Ohio State might not use a fullback as much in 2008 as it did last season. However, when the Buckeyes do go with power I formations, the player who will likely be manning the fullback spot will be fifth-year senior Ryan Lukens.

Lukens (6-0, 238) hails from Lebanon, Ohio, and attended high school at traditional power Cincinnati Moeller. He is a walk-on who played linebacker his first four years in the program and made his mark on special teams and on the scout team. In 2007, Lukens recorded five special teams tackles (three solo) for the Buckeyes.

And now, just months after the position switch, he finds himself firmly atop the depth chart.

“It is exciting and I’m just trying to work hard and make the most of it and just help this team any way I can,” Lukens said.

Added running backs coach Doc Tressel: "Ryan looks good and he's been working hard. He made the move and has been able to adjust fairly quickly."

Ohio State rotated three senior fullbacks – Dionte Johnson, Tyler Whaley and Trever Robinson – last year and had quite a bit of success with it. Lukens knew there would be a void at fullback this season and he actually suggested the position change to head coach Jim Tressel prior to bowl practice.

“Yeah, I saw an opportunity and Coach Tressel liked the idea,” Lukens said.

And Lukens immediately went through a December crash course in playing fullback and he received a lot of pointers from Johnson, Whaley and Robinson.

“They showed me the basics, which was nice because I hadn’t played offense in about six years,” Lukens said. “So, it was getting the basics down like knowing the offense, knowing the formations and that was the biggest part of it.”

Lukens explained which players might be his main competition for playing time this season.

“We’re running a lot of pony right now, which is two tailbacks. So, Brandon Saine is basically my competition right now,” he said. “It’s based on personnel because with personnel they could either have a tight end playing the fullback position (Rory Nicol or Jake Ballard) or you could have another tailback be at the fullback position. So, I’m going up against a whole lot of other people other than just the fullbacks.

“The other fullbacks I’m going against are like Austin Spitler, Brandon Smith, Spencer Smith and it’s just great to have that competition to make everyone a little better.”

As for Lukens’ new listed weight of 238 pounds, he says he’s added about 15 pounds in the last two years. And he’s just looking forward to clearing the way for possible Heisman Trophy candidate Chris “Beanie” Wells. The junior is coming off one of the best seasons in school history for a running back (and the best for a sophomore). But he was limited with injuries last year and Lukens thinks he will put up even bigger numbers this year.

“I think he can get better,” Lukens said. “He’s getting healthier every day and he looks 100 percent healthy to me right now. He’s going full-go, but the coaches have to stop him at times because they don’t want him falling on his wrist right now. But yeah, it’s very exciting to block for a back the caliber of Beanie Wells. He is a great team leader and he inspires me a whole lot.”

Lukens certainly has the right attitude for a fullback. He knows he will probably be getting as many carries for the Buckeyes as the people reading this story.

“Yeah, I’m not holding my breath to get carries,” he said with a smile. “I’m just in there to hit some heads, stay square and hold the block for the big man back behind me.”

Lukens was an all-conference linebacker and defensive end in high school, but he never thought he would play college football. His best sport on the prep level was something else.

“Honestly, I was looking to wrestle in college when I was first coming out,” Lukens said. “I was state champ as a junior in 2003 at 189 pounds, and then my senior year I placed sixth (at the same weight).

“The only football offers I really had were OU (Ohio University) and Dayton (which is I-AA non scholarship). So, I was planning on wrestling for the entire time. I didn’t decide until maybe late April or May of my senior year to attend Ohio State and try and walk on the football team.”

(Another young man from Moeller – quarterback Ross Oltorik – is going to walk on OSU’s football team this fall. He is also going to play baseball for the Buckeyes.)

Lukens, an animal science major, says he’s going to spend the rest of spring continuing to learn everything he can about the fullback position. Like Whaley last year, he doesn’t plan for this to be just some type of experiment. He wants to make an impact for Ohio State.

“That’s right,” he said. “I just want to keep plugging and do whatever I can to make this team a little bit better.”