 27-28 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago: tight end Jake Ballard, defensive back Kurt Coleman and defensive lineman Doug Worthington.

The Ohio State trio will be among 29 senior players out of 33 players attending the media days. The other four attendees are juniors. A little about the Buckeyes who will be in attendance, along with Coach Jim Tressel and the head coaches from the 10 other Big Ten teams:

• Ballard, from Springboro, Ohio, is a three-year letterman who has played in 38 games and started 10 times. He has shared starts, playing time and two-tight-end sets with Rory Nicol the past two years and has shown the ability to be a dominant blocker along the edge. He has caught 20 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns.
• Coleman, already selected to the preseason watch list for the Lott Trophy, to Phil Steele’s preseason all-Big Ten team and a preseason All-American by NationalChamps.net, is a veteran of 37 games and 24 starting assignments in the secondary – 13 starts at strong safety and 11 at free safety – for the Buckeyes. One of the team’s heaviest hitters, the Dayton native has 151 career tackles and four interceptions.
• Worthington, a fifth-year senior from Athol Springs, N.Y., has made 22 starts at defensive tackle and he has played in 33 games over the last three seasons. A versatile player who gives the Buckeyes depth at all four d-line positions, Worthington has made 61 tackles and recorded 7.0 tackles behind the line for losses totaling 30 yards.    

The Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon will be held Tuesday, July 28. The event begins at 10 a.m. CT with the players and coaches autograph and photo session for fans attending the luncheon. The luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. CT, with comments from all 11 coaches and returning All-Big Ten wide receiver Eric Decker of Minnesota, who will speak on behalf of the players in attendance.

The list of student-athletes scheduled to attend includes 17 former All-Big Ten selections, including nine first-team honorees from a year ago. The list also includes three standouts who were recognized as their respective teams’ Most Valuable Players last season.

Players Attending the 2009 Kickoff Luncheon

Illinois
Arrelious Benn - JR.  WR
Doug Pilcher - SR. DL
Juice Williams - SR. QB

Indiana                                                   
Ben Chappell - JR QB
Jammie Kirlew - SR DE
Will Patterson - SR LB

Iowa
Pat Angerer - SR LB
A.J. Edds - SR LB
Tony Moeaki - SR TE

Michigan                    
Stevie Brown - SR LB/S
Zoltan Mesko - SR P
Mark Ortmann - SR LT
                                   
Michigan State           
Greg Jones - JR LB
Brett Swenson - SR PK
Blair White - SR WR
                                   
Minnesota                  
Garrett Brown - SR DT
Lee Campbell - SR LB
Eric Decker - SR WR
                 
Northwestern
Mike Kafka - SR QB      
Brad Phillips - SR S
Corey Wootton - SR DE

Ohio State                 
Jake Ballard - SR TE
Kurt Coleman - SR  DB
Doug Worthington - SR DE

Penn State                 
Daryll Clark - SR QB
Sean Lee - SR  LB
Jared Odrick - SR DT

Purdue                      
 Joey Elliott - SR QB
Mike Neal - SR DT
Keith Smith - JR WR

Wisconsin                   
Garrett Graham - SR TE
Jaevery McFadden - SR LB
O’Brien Schofield - SR DL

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