Ohio State Hires Defensive Backs Coach Kerry Coombs

A fierce competitor joins Ohio State

The Columbus Dispatch and many other media outlets are reporting that Ohio State has now hired defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs. Coombs has coached defensive backs for the Cincinnati Bearcats since 2007, and has worked with some good players there, including eventual NFL draft picks Haruki Nakamura, Mike Mickens, DeAngelo Smith, and Buckeyes transfer Brandon Underwood. The 2008 secondary was a big reason why Cincinnati won its first Big East title.

Here's another reason why hiring Coombs is smart: Before Brian Kelly gave him his first college job in 2007, Coombs was an extremely successful high school coach (he won a state title in 2004) at Cincinnati's Colerain High School. In all, Coombs led Colerain to 10 playoff appearances and seven undefeated regular seasons. Also to be noted, his connections to the high schools in that city have made him a strong recruiter in that talent-rich area. 

Cincinnati should be a major pipeline for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have had more success in the northern part of the state. Coombs should give them even more recruiting inroads, making the fence that Urban is starting to rebuild around the state even larger.

As a bonus to the hiring of Coombs for his knowledge of the game, as we mentioned above he's a fantastic recruiter. The Cincinnati area has always been a tough place for Ohio State to recruit players, where they mostly go to Notre Dame. 

Now, with not Meyer having played for the Bearcats and earn his bachelor’s degree at UC, Tim Hinton spent six years on Cincinnati’s football coaching staff (2004-09) three of which coincided with Coombs’ stint there (2007-11). That's a lot of Queen City connections, so look for that to have a lot of impact in the near future.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates, news and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Monday's Buckeye Bits

Good morning Buckeye faithful, and Happy President's Day! Just like last week, our men's basketball team is coming off of a loss to a team from That State Up North.

This time around, it's THE team, and it might hurt a little worse, considering that our Buckeyes now have a 2-game losing streak against teams from Michigan. Hard to believe. Let's see if today's Bits can ease some of the pain away.

It Might Not Be Our Basement, But It's A Basement. While we're nowhere near super-size buckeye blog Eleven Warriors level, we all started our blogs with the same ideas: To share our thoughts and opinions on everything about our favorite scarlet and gray-clad team. That being said, to give you guys the latest and greatest news on OSU, it takes a lot of effort and time.

Sometimes that time is hard to come by when you're working or are in school. 11W is doing the best they can to try and bring Buckeye Nation a beat writer for their site so they can bring even more great coverage, and I suggest you head on over and do the right thing: Make a donation to their hard working site. If ten reasons aren't enough, here's the 11th: They're the best.

2013 4-Star DB Eli Woodard Commits To Ohio State

Woodard is Meyer's 4th commit in 2013

Voorhees (N.J.) Eastern four-star cornerback Eli Woodard committed to Ohio State last Friday, and went public with his decision six days later via Twitter. 

The future U.S. Army All-American is the fourth commit for Coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes in the class of 2013, joining five-star athlete Jalin Marshall and four-star safety Cameron Burrows and four-star defensive lineman Billy Price.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Woodard has been an Ohio State lean throughout the recruiting process, and chose the Buckeyes over offers from the likes of Alabama, California, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Rutgers and Wisconsin.

All four of Ohio State’s commits are ranked inside the Top247, with Woodard checking in as the nation’s No. 5 cornerback and No. 82 prospect overall. He joins Cameron Burrows as the second cornerback to commit to the Buckeyes, and will look to make an instant impact. 

If it wasn’t for the coaching turnover and the NCAA cloud that was hovering over the program during the 2011 season, Woodard says he may have given his pledge sooner. That spells out a true Buckeye, and we can't wait to see what becomes of this talent.

Bill Sheridan Hired By Ohio State, Urban Meyer

The 9th hire by Meyer

According to multiple reports, (now) former Miami Dolphins assistant Bill Sheridan has been hired, and is now a part of the Ohio State coaching staff under Urban Meyer. Sheridan is the ninth new staff hire, since Meyer has  been made the head coach at Ohio State.

Sheridan will likely be taking the spot of Taver Johnson, former defensive backs coach. Johnson left to coach at Arkansas with former safeties coach Paul Haynes on Jan. 15. Johnson's salary was set at $275,000, before he left to coach at Arkansas.

Sheridan worked under Lloyd Carr at Michigan for three years from 2002-2004, which means he was on the staff for one of the two wins against Ohio State since 2001. He later went on to coach linebackers for the New York Giants, from 2005-2008, which includes a Super Bowl victory in 2007. In 2009, he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Giants. He was fired at the end of the 2009 season.

For the 2010 and 2011 season, he was the linebackers coach for the Miami dolphins under Tony Sparano. In addition to Michigan and his stint in the NFL, Sheridan has worked for Notre Dame, Michigan State, Army, Cincinnati and Maine. His son, Nick, was a quarterback at Michigan from 2008-2009. Nick competed for the starting job with Steven Threet, but both would end up transferring to other schools.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics. 

2013 4-Star Defensive Back Cameron Burrows Commits To Ohio State

Burrows is the first '13 Buckeye

4-Star cornerback Cameron Burrows has just committed to Ohio State via a press conference at his school, giving the Buckeyes their first commitment to the 2013 class. He selected Ohio State over LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Burrows is a 6-2, 195-pound cornerback from Dayton, OH. He is ranked No. 30 in the country by 247Sports. Burrows is also the No. 2 recruit in Ohio (OH) and is the No. 2 Cornerback in the nation.

Cameron is every bit of his listed 6'2'' and 195 pounds. Prospects with that size usually get projected to safety, but Burrows is a lockdown cover corner with great speed and quickness. He played cornerback and saw spot duty on offense as a wide receiver for a Trotwood-Madison team that took home the Division 2 state title this past fall and finished with a perfect 14-0 record. 

On defense, Burrows finished with 26 solo tackles, 20 assists, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions, including one he returned 80 yards for a touchdown in a state semifinals win. He also added eight receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown. 

Cameron gives Urban Meyer his first commitment in the 2013 class, and could be a huge asset coming in after the recent news of Dominic Clarke and DerJuan Grambrell being released from the Buckeyes. A very good start to the class of 2013, and we at ITS would like to welcome Cameron to Buckeye Nation!

DerJuan Gambrell And Dominic Clarke Released From Ohio State Scholarships

Clarke released from OSU

According to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, an Ohio State spokesperson has stated that defensive backs DerJuan Gambrell and Dominic Clarke have both been released from their scholarships to the Ohio State football team for violations of team rules. Gambrell is facing an assault charge, while earlier this week, Clarke was arrested for driving under the influence.

Clarke, a redshirt sophomore from Frederick, Md., has been charged with drunken driving as stated above, and also had been arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after allegedly discharging a BB gun on campus. No one was hurt in the latter incident.

Gambrell, a freshman from Toledo, was also discharged for a "violation of team rules," but Ohio State did not specify what that violation was, but as mentioned above, it's believed to be an assualt charge. It's too bad these guys couldn't stay out of trouble, and the cornerback position doesn't have a lot of depth as it stands. The only upside to this is that it opens up 2 more scholarships for Urban's recruiting efforts.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics. 

Ohio State Cornerbacks Coach Taver Johnson Leaving For Arkansas

Taver Johnson headed to Arkansas

According to the Dispatch, Ohio State cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson has said earlier today that he is leaving for Arkansas to become a defensive assistant and also will be the assistant head coach under Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino.

“This is a great opportunity, getting the chance to be an assistant head coach and some of the added duties that will come with that,” Johnson said. “With that said, I love Ohio State. Urban Meyer is an incredible coach, and I really am appreciative of the opportunity coach Jim Tressel gave me (six years ago) to come to a place I’ve always wanted to be a part of.

Johnson, a 1994 graduate of Wittenberg, new OSU coach Meyer, who was hired on November 28th. Also kept from the previous coaching staff were interim head coach Luke Fickell, now defensive coordinator; linebackers coach Mike Vrabel, now defensive line coach; and wide receivers coach Stan Drayton, now running backs coach.

This is a surprise for me personally, as Urban Meyer had decided to keep Johnson on his staff. With Johnson leaving, that might open up another spot, or could make one of the coaches already in place take on more duties. We'll have to see how it plays out, but I'm happy for Taver, as he has produced some very good cornerbacks in his time here, including Malcolm Jenkins. 

Taver will also be re-uniting with former Ohio State coach Paul Haynes. 

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for all of the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

11 Former Players Inducted In OSU Hall of Fame

Mike Doss reaches another goal

The Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame will grow by 11 members this year, as six men and five women will be inducted the weekend of Sept. 9 and 10 the Men's Varsity O Alumni Association and the Women's Varsity O Alumnae Society announced Wednesday. The class will be officially inducted Sept. 9 during a ceremonial dinner and introduced to the public at halftime of the Ohio State home football game against Toledo Sept. 10.


The 2011 class includes: Didi Albrecht (rowing), Raj Bhavsar (men’s gymnastics), Mitch Clark (wrestling), Katy Craig (women’s track and field), Mike Doss (football), Jessica Marshall (pistol), Orlando Pace (football), Leo Raskowski (football), Stacy Roth (softball), Bobby Watkins (football) and Kristen White (women’s golf). If you'd like to attend the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremonies, you can for a price of $50 for the women's event and $75 for the men's event. Both dinners will be held September 9 in the Archie Griffin Ballroom at the Ohio Union. The women's event will start at 5:30 PM and the men's event will begin at 6:30 PM. For more information contact VarsityO@osu.edu.


Mike Doss was one of the hardest working people on the team, and said he came back to win a national championship his senior year. Most people laughed, but then found out later Ohio State would make history by being the first team to ever go 14-0 and win a National Championship. What he had to say: “I’m very humbled to have this opportunity to be inducted at such an early age. To be inducted in the first place is great, but for it to happen this soon is an honor and a privilege.” 


Orlando Pace, a two-time first team All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection, started in every game for the Buckeyes between the 1994-1996 campaigns. During his time at Ohio State, Pace became one of the most dominant offensive linemen ever to play the game. Playing one of the most challenging positions in football, Pace did not allow a sack in either of his last two years. He was known for his famous “Pancake Block” his junior year, finishing the season with 80 of those (knocking his defender to the ground and on his back). The mountain of a man went on to the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring 2 years after being drafted. 

Devan Bogard Is Number 9

Devan is ready for some action

After woes such as losing recruits to other schools, and more bad news for Ohio State keep on coming, it's nice to find some good news headed towards the Buckeye's way. Devan Bogard, a 2012 defensive back, has committed to Ohio State. The 6'1'', 185 lb DB becomes number 9 in a class that just might shape up to be one of the better ones in the future. Bogard runs a 4.67 40, and has great instincts on where to be and when. A hard hitter, some might compare him to Mike Doss, and that's always good news. The four-star safety will be counted upon to help lead Glenville this season, and might also be seeing some time on offense at quarterback for the Tarblooders. 


Here's what Devan had to say:


"I have committed to Ohio State," Bogard stated Saturday evening. "I was at camp today, but I didn't work out. When I returned home I decided to call (head coach) Luke Fickell and commit. Now I can just work on my grades and get better as a player without worrying about recruiting."

Fickell Grabs Murray, Makes 9

Murray makes Fickell's first verbal

Luke Fickell may have a tough job this summer being a new head coach and all, but he has certainly taken over the reins of recruiting with ease thus far. Najee Murray, a defensive back out of Steubenville, Ohio, has great "SEC"-like speed and can just about cover anyone, anywhere.


Murray stands at 5'11", at 180 pounds and mainly plays Free Safety. He had offers from Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio, Miami of Ohio, Akron, Buffalo, Indiana, Ohio State. He runs a 4.41 40, can bench 300 pounds, and squat 450. Murray is also on the honor roll, which shows Fickell is on the right track for athletes looking to get in to Ohio State.


After Tyvis Powell committed just about a week or two ago, Fickell needs to keep the train rolling, and I think that he will with about 11 spots left in the 2013 recruiting class. While most recruiting will have to wait until August, (for obvious reasons), Fickell has shown he can get the job done and also to make sure to grab good, smart kids to have around the school.


We have some more video of Murray, for your viewing pleasure, after the jump.

Tyvis Powell Commits To Ohio State

Time for some good news amongst all the bad news:


Ohio State has landed verbal commitment No. 8 for the class of 2011 yesterday as defensive back Tyvis Powell has joined the program. At a press conference at his high school of Bedford, Ohio, the three-star safety prospect announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State eight days after landing a scholarship offer from his dream school. In the process, he becomes the eighth member of the class and the first one to join since head coach Jim Tressel resigned Monday morning.


Powell is a tall corner, 6'4'' 180 lbs, and has excellent coverage abilities. This is a defensive back coaches dream player as he comes in with a lot of excitement. This is also Luke Fickell's first recruit since the Tressel resigning. This is a great pick up for Fickell and the rest of Buckeye Nation because we can tell already that Powell fit in just right. A huge hump, as well, to get over the Tressel retiring because recruiting will now start to become a bit of an issue. Players might be thinking about stability of coaches, and how good the team can actually even be.


"I’m ready to be a Buckeye and won’t let you down. We’re going to have some fun and I’m going to give you your money’s worth! Get the popcorn ready."
- Tyvis Powell, 8th verbal in the 2012 class


After the jump, we have some eye candy of Mr. Powell.