Ohio State is bringing back one of its own to lead its off-field player development program.
C.J. Barnett, who was a safety for the Buckeyes from 2010-13, is returning to the Ohio State football program as its new director of player development, as first reported by Buckeye Scoop's Tony Gerdeman. He is listed in Ohio State's staff directory as the director of player development and external affairs.
Barnett replaces Ryan Stamper, who was Ohio State's director of player development for the last nine years before leaving last month to join Urban Meyer's staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Welcome back, C.J.! https://t.co/c5rMmU8E8L
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) February 11, 2021
A three-year starter with the Buckeyes who was a team captain as a senior, Barnett has spent the last year-and-a-half working as a Columbus Police officer, joining the force in July 2018. Before that, Barnett worked as a sales consultant for Byers Mazda Subaru in Dublin, Ohio. Barnett also spent time with the NFL's New York Giants in 2014, though he never played in a regular-season NFL game.
Now, Barnett will bring his experience from various walks of life back to Ohio State, where he'll oversee the Real Life Wednesdays program as well as other off-field development opportunities for Buckeye football players.
