Ohio State Football: Impact of losing Kerry Coombs
Former Ohio State football coach Kerry Coombs was one of the top recruiters in the country and many of his cornerbacks have moved on to the NFL.
As the Ohio State football team heads into fall camp, there are many questions facing the Buckeyes as they prepare for the 2018 season.
Can they win another Big Ten Championship and get invited back to the playoff? Will Dwayne Haskins elevate this team to a new level? Will the linebackers bounce back from a sub par season?
All these are important and will be addressed over the next few weeks. The one that intrigues me the most is what impact will the loss of Kerry Coombs have on the program?
Whether he was going old school like Woody wearing short sleeves in the snow, or giving legendary motivational pep talks that would cause even the frailest of humans to run through a brick wall, Coombs left his mark on the program. Perhaps more than any non-head coach in Ohio State history.
Coombs was much more than a motivator. He was an outstanding coach and recruiter who influenced young men.
Since 2012, Coombs molded so many kids from high school stars to college studs to NFL-ready talent, often in just three years.
The list is admirable. Bradley Roby, Vonn Bell, Eli Apple, Doran Grant, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, Tyvis Powell, Damon Webb and Denzel Ward.
He also started the process for what may become the best group of secondary players of all-time in Isaiah Pryor, Shaun Wade, Jeffrey Okudah, Amir Riep and Kendall Sheffield.
He left the cupboard full for Taver Johnson who is back on the Buckeyes staff after leaving in 2011.
Odds favor that the drop off will be minimal. Johnson coached Malcolm Jenkins and Kurt Coleman, among others, so he has the chops to continue building the brand that Ohio State is the place for elite defensive backs to make it to the NFL.
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We have Mike Vrabel to thank for yanking away Coombs, but can we blame him? He saw firsthand how special Coombs is on the sidelines.
Is it wrong to wish ill on the Titans in hopes of getting Coombs back to Columbus when Greg Schiano finally gets his next gig?
My only direct interaction with coach Coombs came after the 62-3 win over Maryland in 2016. After a little discussion on the win, I wished him luck against Michigan.
He politely, but firmly, reminded me that they still had to play Michigan State the following week.
Next. Epic battles at linebacker positions. dark
Coombs never had his eye off the next task which makes him special. He will be missed.