Ohio State Football: What to expect from Shaun Wade in 2020
By Ben Swanger
Shaun Wade on the outside
In the slot Wade was often aligned in off-coverage, but as an outside feature cornerback, Wade is going to come up in press coverage. Wade has the necessary size to provide some physicality at the point of release and at the catch point, but we just haven’t seen it from his snaps inside.
Because of Wade’s speed, he can run step for step with anybody. He’s covered good slot receivers like KJ Hamler from Penn State, but we’ve yet to see him line up with the lone receiver who has a size advantage on him.
In 2020 Wade will be the most athletic corner on the field for the Silver Bullets. Because the other corners around Wade won’t have as much starting experience, the Buckeyes should expect quarterbacks to attack the side opposite of Wade.
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Wade should put together a season similar to Okudah’s final year in 2019. Because Okudah was undoubtedly the best corner for the Bucks, offensive coordinators didn’t give him many chances to make plays.
Wade is going to be the veteran presence the defensive backfield needs. Just because Wade might not be making loud plays around the line of scrimmage or in the slot like he has in the past, doesn’t mean he’s less valuable on the outside. It’s rather the opposite.
Wade should be in the running for the Thorpe Award, the nation’s top cornerback. He’ll be tasked with covering opposing team’s best receiver and because of his speed, recognition and tackling he should be able to answer the call.
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Shaun Wade has the intangibles to be a reliable outside corner and Ohio State fans should expect him to be the shut down corner the Buckeyes are used to fielding.