Earlier this week, Ohio State landed a commitment from New Castle, Pennsylvania, three-star cornerback Marcus Hooker — the younger brother of former Buckeye and All-American safety Malik.
Hooker's decision on Thursday came as no surprise, either, given how the program quickly molded his older brother from a three-star athlete better known for his skills on the basketball court to a first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. But, then again, landing a young prospect wanting to follow in his older brother's footsteps is nothing new for Ohio State, as the Boren and Bosa families have each carved out their own place in Buckeyes' lore over the last decade.
Such a legacy began when Pickerington native Justin Boren transferred to Ohio State from Michigan in 2008 to play his final two seasons under former Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel — an unprecedented move in the more than 100-year-old rivalry. He was a two-time all-Big Ten selection before playing three seasons in the National Football League.
After sitting out one year due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules, Justin was joined in Columbus in 2009 by his middle brother Zach. He played fullback at Ohio State for three years under Tressel and interim head coach Luke Fickell before making the switch to linebacker, a position he played in high school, under Meyer.
With a lack of depth and experience at the position in Meyer's first season at the helm, Zach — a team captain — seamlessly stepped into the role six games into his senior year. He, too, left his stamp on the rivalry with the Wolverines with a picturesque sack of quarterback Devin Gardner to help the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0 season. Zach also played three seasons in the NFL.
Youngest brother Jacoby was a part of what was technically Meyer's first recruiting class in Columbus, which came only a few months after he was handed the reigns of a 6-7 team. He became the third and final Boren to earn multiple varsity letters at Ohio State and was an integral piece in the Buckeyes' national championship run during the 2014 season.
Another player who made a significant contribution to that title-winning team was defensive end Joey Bosa, who committed to play for Ohio State shortly after Meyer's first Spring Game in Columbus. Landing a player of his caliber was a huge win for the Buckeyes both in terms of their rebuilding efforts and in the national recruiting spectrum, as he pledged his services to Ohio State over offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, LSU, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Bosa, a two-time consensus all-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, started nearly 40 games in Columbus. He ranks among the Top 5 players in school history in a number of marquee defensive categories, including sacks, tackles for a loss and total yardage for each.
Bosa was selected third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, which meant he was never afforded the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Nick, who enrolled in Columbus just a few months later. The comparisons are never ending, but Nick started his career in a similar fashion by garnering freshman all-American honors last season.
Now whether or not Marcus Hooker ultimately lives up to the extremely high standards set forth by his older brother remains to be seen. But, as you can see, his decision doesn't come without precedent.
