BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

I don't know what Beau Blankenship would be doing if he was still in Ames, but his decision to transfer to Ohio has a lot of Bobcats excited for the 2013 season.

Since transferring from Iowa State, Blankenship has shown and proved himself to be one of the top running backs in the Mid-American Conference. His complementing Tyler Tettleton has been what Frank Solich's offense has needed to roll on all cylinders.

While at Iowa State, Blankenship only managed to accumulate 11 yards on the ground. In 2011 during his first year with the 'Cats, he racked 42 times that, picking up 462 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

He exploded last year during his junior season, probably because he decided to grow dreadlocks during the fall. Blankenship rushed for a school-record 1,604 yards and tallied 15 touchdowns on the year. After the season he earned Second Team All-MAC honors and was named Co-MVP of the Independence Bowl win over Louisiana Monroe where he rushed for four touchdowns.

Blankenship has been a workhorse, especially with his backfield mate Ryan Boykin dealing with injuries throughout his career. He has toted the rock 409 times, 312 of those times last season. His hard work has paid off, too. He's reached the century mark 10 times over his career.

Blankenship finished second in the MAC in rushing last season behind Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch. This season he'll have Lynch to compete with along with six other Doak Walker Watch List running backs. This will be his best chance to reach his pinnacle as he is surrounded with plenty of senior talent including fellow Oklahomans Tettleton and Donte Foster.

Blankenship has a tough test to start the season as Ohio heads to Louisville on Sept. 1 to take on the AAC favorite Cardinals.

Then 2011 happened, and seemingly overnight everything changed.

That season an unknown quarterback by the name of Tyler Tettleton launched an all-out assault on the Ohio record books. In his first season as the ‘Cats starting QB, the right-hander tossed 3,302 yards and 28 touchdown (both single-season records), setting 12 total records while leading Ohio to its first ever bowl victory.

Overnight Bobcats' history had changed. They suddenly had a great MAC quarterback of their own.

Now entering his third season behind center the redshirt senior is already owner of the Bobcats’ records for career yards (6,274), career touchdowns (46), and career passing efficiency (143.0). All told the programs only QB to toss for 3,000 yards in a season already owns seven school career records, with more to fall after this season.

Tettleton wasn’t supposed to be this good. At 6 foot even, and just a two-star prospect coming out of high school in his native Oklahoma, the Bobcats were the only FBS program to offer him a scholarship. Tettleton, the son of former MLB catcher Mickey Tettleton (you know, the guy who’s power surge in 1989 was credited to…Fruit Loops. Huh!?), wasn’t supposed to be more than just another Ohio quarterback. Now he's arguably the best Ohio football player ever.

In two short seasons as the leader of the Bobcats, Tettleton has led the program to its only two bowl victories in school history, and has seen the ‘Cats turn into a perennial MAC powerhouse. In 2012 he elevated the ‘Cats to a Top-25 ranking, executed the team’s single biggest victory in its long history, and had the team's second best single-season passing total...and that was a down year.

Injuries plagued Tettleton last season, seeing his numbers slip across the board. But back and ready for his final season, he is poised to add to his legacy as THE greatest football player in school history.

Known for his incredible decision making abilities (18 TD's to just four INT's in 2012) Tettleton can make plays with his arm, and on the ground. In 2011 he added 658 yards and 10 scores on the ground, and if he can remain fully healthy this season, should see those numbers return.

The only real thing left for Tettleton to prove however is the one piece of hardware that has alluded him during his spectacular two-season run: A MAC Championship ring. In 2011 Tettleton had the Bobcats up 20-0 at halftime, before dropping to NIU 23-20. Last season he led Ohio to a 7-0 start, before losing four of its last five regular season games and slipping to third in the MAC East. Tettleton and his longtime friend and former high school teammate Beau Blankenship will get one last chance at capturing a MAC Championship this fall.

But even if they fall short, there's no denying the fact that Ohio finally got the MAC worthy quarterback it deserved.

Coming in at No. 36, and the second Bobcat to make the list, is a player who didn't take a single snap in 2012.

After a stellar redshirt junior season for the Ohio Bobcats in 2011, cornerback Travis Carrie was poised to make a huge impact for the Bobcats in 2012. In 2011 Carrier earned All-MAC second team for the season with career highs in tackles (49), passes defended (13) and interceptions (4). He showed no signs of slowing down heading into 2012.

The 5-foot-11 redshirt senior was named to the 2012 Phil Steele All-Mid-American Conference Preseason First-Team and was considered one of the top defenders in the conference. He also was named to the pre-season Thorpe Award watch list, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. Carrie was the leader of a 'Cats secondary poised to be the best in the conference and a key piece in the 'Cats quest for a second consecutive bowl win.

But then weeks before the season was set to begin in Happy Valley, Carrie went down for the season.

Carrie suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery as one of many blows the Ohio secondary took in the 2012 season. In the end the 'Cats pass defense suffered, finishing in the middle of the pack as inexperienced underclassmen were thrust into starting roles.

But Carrie applied for and was granted a sixth year of eligibility and is back to reclaim his title as one of the top defenders in the MAC.

In his time in Athens, the Antioch, Calif., native has become an elder statesman of sorts. Entering his second year as a team captain and his second year in grad school, Carrie is the leader of a 'Cats secondary that now possess a wealth of experience. With fellow seniors Jamil Shaw, cornerback, and Xavier Hughes, safety, also back from season ending injuries in 2012 the Ohio secondary looks ready to pick up where they left off in 2011. Carrie will be a key force behind their success.

If Carrie and his group of skilled defensive backs can improve upon their performance last season, it could be just what Ohio needs to win a MAC Championship in 2013. But it won't be easy.

The 'Cats will be tested all season, especially in Week One when Ohio travels to Louisville to take on Heisman hopeful Teddy Bridgewater and the Louisville Cardinals on ESPN. If Carrie can have a big game, he could not only find himself back into contention for being one of the top defenders in the MAC, he could work his way back into being a possible NFL Draft pick at the end of the season.

But looking forward, if the NFL doesn't work out, and Carrie can't find a job with either of his (soon-to-be) two degrees, the soft-spoken hitter could always look for a job in television. He's already hosted his own MTV Cribs-style tour of Peden Stadium.

#63. Jon Lechner, OL

Since Athens is only a 17 hour road trip away, it makes sense that Nebraska would pipeline some of its finest football talents to Bobcat Country. With Fightin' Frank Solich's combined forty years spent at Nebraska as a player and coach, he garnished the recognition to drive high school football players from the Cornhusker State to the Buckeye State. This season will be no exception, with Frankie's 2013 edition of Nebraska talent will be offensive lineman Jon Lechner.

Although it will be the players from Oklahoma winning fans' hearts with their playmaking abilities for Ohio, the hogs up front enabling that to happen will be led by Lechner, who has been the Cal Ripken, Jr. of Ohio's offensive line over his career only missing one game through three seasons. Considering his experience heading into 2013, Ohio will look to Lechner's leadership along the O-line to replace Eric Herman and Skyler Allen, who both made the jump to the NFL (Allen has since been cut by the Lions.)

Lechner's efforts up front helped Beau Blankenship break out in 2012, earning 2nd Team All-MAC. Last season,behind Lechner and the O-line, the Green and White amassing 2,643 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. Lechner's duties as a tackle mean keeping Tyler Tettleton safe in the pocket (so that, you know, he can be on this list, too.) Last season, he recorded 51 knockdowns and 46 pancakes and I would be willing to bet that his six-foot-five frame could mass consume flapjacks at the breakfast table as well.

Not only is he following in the footsteps of past NFL-caliber linemen, Lechner has Nebraskan Bobcat alums Noah Keller and Phil Bates to reminisce of and young guns Derrius Vick, Jake Schany and Casey Sayles to mentor for the growth of Ohio as a mid-major power in Division I football.

Since he embarked to Athens from Omaha Creighton Prep in 2009, Lechner has helped Ohio to a conference championship game in 2011 and has been a part of a program that has pulled off back-to-back wins in bowl games. Ohio hopes that Lechner's 38 career appearances in games will translate into offensive fireworks for the 'Cats in 2013. With a senior laden group including Lechner, Sam Johnson and John Prior up front and Tettleton and Blankenship in the backfield, this Ohio group is expecting to go further than ever before with their eyes set on dethroning the Northern Illinois Huskies as MAC Champions.