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Ohio State blows out Indiana, 38-15. Now, it's time to do the same to That Team Up North.
Darron Lee's story is different than most, a late bloomer who became an essential part of Ohio State's defense the last two seasons and future NFL Draft pick despite not playing the position in high school that is going to make him a millionaire.
"Darron Lee, someone posted a picture of a skinny-neck quarterback from New Albany," Urban Meyer said Jan. 7. "Now (he's) going to the NFL."
@DLeeMG8 not a bad career for a skinny Dual-Threat QB who wanted to play WR pic.twitter.com/9wmDdVGenU
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) January 3, 2016
Lee redshirted his first year at Ohio State, then exploded and grew into his body with vigorous workouts demanded by Mickey Marotti, the Buckeyes' strength sensei and Meyer's right-hand man.
"That's a credit to Coach Mick, his position coach and the development of what goes on here," Meyer said. "Our sports performance team that Coach Marotti's in charge of is second to none."
Hardly much rivals the luxuries Ohio State enjoys in Columbus, but the programs that can are in position to play for championships every year. They're also the schools that shell out the most talent to the pro ranks, like Lee.
Eight other Buckeyes joined Lee this month and elected to declare for the 2016 NFL Draft, leaving school early because they felt ready to take their game to the next level. That wouldn't happen if it weren't for Ohio State, and Meyer is using the exodus as a very useful recruiting tool with National Signing Day a shade more than two weeks away.
"That's a big part of recruiting now," Meyer said.
Nine is a large number to deal of guys leaving early to deal with, but places like Ohio State, Alabama, Texas and others—#brands that sell themselves—reload and quickly jump on the pedal to prepare for next year and beyond. So while the total of talent leaving Columbus both in early entrants and the most successful senior class in school history is a huge chunk, it isn't that shocking.
"I don't want to be surprised by it, again we all have our opinions but the reality is that's what we prepare these guys for," Ohio State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. "Whether it’s to go out on the world and get a job at IBM or their opportunity to go take their shot at the NFL. I don't know that a whole lot surprises me anymore."
It shouldn't surprise fans either, especially with the number of wins Meyer racked up in his first four seasons in Columbus. Fifty victories is a ridiculous number for that timeframe, also a pretty big tell to the talent that it shouldn't stick around. A Big Ten and National Championship and trio of division titles make it pretty cut and dry if you're bound to be a draft pick.
So while Meyer and his staff haven't earned many commitments recently, they are still in good shape (No. 3-ranked 2016 class) and bound to close strong like always with a chip no one else has: More early declarations than any other program from 2015.
Recruiting is a funny game, and Darron Lees pop up more often than just in Columbus from a team that was arguably the most talented in the country. Top flight, can't-miss recruits also at times don't pan out like how they are planned. But the talent Meyer puts into the pros isn't about to go by the wayside when it comes to convincing top undecided talent to sign on the Ohio State dotted line in early February.
"You see the body types that you see play for us and our opponents tell that to us all the time. We're not that big, slow, fat team. We're a team and that's what NFL people are looking for," Meyer said. "We had a lot of people graduate. Had the highest graduation rate in Ohio State football history. Just set a national record for 50 wins and probably have some kind of record for most guys going to the draft. Of course we're using that."
