Ohio State senior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher isn't the biggest guy on the field, but his team-leading 49 receptions, 818 yards and nine touchdowns have been huge for the Buckeyes this season.

This Toldeo, Ohio native had just one catch in last year's version of The Game. Expect him to be a factor this Saturday.

At Big Ten Media Day in August, Sanzenbacher sat down with the Daily to talk about the upcoming season.

The Michigan Daily What has it been like to be a part of The Game?

Dane Sanzenbacher: It’s been pretty amazing from the perspective of somebody who grew up watching it, and seeing all of those great players and tradition of it — the David Boston’s and Charles Woodson’s — and everybody that’s been a part of it. It’s been pretty awesome to get to play in it.

TMD: Does The Game still carry the same weight even though Michigan hasn’t been on top for the past three seasons?

DS: A lot of people think it’s just something we say when it comes to answering these questions. But when you get to that game you really try to throw out the records, because we know, either one of us, it would make each other’s year to try to beat that team. It’s something we don’t ever leave our mind throughout the season.

TMD: Do you feel the Big Ten as a whole is hurt when Michigan is down like it has been?

DS: I think the better they are, the better anybody is in the Big Ten. It makes our conference stronger as a whole. With that, (it) makes that rivalry game even stronger. But Michigan’s a team that has so much tradition behind them, and talent, that they can’t stay down for long.

TMD: What steps in Terrelle Pryor’s development have you witnessed during his first two years at Ohio State?

DS: He’s had a great offseason. I think his development started a long time ago. It’s been a long, gradual process since then. Stepping into a program that has that much emphasis on the quarterback, it’s a lot of pressure to handle. I think he’s done a good job of it. He’s put in the work he’s needed to through the offseason and these other years to be a good player.

TMD: How does it help you having guys like Pryor and DeVier Posey on the field with you?

DS: I think it makes everybody more confident when you have playmakers around you, guys you’ve played with for a while. We’ve built that chemistry between each other. I think it makes everything easier.

TMD: You have another strong defense coming back on paper, right?

DS: Our defense is always strong. I think its one of the best assets the offense has is being able to play against those guys every day in practice. You can’t really measure how much better that makes us, because it makes the week feel like the hard part. By the time you get to the game its kinda like second nature.