DAYTON, Ohio — In the last 10 years or so, the term “athlete” has become increasingly popular in the world of football recruiting. It’s made for players who recruiting analysts say can play multiple positions at the college level.
At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Rashod Berry is exactly that.
On National Signing Day, the 2015 Ohio State signee was listed on the school’s press release as a tight end. But at the recent Ohio North-South Classic — the nation’s longest-running high school all-star game — Berry played defensive end.
It’s that type of versatility which makes him dangerous. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said he believes Berry will start off his career at tight end, but like 2014 signee Sam Hubbard, Berry could possibly see some movement once he arrives in Columbus.
“I think we put him at tight end, but we’ll see what happens. We didn’t know quite what we were going to do with our man Sam Hubbard because his body kept changing and all that,” Meyer said back on National Signing Day. “I really like this kid, I like his family. … (Former Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton) thinks he’s one of the stars of this class.”
The coaches at the North-South Classic shared the same sentiment as Meyer. They didn’t know where Berry was supposed to play.
“(The coaches) thought I was getting recruited as a defensive end, they didn’t know I was getting recruited as an athlete,” Berry said following the North-South Classic. “They didn’t know what position they were going to put me at so they put me on defense.”
Berry admitted he’d rather play offense in college. He enjoys playing the tight end position. And even though Berry wasn’t thrilled about playing defense on this day, he didn’t shy away from pinning his ears back and getting after opposing quarterbacks as he applied constant pressure in the backfield when he was in the game.
“To be honest, I didn’t want to, but I did it,” he said. “I’m not going to complain about it and I just wanted to have fun and enjoy myself.”
That’s what all-star games are all about, after all. Berry had a couple tackles with one coming in the backfield despite playing what he would call out of position.
“I had an OK game. I enjoyed myself, just trying to have fun out there and enjoying myself with the players I was with,” Berry said. We just had fun and I came here to have fun.”
Berry’s fully capable of playing either position, though, because of the type of athlete he is. His high school basketball highlight video shows some freakish ability.
But wherever he winds up playing for the Buckeyes, Berry said he's just excited about the opportunity to don the Ohio State uniform.
“It means a lot, it’s a dream come true," he said. "That’s my dream school and I’m going there and just can’t wait to get there.”
