As a 17-year-old freshman, he started in Ohio Stadium against the Ohio State Buckeyes, and helped lead the Bobcats to a 10-10 halftime tie before being injured. A year later, he led Ohio to wins at Minnesota and against Marshall, as Ohio posted a 7-4 record.

Still, during last season's disappointing 1-10 campaign and before, he's heard the critics?that the option specialist is not big or strong enough or doesn't pass good enough or that he can't run like predecessor Kareem Wilson. This year, his last as a Bobcat, Dontrell Jackson is out to prove them wrong.

Jackson, who has jitterbugged for 1,864 career yards but had a disappointing second half in 2001 as he struggled with the effects of a concussion, was asked prior to spring ball to compete for the starting quarterback role with Freddie Ray. The 5-10 senior from Harvey, Ill, responded to the challenge by improving his strength and talents during the offseason, and goes into the opener at Pitt as the entrenched starter, even if Ray gets playing time.

Any quarterback can silence the critics by producing championships, and no Ohio quarterback has produced one since Cleve Bryant in 1968. Dontrell told us the team has put last season's strife-ridden debacle behind them, and that he especially looks at the Marshall game two years ago as proof that the Bobcats can contend for the MAC title.

"If we have play like that, I think we will be a contender," he said. "If we keep our focus and don't let anything break us down, then I think we'll be fine. We'll be just fine."