Ohio State’s official roster has finally been updated for the 2015 season and, in addition to the freshmen being included, two number changes were the only thing that really jumped off the page. Sam Hubbard has changed from No. 49 to No. 6 and Gareon Conley has gone from No. 19 to No. 8.
Number changes are often done early in a player’s career because, perhaps, their favorite number wasn’t available when that player first arrived on campus. But sometimes, it could be more than that. Sometimes a player could simply want a fresh start.
Perhaps that’s the reason for Conley’s switch. He wore No. 21 in high school, so it doesn’t appear he has any direct tie to the No. 8, so maybe he just wanted something new as he prepares to enter his first season as a starting cornerback for Ohio State.
Last season, Conley was primarily a backup for the Buckeyes, but he did make one start that seemingly everyone remembers: Nov. 8 at Michigan State as starting cornerback Eli Apple was nursing an injury. That start, didn’t go according to plan for Conley as the Spartans targeted him right from the get-go and scored a touchdown on their opening drive.
“It took (Michigan State) one play to find him and he knows that,” Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said this spring.
It was a definite learning experience for the redshirt sophomore.
“Nobody likes getting beat so you beat yourself up, but you’ve just gotta know that you have to build upon that,” Conley said this spring. “You have to use that as motivation and know that you’ve gotta play the next play.”
Conley is being pushed for that second corner slot by both Damon Webb and Marshon Lattimore, but Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said after the spring game the Massillon, Ohio native will go into fall camp as the Buckeyes’ starting corner.
“It gives me confidence in just knowing that I have to compete for that still. It’s not guaranteed,” Conley said this spring. “I always know in the back of my head no spot is always going to be yours so you need to compete for it and you’ve gotta keep it yours.”
Now, with last season behind him — and No. 19 behind him — Conley is hopeful he can step in and be a major contributor on Ohio State’s defense. A change in his mentality is really what it all came down to.
“Last year, I really — I would go out there thinking about messing up,” Conley said this spring. “Now, it’s just going out there being confident that you won’t mess up. Not thinking about messing up, that’s what helps you be a good corner.”
