COLUMBUS - Washington State was on the Ohio State 12-yard line late in the second quarter Saturday facing a second-and-goal. Cougars quarterback Jason Gesser threw a pass to Mike Bush, but E.J. Underwood was there to defend the play and force an incompletion.

        Underwood, a true freshman from Hamilton High School, already is contributing to the Buckeyes as a backup cornerback.

        “I think he just wants to keep showing us that we can count on him,” OSU coach Jim Tressel said. “E.J. is doing a good job of learning our scheme, and that's not the simplest scheme. What's impressed us is he's taken on the learning task and then done it out on the field. He has talent. There's no doubt about that. He needs experience, and he's getting some of that.”

        Underwood is one of four area players coming home to face the University of Cincinnati on Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium, joining tight end Ryan Hamby (Moeller), offensive guard Scott Kuhnhein (Highlands) and punter B.J. Sander (Roger Bacon).

        Underwood is looking forward to getting tested by UC quarterback Gino Guidugli.

        “I picked him off in seven-on-seven camp when I was a sophomore,” Underwood said. “Hopefully, I can go down there and do the same thing.”

        The biggest adjustment to college, he said, has been getting used to the receivers' speed.

        “But after that, I was just fine,” Underwood said. “When I first came in here, it was like, "Whoa.' I thought I knew this stuff, but I really didn't. I think from summer camp to now, I've been playing a lot better, getting a lot more confidence in my game, and it's showing out there on the field.”

        Hamby is a redshirt freshman who sat out last season. He lifted weights and now is the backup to junior Ben Hartsock.

        “He's come a long way,” said Hartsock, who is Hamby's mentor. “Everybody knew that he could run routes and catch passes, but he's really worked very hard in the offseason and the preseason to get his techniques and fundamentals in the blocking game under control, and he's really doing well with that.

        “He's a very coachable player. He wants to get better. He gets frustrated when things aren't going right, when he does make mistakes; that's just his competitive nature. It's that attitude of wanting to be the best all the time that's going to make him a great player.”

        Sander doesn't play, and Kuhnhein has seen action this year only against Kent State. Saturday, Kuhnhein will oppose another Highlands graduate in Guidugli.

        “We'd know each other if we saw each other, but we're just acquaintances,” Kuhnhein said. “Anybody from Highlands I like to see do well, like (Jared) Lorenzen at Kentucky is doing a great job.”

UC has to bring best vs. Ohio State Hamilton grad leads locals on Ohio St. Buckeyes vow they won't overlook UC Buckeyes preparing to go without Clarett

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