It’s likely Ohio State football will continue to be known as DBU after this season. The back-end of the defense should be very strong once again.
With coaching changes, cornerback Denzel Ward moving on to the NFL and safety spots to fill, some may think the back-end of the defense could be a weakness for the Ohio State football team. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Losing cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs could have been a big blow but not with Taver Johnson taking his place. After all, coach Johnson’s first stint with the Buckeyes was a very successful one and he has sent players to the NFL as well.
Alex Grinch joined the staff to coach to allow Greg Schiano more time to oversee the entire defense. The former Washington State DC is well-known for being a terrific defensive backs coach.
Now for the talent on the field. There will be plenty, especially at the cornerback position.
Damon Arnette will once again be roaming the backfield at corner and / or nickel. He was much improved last year and I expect him to have a fine season.
As a true freshman Jeffrey Okudah showed everyone why he was the No. 1 corner in the 2017 recruiting class. He continually improved throughout the season, and when he filled in for Ward in the bowl game the defensive backfield didn’t miss a beat.
Kendall Sheffield was the No. 1 JUCO corner in 2017 and played well last season. After a year of playing press coverage, it will be interesting to see how good he will be.
It has been reported DC Greg Schiano plans to use those corners in a three-man rotation.
However, don’t sleep on this guy making an impact as well. Shaun Wade was the 2nd ranked corner in the 2017 recruiting class and it was reported he had an excellent fall camp, even though he’s coming back from an injury.
Three of the four safety positions in the two deep are settled.
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Junior Jordan Fuller has been a very good player for the Buckeyes since his freshman season. He was named a defensive captain and I expect him to have an All-American type season. There is a battle going on among talented players to be his backup.
There is also a battle at the other safety position and the two players couldn’t have started their Buckeye careers from different vantage points. Isaiah Pryor was a top ten safety in the 2017 recruiting class. Jahsen Wint was the No. 871 player in the country in 2016.
Wint has continued to impress everyone and is battling Pryor for the starting spot. However it plays out, it has been reported both will be in the safety rotation because they have performed so well in fall camp.
There you have it, the back-end of the defense will once again be loaded with talent, and those players will have terrific coaches to lead them.
Expect the group to once again be a strength of the defense. And when players like Arnette, Sheffield and / or Fuller move on to the NFL next year, Ohio State will continue be known as DBU.