COLUMBUS -- It's early April and most of the nation is focused on baseball, golf and the NBA playoffs following the Kansas Jayhawks' thrilling overtime defeat of the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA tournament Monday.

But in Columbus, the focus is always on one sport.

Three weeks ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes football team began spring practices. To Buckeyes fans, the maddening two month absence of gridiron action has ended.

Let the speculation begin.

Ironton native Marcus Williams, a junior running back/special teams expert on the OSU squad, recently sized up the atmosphere among his teammates as they embark on a journey toward another national championship run.

"Spring ball is more about teaching and learning than anything," Williams said, adding that about five freshmen reported early to take part in the lessons. "But this year, because we have so many veterans coming back, we're putting in new stuff early. Coach Tressel says he's trying to stretch our minds and make us think."

The veterans Williams spoke of, such as James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, could have opted for the NFL and instant financial security following last season. Instead, they chose to come back, making OSU one of the preseason favorites to roll into the national championship game for a third consecutive year.

"Those guys coming back was a big deal to us underclassmen," Williams said. "They passed up millions to come back. That upped the ante. You can tell there's a sense of urgency here."

A look at the Buckeyes' schedule provides a glimpse of where that urgency comes from. Following home openers with intrastate schools Youngstown State and Ohio University, OSU travels to California on Sept. 13, to challenge the USC Trojans, another stacked program with title hopes on the line.

"We think about them a little," Williams laughed. "Mostly, though, we'll focus on each game as it comes. But, we're not dumb. We know that game will be the story of our season."

The 5-foot-10, 210 pound Williams, who works out with Beanie Wells and the OSU running back corps, said his primary role is to search and destroy on special teams. It's a role he has thrived in for the past two seasons.

"I work out with the running backs, and I could see some time in there like last year," he said. "But special teams is my main focus."

According to Williams, the recent commitment to Ohio State by Pennsylvania phenom, quarterback Terrell Pryor, isn't an issue in the Buckeyes' locker room.

"That's not a big buzz with us like it is with the fans," he said. "He's not coming here until June. When he gets here it will be exciting, but right now we just go about our business."

What is exciting, he said, is the competition between kickers Aaron Pettrey, an Ashland, Ky., native, and Ryan Pretorious.

"They are both really good," Williams said. "They always compete because they are both so good at what they do. For us, it's like having two starting kickers."

It's early April and Ohio State doesn't officially open the 2008 football season until Aug. 30. Is it hard to focus now on something that won't take place for over four months?

"Everything we have done so far has gone by so fast," Williams said. "But, it seems so far away. I know once we get to that point, though, I'll think, 'this really went by fast.'"

The OSU diehards are hoping he's right.

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