Ohio State was back on the indoor field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Tuesday morning for its sixth practice of the spring. The Buckeyes had a scrimmage Saturday and head coach Urban Meyer is scheduled to meet with the media around 11 a.m.
The first hour of practice was open to the media. It was mostly filled with warm-ups and individual position drills, but here are some things we saw from Ohio State on the defensive side of the ball. You can check out our offensive observations here.
- Redshirt sophomore cornerback Marshon Lattimore was off to the side throughout most of the open portion of practice, working down in the corner on the exercise bike with all of the other players who are held out of spring practice. It's unclear right now why Lattimore wasn't out there full-go. The staff could be being cautious with Lattimore — who was starting at corner during last week's practices — as he's someone who has suffered from nagging injuries throughout his first two years at Ohio State.
- With Lattimore limited and not going through team drills, true sophomore Denzel Ward worked as the other starting corner alongside Gareon Conley. Damon Arnette and Josh Norwood ran with the second team.
- Damon Webb continued to work with the safeties — as he did last week — and appeared to be rotating with the first team with Cam Burrows — who is working back from injury himself. Malik Hooker seems to be solidified as a starter as of right now and made a nice one-handed interception during some 7-on-7-type action.
- I didn't see Eric Glover-Williams out on the field during position drills. He was down in the corner for a portion of practice working on the exercise bikes. Dylan Thompson was also held out, but was working on the side. Again, these can be strictly precautionary so don't freak out.
- Erick Smith and Nick Conner are still working out together as both recover from torn ACLs.
- The first-team linebackers continue to be Chris Worley, Raekwon McMillan and Dante Booker. Jerome Baker seems to be firmly running with the 2s, behind Worley.
- With Tyquan Lewis out, the first-team defensive line was again Sam Hubbard, Tracy Sprinkle, Michael Hill and Jalyn Holmes.
- There was a bit of a rotation with the second-team defensive line. Darius Slade and Rashod Berry appeared to be the ends, but Jashon Cornell, Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton and Dre'Mont Jones all rotated at defensive tackle.
- Former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple was in attendance today and was checking out some of practice.
