The 24th installment of this year's Better Know a Buckeye series profiles Damon Arnette, a cornerback from prospect from the heralded St. Thomas Aquinas program in Fort Lauderdale. Ohio State recuitniks knew of Arnette through the summer of 2014. Arnette received an offer last June and visited Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp. However, he was a South Carolina verbal commitment from July 8 last year until early this February. He became subject to an intense recruiting battle among Michigan, Ohio State, and South Carolina for his services before he committed to Ohio State two days before signing day.
Damon Arnette
- Size: 6-0/191
- Position: CB
- School: Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- 247 Composite: ★★★
- National Ranking: 659
- Position Ranking: 60 (CB)
- State Ranking: 82
I discuss Arnette's recruitment below, largely focusing on the developments of last summer and the race toward signing day this year. Thereafter, I provide a scouting report of a cornerback who promises to provide help against the proliferation of big wide receivers in all stages of football. I provide a projection of a possible redshirt in 2015 before concluding with highlight film for the reader to watch at the end of the feature.
HIS RECRUITMENT
Damon Arnette did not want for college options. His first offer, from South Carolina, came in January of last year. He earned offers from programs like Cincinnati, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, and Wisconsin, among many others. Ohio State's offer came late in June, less than a week after an unofficial visit Arnette made to South Carolina.
More Damon Arnette at 11W
Ohio State offered Arnette with the understanding that he would visit Ohio State for its Friday Night Lights camp a month later. He did, but he did so as a pledge to South Carolina's 2015 recruiting class.
I'm blessed to say that im committing to the University Of South Carolina!!! #gogamecock
— Rico (@da_arnette) July 9, 2014
When asked why he selected South Carolina, Arnette referenced that South Carolina was his first offer. He also referenced a great relationship with assistant coaches Grady Brown and Lorenzo Ward.
Arnette performed well, though was hampered by a bum knee. Additional comments he made about the visit suggested Ohio State was in the mix, but that Ohio State was not in a position to accept a verbal pledge from him. Arnette was interested and admired Ohio State from afar. By that time, though, Ohio State's coaches eyed Carlton Davis and eventually landed him on August 11th. Ohio State coaches had fulfilled a need for the type of corner they wanted in the class and given what they could project about the roster situation for 2015 at that time.
This changed in January. Ohio State's coaches and insiders alike suspected Carlton Davis was not long for this recruiting class. He had visited Auburn and Miami before he decommitted from Ohio State on January 29th. He committed to Auburn on signing day.
Further, Arnette was not finished with his own recruitment. He was still committed to South Carolina, though was intrigued by renewed interest from Michigan as Jim Harbaugh raced to salvage a respectable recruiting class for 2015. Carlton Davis was on the way out and Damon Arnette was open to more options. Under these conditions, Ohio State renewed its recruitment of Arnette. He took an official visit to Ohio State on January 30th.
Arnette left Columbus knowing he had a decision to make among his three official visits, though it may have more accurately been a decision to remain with South Carolina or flip to Ohio State. Arnette said he would decide on either February 2nd or February 3rd.
HIS COMMITMENT
On February 2nd, Arnette flipped from South Carolina to Ohio State and joined the Buckeyes' 2015 recruiting class as its 25th member.
I'm honored to say I'm officially committed to THE Ohio State University!
— Rico (@da_arnette) February 3, 2015
Arnette told Eleven Warriors why he decided to join Ohio State's recruiting class.
"[Ohio State] was more than I thought. [The visit was] better than I expected," Arnette recently told Eleven Warriors about his trip to Columbus.
He clarified what he liked about Ohio State in our community interview.
Well, their tradition and alumni base is great, and on top of that them being the best college team in America meant a lot to me. Just everything about the school from the campus, the facilities, their "Real Life Wednesday" program to help players get started on their life after football while still playing. Their need for players in my position was just a bonus.
WHERE HE EXCELS
Damon Arnette's greatest attribute for the position may be his size. At 6-0 and 191 pounds (per Ohio State's official site), Arnette is a bigger cornerback who, should he play, will help Ohio State's defense cover bigger receivers. Cornerbacks in college football are getting bigger because wide receivers are getting bigger. Arnette fills a need in Ohio State's secondary in that capacity.
Arnette is also a capable run defender and physical at the point of attack. In fact, he played both safety and outside linebacker in stretches for St. Thomas Aquinas' defense. Good run-defense is increasingly becoming a must from a cornerback in college football.
MUST WORK ON
Arnette is more quick than he is fast. His first few steps are great though I think he will struggle with speedier wide receivers. This might be one reason why he enjoys press more than zone. Arnette would rather reroute a receiver than chase him.
The lack of elite top-end speed for the cornerback position also has me wondering if he might actually be a safety.
Finally, Arnette enjoys run support and is physical in run support. However, his tackling form is not optimal. There are several arm tackles you will see in his highlight film.
REDSHIRT?
My hunch is Arnette redshirts in 2015, even though Aquinas grads typically do not wait a year to play college football. I think his development right now is in a stage comparable to Gareon Conley (for the same mold of cornerback) and Conley redshirted his first year on campus as well.
