A year ago, Todd Boeckman faced questions about whether he could win the starting quarterback job at Ohio State.

Now the issue is whether he'll share it with coveted freshman Terrelle Pryor, USA TODAY's high school offensive player of the year in 2007.

Pryor arrives as the first Pennsylvania high schooler to pass for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000. He turned down Michigan and could get a shot at a national championship with the third-ranked Buckeyes.

COACHES' POLL: Five Big Ten teams in Top 25

With 20 returning starters, OSU is a contender to reach the Bowl Championship Series title game for the third year in a row. The Buckeyes, winless in their last two BCS title bids, are favored to win the Big Ten for the fourth consecutive year. An outright title would make them the first solo champion three years running.

Boeckman plans to be in the middle of it.

"I want him to push me," Boeckman says of Pryor. "I want him to make me a better quarterback, a better player and a better team leader."

Boeckman has faced an onslaught of queries about Pryor's possible role, and he has answered them graciously.

Pryor has been asking him a lot of questions about OSU's system, and Boeckman finds that encouraging. "That's one of the greatest things you can do as a young player and earn your respect," Boeckman says.

Coach Jim Tressel points out that as soon as he gave his commitment, Pryor asked for Boeckman's cellphone number to send a text message, another gesture that went over well with the Buckeyes.

" 'I want to tell him I can't wait to come and learn from him,' " Tressel says Pryor told him. "Really, ever since then, they've had some communication."

At the Big Ten media day last month, Tressel said the quarterbacks would room together in the preseason. "Terrelle has been his shadow," Tressel says. "That was one of the pluses we had going for us is that we had a senior quarterback coming back that Terrelle thought he could learn from."

It's possible Pryor can fit in the way Tim Tebow complemented Chris Leak at Florida in 2006. Tebow's running skills made him a huge asset for the Gators, who beat OSU for the BCS championship that year.

"I think that makes a lot of sense," Tressel says. "If there are some things that Terrelle demonstrates that he's going to add to the package that maybe are not Todd's strong suits, then maybe you find that mixture of everyone's strengths."

The Buckeyes need to find their chemistry early, and the return of Chris "Beanie" Wells should help. Wells, a powerful 6-1, 237-pound junior running back, is a Heisman candidate who rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Their defining moment could come Sept. 13 at No. 2 Southern California, a game that could carry weight with voters as well as the BCS computers come December. The Buckeyes need a boost outside the Big Ten given their breakdowns in the last two championship games, the last being a 38-24 loss to LSU.

"I think that's why a lot of people will put a huge emphasis on the USC game, to try to give Ohio State credibility," senior linebacker James Laurinaitis says.

He is yet another vital component for the Buckeyes. The Butkus Award winner was projected as a first-round NFL pick after last season but decided to stick around. He could move up to the top five in the 2009 draft. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and offensive tackle Alex Boone also opted against leaving school early.

They all have memories of two humiliating defeats in the BCS title game.

"You don't want to feel like you felt the last two years," Boeckman says. "It's tough, tough to take that loss."

Boeckman says he's a lot more comfortable this year. He threw for 2,465 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, after barely playing the previous two years.

"I'm feeling that much more confident in my ability," he says.

Joe Bauserman is listed as Boeckman's backup. Bauserman is shaking off rust after three seasons of minor league baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates' system. Boeckman knows Pryor is eager to win the job.

"I would expect nothing less from him," Boeckman says. "When I came here, I wanted to compete for the job. I want him to compete. That's going to push me to do that much better."