Ladies and gentlemen, meet the 2003 Ohio Bobcats offense.

If an introduction is needed, it's because there are so many new faces from one season ago?only a handful of starters return from last year's team, and redshirt freshmen and JUCO transfers are scattered on the two-deep.

Even at quarterback, where senior Fred Ray returns, there's a new face. Ryan Hawk, who transferred from Miami, joins the rotation behind center.

Ohio coach Brian Knorr said the competition at quarterback has benefited both his signal callers, and both players are expected to play. Unlike previous Ohio QBs since the option arrived on campus in the mid-90s, neither QB is vertically challenged or pigeonholed as a "better runner" or "better passer." Both are around 6-2, 210, can run and throw and have targets to toss the ball to.

"We're an option-oriented team, but it certainly helps our attack if we can throw it," said Knorr. "Our receivers have done a great job this summer, and I think our line being stronger helps."

Knorr said he has been impressed with improvement this summer from redshirt freshmen Scott Mayle, fresh off his appearance in the long jump at the NCAA Track and Field championships, and Justin Riley, a walk-on from Grove City. They join the mix at receiver with speedster Ahmona Maxwell, another redshirt freshman, sophomore Anthony Hackett, junior Stafford Owens and senior Adam Porter, a converted QB. Redshirt freshman Chris Jackson and senior Keyon Ingram give Ohio a deep receiving corps. Seriously.

Hackett and Owens appear to be the starters, with the slithery Owens holding down the slotback position from which he should get several carries as well. Owens is the team's returning leading rusher (389 yards on a 6.0 average) and receiver (17 grabs for 259 yards and 2 TDs), as well as one of the better punt returners in the MAC.

The offensive line entered camp with seemingly more question marks than healthy bodies, but junior left tackle Dennis Thompson said those linemen who returned to camp after being injured last year, along with new faces, give Ohio a big advantage on the line.

"We came into camp, as everybody knows, as kind of being the big question," said Thompson after Thursday night's scrimmage. "To be honest, and I think we showed it tonight, we're doing really good."

For the first time since Knorr arrived as an assistant, size isn't a concern. "We're 300 (pounds) across the board," he said, giving credit to strength coach Sonny Sano and hard work. "I think in every phase, we are bigger and stronger."

After suffering a broken leg last year as a guard, Thompson moves to left tackle, where he spent time as a freshman and sophomore. A third-generation Bobcat, he says he's playing at about 300 pounds now. He said his leg is doing fine, and he's adjusting to playing with the injury?as are fellow linemen like Shane Yates and Brian Brown with theirs.

"It feels pretty good," he said. "It doesn't really bother me that much."

Another big question mark heading into camp was finding a replacement for Chad Brinker, who is carrying the ball now in training camp for the New York Jets. Fleet-footed Ray Huston and Justin Roush appeared to have the edge at the tailback slot heading into the preseason, but true frosh John Taylor, a shifty but bruising 215-pounder from Richmond, Va., has turned heads and has earned playing time. How much playing time probably depends on how quickly he grasps Ohio's offense and how Huston or Roush perform when their number is called.

At fullback, Phil Fountain and Brad Young get most of the reps with Tony Rozzoni in the mix as well. Young looks to be the better runner of the first two and Fountain the better blocker. The reliable Rozzoni, often the forgotten man in the fullback rotation his entire career, has shown in the past he can be counted on when called upon.

Not to neglect tight ends, juniors D.T. Boon (6-4, 240) and junior college transfer Ryan Antle (6-4, 250) give Ohio a couple of tough blockers with pretty good hands.