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Ohio State Northern Speed Impressed NFL Scouts Again

By Charlie Lockhart

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) breaks around end in overtime against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) breaks around end in overtime against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Players have showcased their northern speed at the NFL Combine and the Ohio State Pro Day the last couple of years.

For some reason nearly every coach follows the recruiting trail down south when looking for skill position players. Supposedly that’s where all of the speed guys are. Has anybody been paying attention to the Ohio State players at the NFL Combine and Pro Day the last couple of years?

If they had, they would know there are some pretty fast guys up north too. Urban Meyer loves to recruit speed that’s for sure, but he understands it can be found everywhere.

Let’s take a look some of his northern recruits-turned pros who flashed their speed to the NFL scouts both this year and last. Noah Brown’s time was recorded at the Ohio State Pro Day and the others are times from the NFL Combine.

  • Curtis Samuel (Brooklyn, NY)  4.31 
  • Marshon Lattimore (Cleveland, OH)  4.36
  • Gareon Conley (Massilon, OH)  4.44        
  • Noah Brown (Sparta, NJ)  4.57

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Samuel’s time was .01 second from being among the top 10 ever at the NFL Combine. Lattimore solidified his position of the first cornerback taken in the draft and a top 10 pick.

Conley probably will now be a first round pick after a very good Combine. Brown’s time is a very good one for a 6’2, 220 pound wide receiver,and he is probably assured that he will be chosen in the draft. He may now surprise some people with where he is picked.

Everyone knows Malik Hooker (New Castle, PA) is fast so it didn’t hurt him not running the 40. He will still be a top 10 pick.

Here are the times recorded by Ohio State players at the 2016 Combine:

  • Eli Apple (Voorhees, NJ)  4.4
  • Tyvis Powell (Bedford, OH)  4.46
  • Darron Lee (New Albany, OH)  4.47
  • Braxton Miller (Huber Heights, OH)  4.5
  • Josh Perry (Galena, OH)  4.68                         

Linebacker Darron Lee blew NFL scouts away by running a faster time than many wide receivers. Braxton Miller’s time was disappointing, but like Hooker, everyone knew he had football speed. Josh Perry had a very good 40 time for a 6’4, 254 pound linebacker.

I’m certainly not trying to disparage the terrific football players all over the South, California and Texas, or their speed. I just wanted to point out there are plenty of talented players up north as well, especially in Ohio. And Urban finds those guys and convinces some of them to bring their northern speed to Ohio State, and then often to the NFL.

Next Post: Recruiting: Hold Onto One Player and Flip Another?

Fans love it when in-state players stay home and play for the Buckeyes. But the fact of the matter is, Coach Meyer brings talented players to Columbus from all over the country wherever he can find them. Not to worry though, the fans in the Horseshoe will root for those players just as much if they were home-grown, because they are Buckeyes.

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