November 21, 2024
C.J. Hicks gives Ohio State football the right kind of problem in spring game: Nathan Baird’s observations

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A few observations from Ohio Condition football’s spring activity, which the Grey (protection) won 40-31.

1. Neither of Ohio State football’s presumptive opening day linebackers had been on the discipline Saturday. Tommy Eichenberg missed the entire spring adhering to hand surgical procedures. Steele Chambers also desired late-spring health-related notice and attended the scrimmage on crutches.

That intended outstanding spring match roles for 2nd-year linebackers C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers. The former incorporated two go breakups with his six tackles (1 for decline). Powers led all gamers with 8 tackles.

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Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles explained senior Cody Simon will play actual snaps this fall to ease the load on Eichenberg and Chambers. By this slide, most likely that coverage will want to use to at minimum a person of the second-12 months linebackers as well.

Hicks came in with a leading-10 recruiting position that carries specified anticipations and a good sum of impatience from the lover base who want to see those abilities unleashed. Hicks scarcely performed as a true freshman, with Eichenberg and Chambers dominating snaps.

Ohio Point out coach Ryan Day claimed what fans noticed from Hicks on Saturday — commonly currently being all over the ball, disrupting plays with assurance — are what the coaches noticed all spring. Over the summer time, he’ll operate on replicating those highlights extra.

“He flashed additional now,” Day reported. “We’re continue to looking for that consistency, but you’re setting up to see it extra and more. He’s earning performs. He’s showing up. And I think Jim and James (Laurinaitis) are both equally accomplishing a excellent position with him.”

Linebacker has grow to be a placement that has both of those much too number of bodies (only 6 scholarship players for two starters and occasional 3-guy packages) and also quite a few excellent solutions. That may possibly be a good challenge to have, but a single Knowles and Laurinaitis will need to deal with in August and outside of.

2. Carnell Tate designed the largest true freshman impact in the receiver room this spring. Brandon Inniss is now developing excitement for what he could be when he comes this summer season.

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Do not neglect about Noah Rogers. For the closing landing of the working day, he caught a slant all-around the 43-garden line, manufactured a person defender pass up, shrugged off deal with makes an attempt from two some others and pulled away to the conclusion zone.

A battle royale is shaping up in the receiver home future spring.

3. Mike Hall Jr. was back again to his unblockable strategies at periods Saturday. I remain intrigued by the uncooked prospective of Hero Kanu, who posted two tackles for reduction and a sack.

Some remarkable defensive tackles might shake free into the transfer portal from other courses. Although OSU is not extremely deep at possibly deal with or end, very significantly all people was recruited with anticipations of a significant ceiling.

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