The torch continues to be passed in the meeting room belonging to Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs. Bradley Roby had it during 2013, Doran Grant grabbed it in 2014 and last season it belonged to Eli Apple.
And after spring ball concluded for the Buckeyes with last weekend’s spring game, the torch now belongs to Gareon Conley. For the fourth year in a row, there is no question who Ohio State’s No. 1 corner is entering a season. The expectations for Conley are the same as those who held that spot before him.
“It is the standard of the corner room that you are going to be in the conversation to be a first-round draft pick,” Coombs said last week. “That’s been established well before I came here and that is a tradition that we are not going to let go of.
“We talk about it freely in our room that that’s the standard and if you’re not working to that level, the question has to be why. I’m excited about the way our kids have latched onto that and absolutely that pressure should be felt in that room.”
Conley started all 13 games for the Buckeyes a year ago at the corner spot opposite Apple. By all accounts, he had a solid season in his first year as a starter, recording 49 tackles and two interceptions as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media. If he improves this upcoming season and has another successful year, he’d also likely be an early-round selection in the NFL Draft — should he opt to forgo his final season of eligibility — like Roby, Grant and Apple before him.
Where the true intrigue was for Ohio State this spring, though, was at the No. 2 corner spot. And it, like a few other position battles for the Buckeyes, did not have a clear-cut winner at the conclusion of spring practice. The top two contenders for that spot are redshirt sophomore Marshon Lattimore and true sophomore Denzel Ward.
Lattimore came to Columbus out of Cleveland Glenville as one of Ohio State’s highest-ranked recruits in the 2014 class. Coaches have raved about his skillset, but Lattimore’s inability to stay healthy for his first two seasons with the Buckeyes severely limited his development. The coaching staff was cautious with Lattimore all spring. His injury is to his hamstring, which often lingers and there’s always fear it can return. He was able to compete in the spring game and recorded an interception.
“I think his mental frame of mind is as good as it’s been because he doesn’t have a nagging fear of injury,” Coombs said of Lattimore. “I think the best thing about the spring was that he did have a tweak and that he fought through it and finished and it didn’t shut him down.”
Ward was one of four players in Ohio State’s 2015 recruiting class who saw the field last season as a true freshman. His speed helped him earn some playing time on special teams, but he has worked all spring to battle with Lattimore for that starting cornerback spot.
“There’s definitely some good candidates,” Ward said earlier this spring. “We’re just out here competing, having fun.”
Another member of Ohio State’s 2015 class, Damon Arnette, is the Buckeyes’ fourth cornerback, according to Coombs. The Buckeyes also have Joshua Norwood at that spot, but Coombs said Norwood is “not ready yet.” Ohio State will add Wayne Davis, Kareem Felder, Rodjay Burns and Jordan Fuller to the cornerback room in June when the 2016 recruiting class arrives. Damon Webb and Eric Glover-Williams repped with the safeties all spring and right now that appears to be their new home.
There will be plenty of bodies available, and Coombs said he’s more than confident in Conley, Lattimore, Ward and Arnette as the team’s top-four corners.
“Let’s go play,” he said.
As far as the starting battle, don’t expect that to be decided until fall camp. And while it may be as close as any other position battle, both Ward and Lattimore are looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s actually exciting,” Ward said. “I’m just coming out here trying to have fun and do what I’ve got to do to prove that I can be a starting corner.”
“It’s no pressure for me,” Lattimore added. “We came here to play football so I guess that’s just what we’re doing. There’s no pressure.”
