Earlier today, the Buckeyes added the ninth member of their 2014 recruiting class, and third linebacker, Dante Booker.

Booker was a huge signing for the Buckeyes, as he is rated as the second best player in their recruiting class by Rivals.com, behind fellow linebacker Kyle Berger out of St. Ignatius.

Booker comes to the Buckeyes from St. Vincent St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. The school is most well known as the alma-mater of basketball superstar LeBron James.

Receiving offers from some of the best football programs in the midwest including Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Penn State, Booker was a very highly sought after recruit.

Rivals.com lists Booker as the 10th ranked linebacker in the class of 2014, and the 108th ranked player in the nation. 247 has Booker as the 84th best player in the class of 2014, the 4th best outside linebacker in the class of 2014, and the number two player in the state of Ohio. ESPN has him as the 8th best linebacker and the third best player in the state. The consensus is that Dante Booker is a dominant linebacker.

At 6-3, and 215 pounds, Booker is a physical specimen. With such a big frame, Booker exhibits an uncanny ability to run, posting a 4.7 official 40 yard dash.

What Dante brings to the Buckeyes is depth, and a ton of it. Already boasting one of the best linebackers in the nation, Ryan Shazier, and one of the best linebacker recruiting classes in the nation with Kyle Berger and Sam Hubbard, Booker adds another stud to that already impressive list of Buckeye LBs.

Booker with former St. Vincent-St. Mary star and current Ohio State standout defensive back, Doran Grant.

While the linebacker position certainly hasn’t been one of weakness for the Buckeyes, Ohio State certainly isn’t dominant. Joshua Perry and Curtis Grant will play well for the Buckeyes, but they will certainly not stand in the way of the newest set of linebacking recruits.

Specifically, in terms of Booker, what you have is another Shazier. First of all, they have a little bit of resemblance in terms of body type. Booker is a little thin right now, but will eventually bulk up to the size of Shazier. Their biggest resemblance, however, is the incredible athleticism that they both possess. Not only is Booker a tremendous player in terms of the inside and outside running attack, but is a great coverage linebacker as well. While they may never get to play together, as it’s presumed that Shazier will enter the NFL Draft after this season, Booker will fill the role that Shazier left behind.

Overall, this was a huge signing for the Buckeyes. With two big time linebackers already on the board, Ohio State is looking towards another phenomenal recruiting class in 2014. In fact, it may be so linebacker oriented that some LBs may not make the impact that they normally would have.

Surely be on the lookout for Dante Booker, however, because he will surely be hyped as one of the premier players in the 2014 class.

Dante Booker’s Junior Highlights:

Dante Booker’s MaxPreps Highlights:

Dante Booker’s Sophomore Highlights:

Griffin will be in the mix in the 2013 secondary.

Let me start out by simply stating the obvious: Adam Griffin is the son of the greatest living Ohio State football player, Archie Griffin. That being said, Adam is an excellent athlete in his own right. You have to be a great athlete to get a scholarship to play in Columbus Ohio.

Adam is a 5’8, 183 cornerback who played his high school football Columbus DeSales High School.

Adam didn’t come off the bench either, he was a starting running back, defensive back and return specialist. He started for the basketball team and also managed to make the academic honor roll, the consummate student-athlete.

Adam Griffin got to Ohio State in the fall of 2010 and he was a red-shirt in the last good year of the Jim Tressel administration.

In 2011 Griffin saw time as a special teams reserve, but not much more than that.

After the 2012 spring game, Griffin was listed as a back up cornerback. This was the role he filled during the Undefeated Season of Purgatory. Griffin played in all 11 games, and got in on 13 tackles: 8 solo’s and five assists. His best games were against Miami (OH) where he had 2 solo tackles and against Penn State where he registered another two solo tackles and an assist.

At the 2013 Ohio State LiFE Sports Spring Game in Cincinnati, Griffin was on the Scarlet roster which means he was setting up against the second team offense. Griffin had a respectable day, getting credit for 3.5 tackles ( 2 solo’s and an assist.)

Looking at 2013, Adam Griffin will have a roll similar to the one he filled in 2012. He will be in the rotation but likely will not start. Bradley Roby and Doran Grant look like the starters at the corners with Armani Reeves and Cam Burrows also in the mix.

2013 for Adam will be about using every opportunity to get ready for his Senior year. He may have to be Fragel-esque in order to have a great 2014.

Griffin may find himself in a place that a lot of the last Tressel recruits will find themselves in. Great seniors and players in front of them and great Freshmen coming in behind them. If he is going to be a starter for The Ohio State University, he will have to complete and earn that spot. With Burrows, Eli Apple and others coming in behind him, Adam will have to bring his ‘A’ game daily to have a shot.

Insert New Player Here

Replacing Agent 007: Travis Howard

With his opportunistic timing and ability to handle man coverage in a multitude of blitz packages, Travis Howard proved last year that he was worthy of being an all Big Ten selection. It’s not easy to get noticed when playing next to a potential All-American and top draft pick in Bradley Roby, but Howard succeeded in doing so.

With four interceptions and six passes broken up, not to mention 40 total tackles this past season, Howard put up decently impressive numbers for a number two corner. But, there were many times where Howard drew ire from legions of Buckeye fans because of his lack of consistency. The main complaints specifically were falling for double moves and getting beat deep, along with playing constantly off the line of scrimmage in short-yardage passing situations and giving up many easy first down pick-ups. It often seemed he needed to find a place in the middle. What many do not realize, however, is that many of these instances were early in the year when the coaching staff’s scheme was to play off due to inability to stop big plays. Therefore, adopting a more bend but never break approach as a result of the defensive struggles early in the year. Howard can not be completely faulted for that.

Despite all these worries during the season, the good clearly outweighed the bad for Howard. Having two all-Big Ten performers at corner is never something to be taken for granted. Howard seemed to finally fulfill the promise all OSU recruitniks hoped for when Coach Tressel nabbed him out of south Florida in 2008. He combined speed and power to become a key to the defense being able to start blitzing more often, as the coaches trusted both corners in straight man coverage and also trusted them to cover more areas during the blitzes. It’s no coincidence that the defense improved as Howard improved.

With the success of last year, and his eligibility gone, it’s now time to see what the Bucks can do personnel wise to replace Howard. So let’s take a look at who’s waiting in the wings to fill in at corner.

The Favorite
Even a delirious Michigan fan will tell you that they know who is probably going to fill in for Howard. The clear leader seems to be Doran Grant. This speedster out of LeBron’s backyard was a state champion in the 110 meter hurdles during high school. His speed and physicality is something that has been impressive since he arrived two years ago, and he may be the best player on the roster that hasn’t been a regular starter. This junior seems poised to take over, and this secondary can be absolutely dominant if he holds up his end.

The Young Buck
Early enrollee Eli Apple has been incredibly impressive this spring. Not only did he graduate early and give up things like prom, hanging out with friends and cruising through senior semester in high school, but he also chose to go to the Full Metal Jacket workout that Coach Marotti puts the players through in the winter. He had an incredibly athletic play in the spring game by getting a sack and forced fumble on Cardale Jones, and will almost assuredly get some playing time this year, but will most likely not be the candidate to fill this position right away. But, Ohio Stadium will someday be a fresh orchard ripe for the picking for this Apple.

The 5-star
Cam Burrows is also a young Freshman who will make an immediate impact. This prodigy out of Trotwood-Madison was one of the first and most influential recruits for his class. There is much talk of him converting to safety, so I doubt this spot will be his.

The Legacy
I’m positive that Adam Griffin is getting tired of being accidentally called “Archie” by now, so I’ll skip most of the comparisons. He has surprised everyone by his play during his tenure and was a very dependable special teamer last season. Coach Coombs stated last season that he could depend on Griffin if needed to come in and play corner, and I think he has solidified that opinion by his play this spring. He might get some looks, and at least get a very heavy role on special teams and back up defensive back.

The Dark Horse
Armani Reeves is quickly living up to the hype he garnered in his West Roxbury, Massachusetts high school. As a freshman last season, he also contributed in the special teams game. This spring has vaulted him into serious consideration for playing time on a very talented defensive backfield. Even though he might not win this job replacing Howard, after Roby leaves it will be a ferocious battle between him and Apple to start. There is nothing but good coming out of the coaches when talking about this kid, and the future also looks bright for him.

A dependable corner can allow Coach Fickell to get as creative as he wants. Somewhere in the WHAC he has to find his best option. It might be Grant for the most part, or many guys could get a look. Hopefully the early season schedule will lend itself to many blowout wins, and we will see all of these players in action.

On the other hand, if Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence have their way, this job might be a lot easier than it used to be. Opposing quarterbacks can’t throw while looking at the clouds and blowing snot bubbles. Here’s hoping for an easy go at it for the replacement corner.

The Ohio State University has a long line of well known, well respected defensive backs.  Bradley Roby is a name that you can add to that list.  From Jack Tatum to Malcom Jenkins, with a slew of names in between, Roby is attempting to become another multi-time All-American Buckeye defender.  Scouts are already raving about the red-shirt junior as the top corner in next year’s draft, should he choose to come out early.

In his initial big board for the 2014 NFL Draft, ESPN’s draft expert has Roby as the top corner prospect available and No. 9 overall. – BleacherReport.com

His ball skills are top notch and his closing ability is rivaled by few.  Having played wide receiver in high school has surely helped with his ability to snag inceptions from opposing receivers, which is something he looks to improve up this coming season.  While Roby defended quite a few passes (19), he intercepted only two.  This is definitely an area of improvement needed across the board in the secondary, but with Roby likely on an island in many situations, we will rely quite a bit on him.  Ohio State cornerbacks coach, Kerry Coombs, has spoken highly of Roby, especially highlighting Roby’s preparation with game films.

Film preparation may be one of the most overlooked things when it comes to the common fan’s thoughts on defensive players.  Being able to see differences in moves and breaks in wide receivers patterns may make the difference between an offensive touchdown and a pick-six going the other way.  DBs can also pick up nuances in the quarterback’s movements both pre-snap and post, which is similar to a poker tell in the way they can forecast their upcoming decisions.  These are the things that separate elite athletes from elite position players.  Many guys can go out and run fast 40 times, jump high and catch footballs, but few can put in the time and effort it takes to become more than an instinctive player, to become a smart player as well.

Great cornerbacks have to go beyond instincts, they have to know what an opposing player is going to do before he does it.  Whether it’s a quick slant or a double move deep, corners have the responsibility to read that players movements in milliseconds and make a potentially game saving play.  Beyond that, guys in the secondary need to be able to come up and make a stop.  Roby has shown that type of ability since he has shown up in an Ohio State uniform, racking up 63 total tackles last season, good for 3rd overall on the team.  That type of commitment, to going beyond the normal preparation, making plays others have problems with, not only builds ability, but builds leadership.  This is something the Buckeye defense is in need of this season, with the departure of guys like John Simon.  Clearly one of the most outspoken, motivating players to ever wear the scarlet and grey, replacing Simon on a leadership level is just as high on the priority list as replacing his ability level.

Roby fits this mold well.

He isn’t afraid to get the other guys on his team motivated, and he surely isn’t afraid to get in someone’s face when they need a wake up call on the field.  Roby has been loud and charismatic when needed as a young gun, and now as someone with seniority he will flourish in that role of replacing Simon.  Actions surely speak louder than words, Roby isn’t afraid to use either.

As the season goes on our defense is sure to see its tests through the air.  Consistently known for our rush defense, it’s very rare that teams don’t try to test our secondary early and often.  Roby is the biggest key to this defense, likely responsibly for locking down an entire fourth, if not third, of the field.  Hopefully he’s up to the task.

Reeves saw limited playing time in 2012, but that was to be expected with Travis Howard and Bradley Roby roaming the defensive secondary. He did manage to record 2 tackles to go along with his 45 kickoff return yards on two catches. Reeves will look to break through the logjam of elite corners vying to unseat Doran Grant on the field opposite All-Everything Roby. It is there that he might face the stiffest competition of his playing career to date.

One of the first things that Head Coach Urban Meyer identified in Ohio State was the lack of shutdown corners coming out of DBU and immediately hit the road to rectify the situation. His relentless efforts led to the signing of Reeves as well as newcomers Eli Apple and Cam Burrows. Those two, combined with Tyvis Powell, who looks to have locked up the Star position, may prevent Reeves from seeing the field for extended time unless the Alabama native can break away during fall practice. Where you are likely to see Reeves is in multiple wide receivers sets, covering that 3^rd or 4^th receiver.

Like Adam Griffin, if Reeves wants to start at Ohio State, he has got to make his mark soon, or he risks being overshadowed by the up and coming Freshman behind him. If he can make a name for himself as the type of corner that Meyer expects to come out of Ohio State, he can easily separate himself and earn that starting position.

Fall practice will tell us much more about that second cornerback position, but for now Reeves is fighting a Sisyphean battle to see the field. It would truly be a shame if such a highly touted recruit were to fall to the wayside, so here is to hoping that the young man from New England can break on through and wow the Saturday crowds of the Horseshoe.

Junior year highlights below courtesy of 24/7 Sports.

Coombs inherited a veteran secondary highlighted by Senior cornerback Travis Howard and redshirt Sophomore Bradley Roby. The unit was shaky at the start of the season, giving up too many big plays. However, as the season wore on, the secondary got better. By the end of the season Roby and Howard earned first-team all-conference honors. Roby averaged 1.73 passes defensed per game and Howard led the Big Ten and interceptions.

In addition to coaching an excellent secondary on the field, Coombs made his impact felt on the recruiting trail, bringing in an impressive haul of new defensive backs. The Buckeyes 2^nd-ranked 2013 recruiting class was packed with talented secondary players including three ESPN top 10 CBs: #3  Eli Apple,  #7 Gareon Conley, and #9 Cameron Burrows. The 2014 CB class is starting off equally strong, with 4-star defensive back Damon Webb out of Michigan giving his verbal.

So what is it about Coombs that makes him unique? He’s obviously a brilliant football mind. He wouldn’t be on the staff otherwise. But what really makes Coombs unique is his attitude. Coombs is a fire-breathing, Red Bull-drinking ball of nuclear energy with a seemingly unending tank of fuel. When he speaks to a player, a recruit, or even the media, the caps lock button is always pressed. It’s an infectious enthusiasm that can’t help but rub off on those around him.

I could write a few more paragraphs trying to describe this trait, but I feel like the video below will do a better job than I could ever do.

An incoming freshman out of Trotwood-Madison High School (also home to former TSUN receiver Roy Roundtree), Burrows was ranked as the 62^nd overall prospect (9^th CB) by ESPN for the 2013 recruiting class. Burrow’s was heavily recruited by Alabama, LSU and Wisconsin before ultimately committing to the Buckeyes on the nineteenth of January 2012 making him the first in the 2013 class to commit to Ohio State. Burrows accounted for 39 tackles and 14 pass-breakups during his senior campaign at Trotwood-Madison, leading the Rams to a 12-3 record. After being named to the all-state team following his junior and senior seasons, Burrows was invited to be a participant in the 2013 High School Under Armour All-American game played in Tampa, Florida. Burrow’s was anxious to get started in Columbus, as he enrolled in classes early in January of 2013 to begin his college education and participate in spring football.

Burrow’s is listed at 6’0 202 and will wear number 16 this fall. Burrow’s saw extended action in the 2013 Ohio State Spring Game as star corner Roby was sidelined with a minor injury. Burrow’s brings size and speed to the corner position for the Buckeyes as he was clocked running a 4.57 in his 40 yard dash. In addition, Burrow’s was a two-time state track finalist in sprint relays at Trotwood-Madison. While Burrow’s may not be the other starting corner opposite Roby this fall, Burrow’s will likely see the field when the Buckeyes go into their Dime or Nickel sets in passing situations on defense as an extra DB. Could Cam Burrows be the next great Buckeye corner? Only time will tell as we anxiously await August 31, 2013.

Junior cornerback, Doran Grant.

Expectations will be high this fall in Columbus, Ohio, as Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes figure to be ranked inside the preseason top three and favored in every game they play. The Buckeyes have become the trendy pick to play in Pasadena for a national championship on January 6, 2013. With ten starters returning, their offense should have no trouble doing their part. The defense, on the other hand, will have some holes to fill, starting with the departure of cornerback Travis Howard. Doran Grant is the favorite to earn the starting nod alongside All-American, Bradley Roby, as the second cornerback.

Doran Grant hails from Akron, Ohio and attended high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary. Grant enjoyed an illustrious career with the Fighting Irish and was named a two-time all-state honoree as well as a USA Today All-American while playing offense, defense, and special teams. Grant also received invitations to play in the Under Armour All-American Game, the Ohio North-South Classic, and the Big 33 Game. Prior to beginning his senior year, Grant was pursued by virtually every college football program in the country. Despite living a mere 100 miles to the north of The Ohio State University, he decided to evaluate several colleges and wait until after his senior season to make a college decision. On January 3, 2011, in front of several thousand onlookers, Doran Grant committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Under Armour All-American Game.

Grant’s talents were immediately put to use by the Ohio State coaching staff. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman, not only on special teams, but also as a backup cornerback behind Travis Howard. Starting cornerbacks, Bradley Roby and Travis Howard, returned in 2012, leaving Doran Grant as the backup, yet again. Grant was the first player to come off of the bench at defensive back last season and saw a significant amount of playing time due to Travis Howard’s glass frame.

Doran Grant makes a game clinching interception against UAB.

In week four, against UAB, Grant received the starting nod at cornerback. He was sure to make his presence felt and wanted show the coaching staff that he was ready to contribute. With 1:50 left in the first half, he recovered a fumble to set up an Ohio State touchdown that gave the Buckeyes a two point lead heading into halftime. Grant put the game away with 5:00 left in the fourth quarter when he picked off a pass from UAB quarterback, Austin Brown.

On October 13, 2012, on the road against Indiana, Doran Grant’s name was called again but this time things did not work out quite as well. In the third quarter of a very tight game, Grant came in to replace an injured Travis Howard. Indiana quarterback, Cameron Coffman, decided to take full advantage of Grant’s inexperience. Grant was quickly beat by Hoosier wide receiver, Kofi Hughes, for 39 yards. On the very next play, Grant got beat again, only this time he was called for pass interference, putting Indiana in field goal range. Meyer wasted no more time and immediately took Doran Grant out of the game.

With the Buckeyes returning three of their starting defensive backs from 2012, this unit figures to be a tremendous asset in the upcoming season. With only one spot left to be filled, Doran Grant is the favorite to play alongside Bradley Roby as the second cornerback, in 2013.

Grant’s success will be a key factor in Ohio State making a national championship run. If he thrives, the Buckeyes will have one of the best defensive backfields in the nation. If he fails, however, their secondary could have a long season. A weak defensive back can easily cost a team a game and in turn, a season. This being said, I am fully confident in Grant’s ability and feel that he will become a defensive play-maker. He is an extremely physical cornerback and one of the strongest players on this Ohio State team.

If Grant is able to survive the 2013 season, he will position himself to become the leader of the Silver Bullets, in 2014, with the probable departure of Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier. Bradley Roby is projected to be a top ten pick in this year’s NFL draft and will help Doran Grant exponentially this season. Roby will help familiarize Grant with the defense and more than likely bail him out a few times throughout the year as well. With two potential All-B1G safeties returning, there will be some room for error early in the season but if Grant is unable to catch his stride, expect Armani Reeves or one of the true freshmen to take his spot.

The Buckeye Empire Summer Series continues with a look back at the 2012 season and the cornerback position, Bradley Roby and Travis Howard in particular.

In 2012, the Ohio State defense struggled mightily at times on the defensive end and many of those struggles centered around the defensive backfield. At a school sometimes referred to as DBU or CBU-Defensive Back University or Corner Back University, respectively-having problems in the secondary was especially alarming for Buckeye Nation.

Last season, the Silver Bullets ranked 11th out of 12 in the B1G in terms of passing defense, while allowing 2,922 yards through the air on the season.

Seeing these eye-poppingly bad numbers from the secondary came to become an enigma.

Bradley Roby had a stellar year for the Buckeyes, garnering All Big Ten and All-American honors. Travis Howard earned All Big Ten honors of his own. Doran Grant filled in admirably for Howard when he wasn’t 100%. Adam Griffin helped out along the way as well.

What was the problem? Why were the most obvious numbers so obviously bad?

The answer comes in a couple of parts.

Part 1: The Buckeye corners came up big when they needed to. They bent, but never broke.

Ohio State ranked second in the Big Ten in first downs allowed with 219 and fourth in the Big Ten in opponent third down conversions with 63.

Essentially, Ohio State would allow a lot of yards on first and second down through the air, but when third down came along, there was no mercy to be had. The Buckeye corners were lock-down when they needed to be, but thanks to their rush defense, they didn’t need to be often.

Part 2: They made big plays when they needed to.

Roby had two interceptions, including the memorable pick-six below, that helped the Buckeyes win a crucial game against the 21st ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. Doran Grant had a big interception against UAB. Travis Howard picked off Zac Dysert twice against the Miami Redhawks. Christian Bryant picked off California quarterback Zach Maynard to secure one of Ohio State’s closest games of the year against the Golden Bears.

These guys made the plays that changed the game. While they didn’t show in the box score, these plays are part of what made the Buckeye cornerbacks so great.

Part Three: Deep down in the heart and soul of the statistics, there were the Ohio State cornerbacks leading the way.

Bradley Roby lead the Big Ten in passes defended with 17. Travis Howard lead the Big Ten in interceptions with 4. The Buckeyes were tied for first in the Big Ten with 14 interceptions total.

While it didn’t often show on the field, these Ohio State corners were the best in the Big Ten statistically. They hawked the ball, intercepted it often, and shutdown some of the best receivers in the conference. The tape will tell a lot, but the numbers never lie.

Part 4: They didn’t tackle well.

This is what hurt the Buckeyes more than anything else. While these corners were just about as good as it got in terms of man on man coverage, they did not tackle very well at all.

While Roby proved his worth as an effective tackler and cornerback, ranking second on the team in tackles, Howard had the lowest total tackles of any starter on the roster with 39.

Part 5: Finally, it was all part of the plan.

Ohio State’s defensive mantra was to stay away from the big play. While they struggled with this concept early in the season, later in the year they did just that.

The philosophy that Co-Defensive Coordinators, Everett Withers and Luke Fickell, came up with centered around allowing defenses to get away with the short passing game, treating it a lot like an extension of the running game. The problem with this was that the chunks of yardage were too large. Partnered with the fact that the corners had problems tackling, Ohio State was on the verge of a passing disaster.

Eventually, Withers, Fickell, the corners, and the defense as a whole got things figured out, and the Buckeyes were as good as advertised on the edge.

Overall, the talent of Travis Howard and Bradley Roby shined through when it needed to. While the big numbers weren’t always there, it wasn’t always due to a lack of solid play from these two studs.

While the Buckeyes will certainly miss Travis Howard, and wish him the best of luck at the next level, if Bradley Roby can pick up where he left off, the Buckeyes will have no secondary trouble in 2013.

Let’s hope that next year, the questions will be few, and the Ohio State cornerbacks will provide the answers in the box-score and on the field.

Picture: via @SammySilv

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]]> http://buckeyeempire.com/blog/2013/05/20/last-weeks-links/feed/ 0 http://buckeyeempire.com/blog/2013/05/19/empire-recruting-a-look-at-the-2014-buckeye-recruiting-class/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=empire-recruting-a-look-at-the-2014-buckeye-recruiting-class http://buckeyeempire.com/blog/2013/05/19/empire-recruting-a-look-at-the-2014-buckeye-recruiting-class/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 01:02:20 +0000 Ryan http://buckeyeempire.com/?p=7429    As a Buckeye fan, you expect Coach Urban Meyer and his staff to land a top class year and year out. This year should be no different from the past two elite classes Meyer has assembled. You may go to some recruiting sites and see that the Buckeyes aren’t nearly as high as they have been in years past. You have to remember this though IT IS ONLY MAY!

Click here to continue to Empire Recruiting for the full article!

Coach Withers is having none of your shenanigans

All this week, we at Buckeye Empire have profiled and broken down the men who will serve as the last line of defense for the Ohio State Buckeyes. From Christian Bryant to C.J. Barnett and all the young Bucks who will come into old Columbus town this fall, the safeties unit is quite possibly the second most important defensive unit next to the defensive line.

We are all too aware that championships are won in the trenches, but without the safety net behind them, the line can only do so much. It will be up to players like Barnett, Bryant, Vonn Bell and Devan Bogard to step up and make plays in space while looking good in their uniforms. For if the secondary breaks down, all hell can break loose against a high flying team and the hopes and dreams of a crystal ball in Pasadena come January are all but lost.

It will be crucial for the safeties to improve upon their 2012 performance and the Senior leadership of the starters should serve to do just that. Bell and Bogard, as well as guys like Tyvis Powell (who could start at Star and perhaps even see some time as a true safety) would do well to sponge as much knowledge from them as possible, for they are the next generation of great safeties to wear the Scarlet and Gray. They may even be called upon to perform at a high level in the coming season, depending on injuries and rotations.

Bell looks to be the one incoming Freshman that could see the field immediately. The signing day surprise from Tennessee is a beast in open space, as evidenced by his highlight tape shown below. He has quickness rarely seen in a defensive back and can not only make the open field tackles required of his position, but has the speed to run down opposing tailbacks and wideouts should they break through the linebackers corps.

Do not sleep, however, on Redshirt Freshman Powell though. Ohio State looks to be using a fair amount of nickel defense in the upcoming season, and Tyvis shone at the Star position in spring practice as well as the Ohio State LiFE Sports Spring Game.  The 2012 early enrollee from Bedford is a student of the game in all facets and could rival former Buckeye signal caller Craig Krenzel as the smartest man to pass through the halls of Ohio State. He immediately became an OSU Scholar-Athlete upon arrival on campus and shows no signs of slowing down his pursuit of not only a National Championship, but a college degree as well.

Bogard, coming off an ACL injury last year, is looking to regain that form and nastiness that made him on of Head Coach Urban Meyer’s favorite players from his inaugural season in Columbus. Devan hits as hard as anyone on the field, but the key will be for him to be in the right position to make those hits. As you’ll see in the highlight video below from high school, Bogard will likely get his most of his reps on special teams as a gunner who can flat out level the ball carrier.

All in all, the safeties unit is probably one of the more stable groups on the field. Returning both starters and getting some outstanding players on the field in Bell, Bogard, and Powell, the safeties could be the very key to making the trip to southern California in January to play for all the marbles. Look for Barnett and Bryant to improve on their ballhawking skills and interrupt the passing lanes to grab more interceptions than in 2012.

It will be an interesting and exciting year for the defensive backfield, to say the least. I, for one, cannot wait to see what the unit can do in 2013.

Redshirt Freshman P/S – Kevin Niehoff

Hailing from Mason, Ohio, Kevin Niehoff walked on to Ohio State’s football program in 2012, as a punter. Despite Niehoff’s ability to punt the ball, he was moved to safety upon his arrival at The Ohio State University. Kevin failed to see the field in 2012 and was given a redshirt by the Buckeyes’ coaching staff. Niehoff will have ample opportunity to earn playing time in 2013 but whether it will be at punter, safety or special teams is still up for debate.

The town of Mason is roughly 25 minutes north of Cincinnati and it does not take long to realize that the Queen city runs thick in Kevin’s blood. His father, Rob Niehoff, played college football at the University of Cincinnati and later in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, as a defensive back. Despite the family ties to the Bearcats, Kevin grew up rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes. When Niehoff received the invitation to walk on to the Buckeyes’ football team, he wasted no time committing.

While at Mason High School, Kevin lettered in baseball and basketball, as well as football. He was a tremendously gifted punter but was named to the Greater Miami All-Conference Team, as a wide receiver. In his senior season, Niehoff caught 27 passes for 366 yards and five touchdowns. It is no surprise as to why the Ohio State coaching staff showed interest in him, given his level of athleticism.

On April 13, 2013, in front of a home crowd at Paul Brown Stadium, Kevin Niehoff proved that he came to Ohio State to earn playing time, along with a scholarship, when he recorded the Spring Game’s only interception. While lined up at safety, Kevin Niehoff played a pass from Cardale Jones to Michael Thomas perfectly and made the interception

Niehoff picks off Cardale Jones’ pass in the Spring Game.

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Although the Buckeyes are an extremely deep team this year, Niehoff’s versatility will give him an opportunity to see the field. Special teams is the most likely route for Kevin – defending kickoffs and punts, or possibly even doing the punting himself. At this point in spring practice, however, it seems doubtful that he will become the starting punter in 2013.

When Jim Tressel was in charge at Ohio State, he preferred to extend scholarship offers to walk-on players that were already with the team, to award them for their hard work, instead of over-signing the following year’s recruiting class. Those are the type of things that made Jim Tressel such an admirable human being. I hope Urban Meyer follows in his footsteps and offers players like Kevin Niehoff scholarship offers as well.

The safety position is historically one of the most athletically demanding positions in the game of football, and surely one of the most important.  Whether strong or free, a safety is required to make touchdown saving, sometimes game saving plays.  They have to have quick instincts and reactions, as well as a fearlessness to go up and make a big play.  They can be asked to cover the fastest receiver, blitz off the edge, or take on running backs at the line of scrimmage.  They can play up, they can play deep, they can play fast, and they can play physical.  They are sometimes on the front line, but more often, and importantly, they are the last line of defense.

It’s long been said that it’s never a good thing to have your safety as one of your top tacklers on your team.  This can be both true and false.  Sure you don’t want running backs and receivers making it to the third level of the defense, but with an aggressive defense those guys are often closer to the second level.  Enter Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett.  Both seniors, and returning starters, these two look to anchor a defense that only has four seniors total.  Big hitters and playmakers, Bryant and Barnett were 2nd and 4th, respectively, in tackles for the defense in 2012.  This kind of output can be expected again given both players’ willingness to come up and make a hit.

What needs to improve, are both players breaks on the long ball.  Combined Bryant and Barnett registered only 3 interceptions last season.  Simply put, this must improve.  Something that can happen with safeties who love to blitz, love to hit, love to register tackels, is that their defense of what matters, the air, can suffer.  With the departure of Travis Howard, the teams leader in INTs, the Buckeye safeties are going to have to pick up the slack.  Sure Bradley Roby returns at corner, but with his growing notoriety teams will likely be avoiding throwing his direction.

There has been some talk of the younger talent coming in over the Spring in Devon Bogard and Vonn Bell, but look to experienced nickel back Corey Brown to step up in the play-making section this year.  With extensive experience, and being a former 5-star recruit himself, Brown will be looking to make some key plays on the 3rd and long, and 2nd and longer scenarios.  The nickel defense is going to be a big component of the Ohio State defense this year, as with a terrifying defensive line opponents are likely to be passing it quite often on 2nd and 3rd downs.

These kind of situations are where young guys, and older ones trying to make an impact, have to step up.  Our defense has always prided itself on its run defense.  For as long as I can remember the silver bullets have been blowing up running backs at the line of scrimmage.  We’ve always believed in our run defense, but the pass defense has always seemed to be the question mark.  With Urban Meyer‘s recruiting, and those left from the Jim Tressel era, we may have the most talented group of safeties I can remember.  Talent can go far, but not as far as it can go without experience.

Luckily for the Buckeyes defense the majority of the seniority and experience lies within this safety unit.  These are the guys who are saving touchdowns.  These are the guys asked to make a play on that 230lb running back who’s just broken through the linebackers.  They are back there recognizing offensive schemes, and relaying what they see to the guys up front.  They are there to make sure the opponent doesn’t reach the endzone.  We have to rely on them, because they’re there to defend,  but only if needed. So we’ll watch them, because they can take it, they’re the last line of defense.