The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - While most of Buckeye Nation frets over whether Justin Zwick or Troy Smith will be Ohio State's next starting quarterback, almost as big of a question lingers a few yards farther from the line of scrimmage.

Lydell Ross is the front-runner at tailback, with converted fullback Branden Joe and a recuperating Maurice Hall still in the hunt as the Buckeyes go through their paces during spring workouts.

Maurice Clarett is caught between rejoining the team and jumping to the NFL. Clarett, suspended before last season, is awaiting next week's NFL draft while his lawyers continue battling the league.

Even with Clarett erased from the picture and Ross clearly No. 1, nothing is nailed down at tailback because of a harrowing season in 2003. The Buckeyes were ranked 84th among the 117 NCAA Division I-A teams in rushing.

Ohio State's 126 rushing yards a game were eighth best in the Big Ten, and last among Ohio's D-I football programs.

"Definitely, it is embarrassing," said Ross, who led a running attack that lurched throughout an 11-2 season. "That's something that we have to correct. That's expected."

Ross' 826 rushing yards was the fewest for Ohio State's No. 1 back in 11 years.

Coach Jim Tressel is focusing much of the spring on the running attack. To shore up the tailback spot, Joe was shifted over after finishing last season on a high note.

A physical runner who missed the first four games last year with a torn pectoral muscle, Joe gave a sneak peak at his potential by gaining 46 yards on 11 carries in the Buckeyes' 35-28 win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.

"I prefer to be on the field with the starting 11," Joe said.

Ross, meanwhile, isn't conceding the starting job to anyone. Held back by nagging injuries throughout his career, Ross didn't miss a day of winter conditioning.

"I'm focused on being the best running back in the nation," Ross said.

Ross has shown flashes of that high goal but has never followed up on that promise. His freshman year against Indiana he gained 124 yards. He helped preserve Ohio State's unbeaten season with 130 yards in a narrow win against Cincinnati two years ago but then was overshadowed by Clarett.

With the Clarett question dogging the Buckeyes all last fall, Ross got off to a slow start because of foot and thigh injuries. He finished strong with 167 yards against Indiana, 110 against Penn State and 125 against Michigan State late in the season in consecutive games.

Hall has seen only sparing action this spring after having cartilage tears repaired in both knees during the offseason.

Ross, Joe and Hall will all be seniors this fall, a fact Tressel relies on when he looks for improvement at the position. The incoming recruiting class also includes three tailbacks. Tressel declines to factor them in at the position.