Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Marshon Lattimore and Darron Lee Similar Players

By Charlie Lockhart

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) celebrates with cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) after intercepting pass against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) celebrates with cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) after intercepting pass against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

A look back at Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a comparison to Darron Lee.

NFL Draft Day is fast approaching and the Ohio State football program is about to be in the spotlight once again with three players who will be chosen in the first round. I will take a look at Buckeyes entering the draft this year and their journeys to get to this point.

I will begin with my takes from the time a player was being recruited to play for Ohio State to the present day. I will sometimes compare that player’s journey with another Buckeye who is currently playing in the NFL, or one who has in the past. 

Let’s start with cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a comparison between him and former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee. Why compare a four star cornerback recruit like Lattimore (2014 class) to a linebacker like Lee (2013) who was only rated as a three star athlete? Because they were essentially the same player in high school, Lattimore just received more attention.

Each were outstanding defensive backs, but were playmakers on offense and explosive kick returners as well. There was never a question if either player had the talent to be an outstanding football player for Ohio State, just whether they would get the opportunity to display their talents, and for different reasons.

I followed Lee during his senior season in high school by reading the Columbus Dispatch every Saturday. With Lee’s Friday night exploits it was always a good read.

With the Columbus area football player, (New Albany, OH) passing or running for touchdowns, scoring in the return game or intercepting passes became the norm. Then I finally saw a clip of Lee in a playoff game, and that play is still etched in my mind.

Lee came from his safety position, jumped over the receiver and caught the ball at it’s peak, and somehow got his feet in bounds for an interception. That was all I needed to see to know the kid was really talented.

But Lee was a project as a linebacker, and could he gain the 30 pounds needed to play the position? After a year of coach Mick’s strength and conditioning, and a couple of thousand peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the answer was a resounding yes. After winning a hard-fought battle with Chris Worley for the outside linebacker spot, the rest was history.

As far as Lattimore was concerned, I just had to watch him and Glenville High School teammate Erick Smith play in the Ohio Division II State Playoffs their senior year. I wanted to see why Ohio State and Alabama were recruiting those guys so hard at the time. It didn’t take long to see that they were definitely the two best players on the field, and Lattimore’s talent just jumped off the screen

I can’t remember what his stats were that game, but I’m sure Lattimore scored in multiple ways. You could just tell the kid was special and why he was such a coveted recruit. That’s why his performance last season as a first year starter for the Buckeyes didn’t surprise me at all.

When Lattimore intercepted the pass in the Tulsa game last season, I was certain he was going to take it in for a score. After all, Lattimore had the football in space and he sure knows what to do in that situation. 

After battling hamstring problems for two years, Lattimore finally got the chance to show fans why it was worth the wait to see him play cornerback for the Buckeyes. His 45 tackles, four interceptions and returning that one pick for a touchdown against Tulsa, made for an impressive season to say the least. Now Lattimore will be the top corner off the board in the NFL draft as a Top 10 pick after only starting one year for the Buckeyes.

More from Scarlet and Game

I try to catch the Ohio High School Football Playoffs every year, as well as the All-Star games at the end of the season. Every player on the field in those games has talent, but the cream almost always rises to the top. It’s always interesting to see which guys stand out, and it’s always fun to watch when those players are future Buckeyes.

Sometimes it’s only a play or two in a game when a player makes his mark, and other times it’s just his presence on the field that stands out.  Lee and Lattimore were guys who could make an impression on someone very quickly. When they were high school players their talent was there for everyone to see, so the success they had at Ohio State comes as no surprise to me.

Darron Lee was a first round pick in the 2016 NFL draft and Marshon Lattimore is now about to join that exclusive club this year. The two players each had challenges they had to overcome to see the field during their Ohio State career, but when the opportunities presented themselves, they made the most of them.

Next: Did You Underestimate This Guy Too?

The two were similar players in high school but took different paths to the NFL. Now, one has already became a first round pick, and the other soon will be.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes