Buckeye Bits: Key Outland Trophy contender who returns at his starting left tackle spot ... tremendously talented veteran player who possesses the physical tools to be a standout ... can play either tackle spot, but has settled into the left side for the Buckeyes ... big, strong, aggressive and smart ... effective as a pass protector because of his combination of deft footwork and balance ... studies the game intently.

2007 (Junior): Third-year starter at left tackle ... second team all-Big Ten (media, coaches, Rivals) ... 22 career starts ... offensive player of week: Purdue ... Jim Parker lineman of week: Northwestern, Penn State ... third-year letterman

2006 (Sophomore): Started the first nine games at left tackle, but missed the next two (Illinois and Northwestern) before returning as a reserve against Michigan ... was back in the starting lineup in the national championship game ... team’s offensive lineman of the game vs. Penn State ... helped the Buckeyes average 229.7 yards passing per game ... Buckeyes also ran for 180.1 yards per game for an average of 409.8 total yards per game ... offense racked up a season-high 540 yards vs. Indiana and 503 yards against Michigan also bettered 400 yards eight times ... offensive line allowed just 12 sacks in the regular season.

2005 (Freshman): Played in 11 of the Buckeyes’ 12 games for a total of 126 minutes ... Texas is the only game he did not play in ... took over for Barton at Penn State and started the Michigan State, Indiana and Minnesota games the next three weeks ... logged 30 minutes in a hard-fought win at Minnesota.

High School: A USA Today and Parade All-American as a senior ... three-year starter at St. Edward and a first-team All-Ohio selection as a junior and senior ... St. Edward lost in the state championship game his junior year ... started in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in December and enrolled at Ohio State the following month ... lettered in track for two years (shot and discus) and also played basketball for a year ... committed to Ohio State at the beginning of his junior year ... was considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation coming out of high school and enrolled at Ohio State early (the start of Winter Quarter 2005) to get a head start.

Personal: Son of Amy Boone ... has an older brother James, who was recently discharged from the Marine Corps, and a younger sister, Julianna ... an uncle, Ed Boone, played football at Penn State ... enjoys hunting and playing golf.