Funny thing: Ohio State captains are not alike

CHICAGO – Ohio State middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan is glad he's on defense. He says that's where all the fun is and why you shouldn't lump him in with fellow team captains J.T. Barrett and Pat Elflein, the two anchors on offense.

All three joined coach Urban Meyer at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, with McMillan describing himself as the fun-loving captain of the triumvirate.

"Pat is like J.T., a straightforward guy," McMillan said. "I like to play around a lot. The offensive guys are very business-like. When we're sitting around talking about football and being serious about things, they help me, just like Josh Perry (departed linebacker) did. But I like to lighten the mood … at least I try to. You sit here and talk ball all day … you have to lighten it up a little bit."

So it's more festive on defense?

"Most definitely," he said. "We hit people, we run to the ball, and when we get there it's a party. We barely get into the end zone, so when we get there we have to have fun."

Elflein didn't try to refute McMillan's claim.

"We've got a lot going on on offense and have to approach it like a business," he said. "Me and J.T. both talk about captain stuff and handling the offense. With all the new faces, guys come to me and ask me questions on how to go about business at the Woody Hayes (indoor facility). Yeah, it's different (losing 16 starters). But I think we've adjusted."

Elflein isn't without a sense of humor, contrary to what McMillan might suggest.

Meyer sees unproven Buckeyes as B1G contenders

"We've got a new center, but I think we'll be all right," he joked, alluding to his move from guard to center. "When I decided to come back (and not leave early for the NFL), I saw (center) as part of my future."

Barrett, who has the quarterback job all to himself after sharing it last season with the departed Cardale Jones, showed his funny side in relating his early interaction with true freshman offensive lineman Michael Jordan, namesake of arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Jordan, incidentally, is someone Meyer said Tuesday could crack the starting lineup this season.

"I used to get picked on by the older guys," said Barrett, referring to the rite of passage all players go through. "When your name is Michael Jordan, especially when I haven't seen what you can do, I don't know if I can call you that yet.

"I feel you have to change somebody's name before they come in as Michael Jordan. I don't think that's a crazy thing. At first it threw him off. You're not going to call me by my name? No, I'm not calling you Michael Jordan."

Barrett has since changed his tune. Jordan earned his name back.

"He went really hard in practice," Barrett said. "He's gritty; he likes being in the trenches."

MINOR FLAP: Meyer and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio found themselves defending their recruiting tactics Tuesday. A Lansing, Michigan, radio reporter asked them about a Reading (Pennsylvania) Eagle story where Penn State coach James Franklin claimed their programs and Michigan engaged in negative recruiting in the wake of new disclosures in the child sex abuse scandal involving former Lions assistant Jerry Sandusky.

"It's the first time I've heard of that," Meyer said. "I'll address that with coach Franklin if that is an issue. That's a pretty strong allegation. I have not heard that. That has not been presented to me until this moment. Absolutely not. I've had a great deal of respect for every school in our conference. We do just fine in recruiting to not worry about that stuff. If it is true, I will address that."

Said Dantonio: "That's not our M.O. and that's not how we do business."

Franklin backpedaled in comments to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports.

"All I said was that every kid that we're recruiting is also being recruited by Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Notre Dame and that they don't have the same challenges that we have now," Franklin said. "Then, in a separate quote, I mentioned that right now we're (dealing) with negative recruiting. It was two separate quotes, though, over a 35-minute interview."

LOVIE'S BACK: New Illinois coach Lovie Smith is back in the college ranks for the first time since he was an assistant under John Cooper at Ohio State in 1995. Smith played for Cooper at Tulsa, twice earning All-America honors. He most recently was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after reaching the Super Bowl in 2006 as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

In promoting the Illini, he said, "We're Chicago's team, too."

He was asked about transitioning back to the college game.

"I'm not the only NFL coach that's coaching in college right now," Smith said. "Whether it's coaching junior high, high school, college or the NFL, I haven't seen many differences from it.
"Guys want to be coached. You have a different degree of athlete at every level. And for us, even when I was in the NFL I considered myself a college coach. And I'm talking about stressing fundamentals, trying to develop, of having a personal relationship with our players in the NFL, just like we will in college."

GREAT MENTORS: New Maryland coach D.J. Durkin is also the youngest in the Big Ten at 38. He was defensive coordinator at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh and was an assistant for Meyer at Florida. Now all three will be butting heads in the East Division.

"I've been fortunate in my career to work with a lot of great coaches. They, obviously, are two of many," Durkin said. "We're all stealing stuff from other guys we've worked with and for, and that's been a tremendous benefit for me.

"Playing in the same conference is great because you always know there's going to be focus in our conference and those guys bring the competitive level as well. You want to be part of the highest level with guys coaching at the highest level."

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