Meyer confirms Ohio State's Braxton Miller will switch to WR

Amartinez@dailyherald.com

Most teams in the country would love to have Ohio State's plan B as their plan A.

Braxton Miller, who was originally the Buckeyes' starting quarterback heading into the season last year, missed all of last season after having shoulder surgery.

Backup quarterback J.T. Barrett led Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship Game, before getting injured and missing the conference title game. Cardale Jones took over in the Big Ten Championship game, leading them win over Wisconsin and then to wins over Alabama and Oregon in the college football playoffs to claim a national championship.

That left the starting quarterback position up for grabs.

"I like the culture of our team right now, and we're going to play the guy that helps us win," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "So, basically, we're keeping score of everything. When you talk about the history of Ohio State football, every one of their names has a prominent role in that history book. And that's real."

So Miller announced that he would be making the switch from quarterback to wide receiver.

"I think Braxton will play receiver. I've worked with him and (wide receivers coach) Zach Smith has worked with him," Meyer said. "He approached me, I want to say about a month and a half ago, and it was a Plan B at the time. After he addressed it, we dove right into it and we've been working him for a good month. However, it's all been without a ball, footwork, conditioning that is position-specific, and the feedback I've been getting is that he looks very athletic. I'm anxious to see him."

Chryst ready to lead Badgers:

New Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst is used to adjusting to new places. Chryst, who was named the Pittsburgh coach in December of 2011, was named the Wisconsin coach last December, following the departure of Gary Andersen. Chryst returns to Wisconsin after serving as their offensive coordinator from 2005-11.

"I think it's helped me in coming back here that our seniors, guys that have just graduated, they knew not only myself but other members on the staff. I think there's a lot of continuity," Chryst said. "I was fortunate enough to learn and, really, a lot of my philosophy came from (legendary Wisconsin) Coach (Barry) Alvarez and some other coaches that I've worked with. So I think that there was a little bit more - they're a little bit more at ease. The older players, they could help tell the younger players."

Chryst will seemingly run a run-heavy offense that has given the Badgers success over the last four years. Wisconsin has played in three of the last four Big Ten Conference Championship games.

"I think there's certain core fundamentals, cornerstones that we believe in," Chryst said. "I think we believe in it because I think it's best for the University of Wisconsin. It's best for the kids that we can attract."

Allen returns home:

Michigan State lineman Jack Allen, a Hinsdale native, doesn't get to come home all too often. "Every now and then in the summer they'll give us three weeks not in a row but scattered," Allen said.

So it was nice for Allen to be able to use the media days as an excuse to visit home.

And he didn't have to go very far.

"It's nice. When I was texting (quarterback) Connor (Cook) and (defensive end) Shalique (Calhoun) they were in a van driving here and I was sitting on the couch watching TV," Allen said. "It wasn't too bad."