Malik Hooker knew he was in line for a series of changes in his life when the clock struck zero in the Fiesta Bowl.
Ohio State had just defeated Notre Dame 44-28 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, then-safeties coach Chris Ash was set to depart quickly to take his post as the head coach at Rutgers and there was an excellent chance at least one starting safety spot would open up if Vonn Bell decided to leave school early in favor of the NFL Draft.
Then, two days later it was Ohio State's other starting safety — Tyvis Powell — who surprised even Urban Meyer and announced his intentions to turn pro. Not even three days later, Bell did the same.
As one of the older and healthier options at safety set to return for 2016, eyes turned to Hooker as a potential replacement for either Powell or Bell in the lineup. When spring practice opened last week in Columbus, he and the rest of his teammates at the position were treated as such by new coach Greg Schiano.
"I think what we're doing with all the safeties is they're learning both," Schiano said Thursday. "Because at the end of the day you don't want to pigeonhole yourself and say 'really our third-best guy can't play that position because he doesn't know the details of it.'"
Hooker, a redshirt sophomore, took first string reps in pursuit and positional drills during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to the media. He knows what is at stake and is soaking in everything he can.
"This year, I'm playing a much bigger role," Hooker said. "I'm learning both positions."
With senior Cam Burrows finishing rehab from the October foot surgery that ended his 2015 season, Bell and Powell both gone and Erick Smith on the mend from an ACL injury suffered last year, Hooker is the oldest and most able safety on Ohio State's roster at the start of spring.
“I'm going into my third year there, taken a lot of tips and stuff from all the older safeties and players that have been here before me. I'm very comfortable out there.”– Malik Hooker
Smith and Burrows figure to be large parts of what the Buckeyes plan to do at the position this fall, but for now it is Hooker and walk-on senior and Louisville transfer Jarrod Barnes. Sophomore Eric Glover-Williams took reps at the position last week, but it is unclear if he will stay there.
"Me and Cam, coming into this year we both knew and also Erick Smith and the other safeties we talked about (stepping up)," Hooker said. "We knew we had a big role in stepping up this year because like everybody knows we have a young defense. It doesn't really change though, we're still expected to go out there and compete at the highest level with the players that have played."
With those expectations, Hooker said he turned to other leaders on the team to help advance his development even more.
"I came in, we do a lot of meetings on leadership, watching the older guys like (middle linebacker) Raekwon (McMillan) and them and how they lead. Stuff like that," Hooker said. "So I'm taking a lot of steps with that."
Schiano wouldn't specifically say if Hooker is developing into a leader as a potential starter in his room because it is so early in spring drills, but did note that opportunity should come to whoever earns the right to start.
"I think right now every one of those guys is fighting for a job. So before you can lead, you need to earn that position," Schiano said. "Any leadership that's happening right now I think is more by action than anything else."
Schiano said toward the end of spring camp he plans to identify whether players are free or strong safeties, picking up after Ash headed to Rutgers. Hooker said he doesn't see much difference between the two coaches in terms of technique and fundamental teachings, but admitted Schiano is more intense than his predecessor.
Adding all that together to what he took from watching Bell and Powell be crucial parts in Ohio State's 26 wins over the last two seasons in turn should give Hooker what he wants: a starting spot.
"I'm very comfortable," Hooker said. "I'm going into my third year there, taken a lot of tips and stuff from all the older safeties and players that have been here before me. I'm very comfortable out there."
