When Gareon Conley arrived on Ohio State’s campus back in 2013 and stepped on the scale for the very first time, Buckeyes strength coach Mickey Marotti had a one-word message for the highly-touted cornerback.
“All Coach Mick said was, ‘Ew,’” Conley said with a wide smile Saturday following Ohio State’s Student Appreciation Day practice.
It was a pretty predictable reaction from Marotti. After all, Conley weighed just 168 pounds when he arrived at Ohio State. It was clear putting on weight and his strength was the biggest question mark surrounding him.
As a result, Conley redshirted as a true freshman during the 2013 season. He practiced with the team, but didn’t compete in any games. He simply had to get bigger and stronger to be able to compete at the college level.
Conley said he tries to eat six meals a day and his diet includes “a variety of foods.” He’s constantly eating in class, on his way to class, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Anywhere he can, really, to add weight to his frame.
His methods have been somewhat successful, too. As the Buckeyes near the end of spring practice, Conley said Saturday he’s currently at 190 pounds. He’s up 22 pounds from the time he arrived in Columbus, but wants to gain five more to get to 195 before it’s all said and done.
“Our nutritionist here, he helps me out and talks about playing with me every day and what I need to eat,” Conley said. “I have to keep hydrating and keep the weight.”
“No spot is guaranteed. You’ve gotta compete every day for your spot and my teammates always push me and I just know I’ve gotta come out every day and be on my toes.”– Gareon Conley
Ohio State is going to need Conley this year, too. He’s the leading candidate right now to replace the departed Doran Grant at cornerback. Conley has been working with the first-team defense at the position opposite returning starter Eli Apple so far this spring.
Conley was a four-star prospect out of football-crazed Massillon, Ohio and was the No. 14-ranked cornerback in his class. The talent has never been the question. It’s been more of a confidence and mentality issue for Conley, as well as the physical nature.
“Last year, I really — I would go out there thinking about messing up,” Conley said. “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.”
Conley saw the field sparingly last season as a redshirt freshman. Most notably, though, he was known for the start he got against Michigan State when Apple was sidelined with an injury. That game against the Spartans didn’t go exactly as Conley had hoped. He was targeted and torched on the very first drive and Apple quickly entered the game and played through his injury.
That experience could have helped Conley this season, though.
“Last year, I came in Michigan State and messed up a couple plays and that like brought me down,” he said. “I didn’t have as much confidence and belief in myself and just knowing that my teammates know that my coaches put me out there, that just builds my confidence.”
And while Conley seems to have a firm grasp on that No. 2 corner spot right now as Ohio State approaches the end of its spring workouts, it’s far from a sure thing. He’s getting pushed by sophomore Damon Webb and when redshirt freshman Marshon Lattimore returns from injury soon, he’ll be in the mix as well.
Conley is hopeful that competition makes him a better player in the long run.
“No spot is guaranteed,” he said. “You’ve gotta compete every day for your spot and my teammates always push me and I just know I’ve gotta come out every day and be on my toes.”
