When asked to give a scouting report on himself, Demario McCall’s face lit up and and giant smile flashed across his face. The four-star recruit, nation’s No. 2 running back prospect and 2016 Ohio State commit loved to answer this question.
“I’m not a 2 to 3 yard running back,” McCall exclaimed. “There’s a lot of running backs who are just power backs who will go get you 5 or 10 yards, 3 to 6 yards, something like that. I’m the type of back who is more explosive and I’m going to bust one. That’s just how I feel.”
A 5-foot-11, 180-pounder with blazing speed, McCall is a home run threat on the football field. His playmaking ability is why he was one of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer’s highest priorities in the 2016 class.
The North Ridgeville, Ohio native plays running back for his high school team, but for the Buckeyes, McCall projects as an H-back. He could very well be the next in line after Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson at that spot — a position made specifically for guys who have big-play ability.
“I don’t think I can remember a play where I only have two yards. That’s just not me,” McCall said. “I don’t let that happen. That’s one of my goals, one of my individual goals, that I don’t go down (behind the line).”
McCall was down in Columbus two weeks ago and participated in The Opening’s regional camp which was held on his future practice field. McCall was one of the camp’s stars as he earned a trip to The Opening Finals when it was all said and done.
Ohio State running back commit Demario McCall with the okey-doke. https://t.co/ryiOUIzo3A
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) May 31, 2015
He’s not the only running back in Ohio State’s 2016 class, though. The Buckeyes also have commitments from the nation’s No. 1 running back Kareem Walker, as well as four-star athlete George Hill.
When Hill was asked recently about having that type of competition in the same class, he simply responded by smiling and saying, “We’re going to have a good team.” McCall feels the same way.
“There comes a point in life where there’s competition and you’ve gotta work for it,” he said. “I’m prepared, no doubt, and I’m ready to work. I am willing to take the challenge and work for it.”
That’s music to Meyer’s ears, of course. Couple that with his dynamic playmaking ability and it’s no wonder why he was one of the Buckeyes’ top targets. He was also heavily recruited by Michigan State and West Virginia, but McCall knew all along he wanted to play for Ohio State.
“I came down a couple times and Coach (Meyer) kept asking, “What are you waiting for?” McCall remembered. “I sat there thinking to myself, ‘What am I waiting for? I know this is the place.’”
He gave the Buckeyes his pledge on March 28 when he was in town for a visit and hasn’t looked back since. McCall said he’s trying to work on some other uncommitted prospects in the 2016 class to try and persuade them to come to Ohio State, too.
Meyer is always looking for players like McCall and he’s got a few on his team right now in Marshall, Wilson and Curtis Samuel. But in the future, don’t be surprised to see the speedy and shifty McCall scoring his fair share of touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
“As a teammate I’m going to come in and work. I’m going to come in, do my job and try to get a starting spot,” he said. “Hopefully I get a starting spot. I’m going to come in and work, I’m not gonna let nobody outwork me.”
