Graduation took its heaviest toll on the linebacking corps. Gone are Kenyatta Wright , Jack Golden , Tarrell Knauls and Raymond Cato. Those four represented nearly 200 tackles and 30 starts in 1999. While those players are gone, the linebacker shelf in OSU's defensive cupboard is not bare. Returning are Dwayne Levels , Chris Carter , Greg Richmond , Jake Riffe and Terrence Robinson .
Levels has the most experience of the returners.
Last year, he played in all 11 games and recorded three starts. His numbers included 44 total tackles, which was the sixth-best total on the OSU defense. Carter is an immensely talented player who should be able to showcase his skills from the linebacker spot. Richmond, Riffe and Robinson are young but talented and should get a chance to produce in 2000. OSU also looked to the junior college ranks for help at linebacker and came up with a good one in Ron Able.