Orlando 2.0 is bound to play early and often...or so we thought

You know, for comparison purposes, the 2008 class wasn't half bad.  The commitment of Vince Young's estranged step brother, better known as LiC, sent visions of fallen USC defenders dancing in the heads of Buckeye fans, and Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer's lovechild seems poised to bring the pancake back to Columbus.  The only problem is that the former is buried on the depth chart and the latter has a bum shoulder.  Yep, that's right: Mike Adams, ranked as high as #3 in the nation by some recruiting services and an early enrollee that was expected to compete for the right tackle job will now miss all of Spring practice and a chunk of the regular season because of shoulder surgery.

Fortunately, the injury appears to be minor for the talented freshman that would have certainly seen the field early on.  According to offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, had Adams suffered the injury midseason, he likely would have played through it.  Since this is April of his freshman year however, the coaching staff will likely take the most cautious route possible in order to ensure a full recovery.

Although Adams is certainly out of the running for the right tackle spot vacated by Kirk Barton, there may be a silver lining to this otherwise dark cloud.  Adams' absence will give fellow stud prospect JB Shugarts an opportunity to either beat out Bryant Browning for the position, or (much more likely) work into a rotation with the Glenville product.  Then, if Adams must return with the right tackle position already solidified, he will be put in a perfect opportunity to move to the other side of the line and become groomed as Alex Boone's replacement at left tackle.  With an influx of right handed quarterbacks suiting up in scarlet and gray, I don't think anybody would argue that the blind side tackle is the most important position on the offensive line, and having Adams start from his sophomore year on (in addition to Shugarts lining up directly opposite him, and speculatively Justin Boren somewhere in between) would make the offensive line the group most likely to put through a thorough effort on a week to week basis.

Everybody loves to see the stud freshmen see action right from the get-go, and this year will unquestionably be the most true from that perspective, but perhaps for Mike Adams, a guy who has been ready to play college ball since his junior year of high school, it's best if his first serious bit of action not come until 2009.  Not because of lack of talent, but rather because of circumstance.  Sure, this injury sucks, but it's hardly the end of the world to see a kid who has never played a snap of college football and would likely begin the year as a backup miss a couple of games, even if it is only out of caution.