Ohio State football vs. Akron: Three key players to watch

The Ohio State football team is taking on Akron this weekend in the first game of the season. This isn't a game that the Buckeyes expect to lose. They are one of the best teams in the country so this first game is not one that is on their radar as far as getting a loss on the schedule.

Still, you never know in college football. The weather is a little iffy and the Buckeyes could have to deal with some rain. If that happens, that helps the Zips in their pursuit of an all-time upset. Barring that miracle though, this will be all about what Ohio State can do.

Can Ohio State look better on offense than they did last year? That will be one of the primary questions entering this game. How will some of the new faces on defense look? Can the Ohio State Buckeyes achieve all of their goals with how this roster is constructed?

There are three players to watch in this game for the Ohio State football team. All three of these players are of deep interest to fans because they are key guys for how this season will be played out. The first of which is the new guy who is leading the offense.

1. Will Howard

No player is more important to the success of the Buckeyes than Will Howard. Howard is the starting quarterback and is someone that they think can elevate the offense. His legs will be a big part of the offense this season, something that hasn't been the case in the last few years.

Why does he matter in this game? It's a game against one of the worst teams that they will play all season. In fact, it will likely be the easiest game that they play all season long. So why does it matter how Howard does in this game when he likely won't even play into the fourth quarter?

The answer is in the execution. We need to see how well he executes a new offense and how accurate he is with the ball. This is the best supporting cast that he will ever play with. He just needs to be able to get the ball out and let those guys make plays. Howard doesn't need to be the hero.

I fully expect Howard to play well in this game for as long as he's in. If he really plays well, he might be taken out in the second half because the Buckeyes are up by so much. It would actually be good if Howard is taken out early because that means that he played really well.

The second guy to watch in this game is a true freshman who is going to be out there from the first offensive snap.