Ohio State Football: It will be a challenge to replace Kerry Coombs
An outstanding Ohio State assistant is moving on.
It was reported by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports that Kerry Coombs is leaving to take a position, with the Tennessee Titans. That could impact the Buckeyes both on the field and on the recruiting trail and replacing the cornerbacks coach will be a challenge.
Coombs is a dual threat coach if there ever was one. He sends his players to the NFL, often as high draft picks, and is a great recruiter who reloads his unit with more talented players.
During his time at Ohio State coach Coombs has sent six cornerbacks to the NFL. Four were drafted in the first round including three players the last two years. Denzel Ward is expected to be one of the first corners taken in this year’s draft.
In his five seasons at Cincinnati prior to joining Urban Meyer’s staff coach Coombs sent four of his cornerbacks to the pros. One of them, DeAngelo Smith, was the 2007 NCAA interception leader as well.
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He was instrumental in recruiting cornerbacks Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore and Ward. However, the group of corners he pulled into the 2017 recruiting class was one for the ages.
He was either the lead recruiter or assisted in bringing five top-flight cornerbacks into the class, including the top two high school corners and No.1 JUCO player at the position. Coach Coombs was also a key figure in the recruitment of outstanding players at other positions. His efforts were acknowledged by Rivals who named Coombs Recruiter of the Year.
He is a huge asset to the Ohio State football program in other ways as well. Coombs was the special teams coordinator as well as cornerbacks coach so his infectious enthusiasm influenced players from every position unit. The energy he brought to the entire program will be missed.
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Kerry Coombs has been as outstanding an assistant Urban Meyer could have wished for when he hired him before the 2012 season. He deserves a chance to coach in the NFL and I know Buckeye fans wish the cornerbacks coach the best. But he definitely will be hard to replace.