With Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs standing not even 10 yards away, Drue Chrisman took the snap from future Ohio State teammate Liam McCullough and let his powerful right leg rip.
The football exploded off the 2016 Buckeye commit's foot and into the thick Columbus air Monday afternoon, hurling for nearly five seconds above the turf at Lincoln Tower Park before crashing down a lengthy 59 yards away.
'15 Ohio State signee Liam McCullough snapping to '16 commit Drue Chrisman today at punt camp. 59-yard boot https://t.co/K9JdyPgA6c
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) June 8, 2015
It wasn't the best punt of the day for Chrisman, who also posted healthy boots of 64 and 62 yards, but the hang time and directional kick are exactly why the LaSalle High School product is the top punter in the country for the 2016 class.
"It was great — they're the best specialists coaches in the nation," Chrisman told Eleven Warriors on showing what he can do in front of the Ohio State coaches. "Anytime I get an opportunity to be able to punt in front of them and improve my game, I'll take it."
Chrisman took part in a specialists camp ran by One-On-One Kicking so he could continue formulating relationships with the Ohio State community, particularly Meyer and Coombs who, according to Chrisman, hadn't seen him punt live before Monday.
"It was basically the first time they've been able to see me in action instead of just on film," Chrisman said. "Just kind of seeing how the ball pops off my foot and gave me some things to work on. So I think that was really good for them to just kind of confirm what they've heard."
As odd as it seems to have offered and accepted a commitment from a player the coaches had never seen in person before, Coombs is a Cincinnati guy and trusts those high school and even college coaches he's worked with in the past down in the Queen City.
Regardless, Chrisman, who committed a little more than a month ago, sports a body of work and highlight videos that speak volumes to his talent. His craft is only going to further develop once he perfects the rugby-style punting that current Buckeye punter Cameron Johnston brought to Ohio State from Australia.
The onset of the passing of the torch.
Johnston worked one-on-one with Chrisman after he finished taking snaps from McCollough, getting a quick tutorial on the approach that helped the Aussie average 45 yards per punt in 2014.
"Teaching me that pooch punt, which is another aspect I'd like to add to my game, I feel like he's one of the best ones in the country that does it," Chrisman said of Johnston. "So being able to train with him before I take over on that aspect of the game will be a big benefit."
It's wise to consider Johnston bolting for the NFL following the 2015 season, which will be his third at Ohio State. McCollough is next in line at longsnapper following fifth-year senior Bryce Haynes, and Chrisman's slated to step right in for Johnston once he finishes high school.
"I don't think Drue could step into a better situation," Travis Chrisman, Drue's father, said.
Chrisman's father thinks Coombs, Ohio State's special teams coordinator, is "a helluva guy," because of the values he holds in terms of his passion for the Buckeyes and passion for his family.
The punter with a mighty right leg feels that, too, and is excited to work with a guy like Johnston however long he remains at Ohio State.
"Any good punter, now it's a big part of the game, hitting it up there and getting it inside the 20 and getting that ball to spin back," Drue Chrisman said. "All the punters are trying to learn how to do that, it's just kind of something that's kind of expected out of you at a Division I level. So being able to train with Cam will help with that."
