Friday's Buckeye Bits

Good Friday morning! We've got a good deal of news and stuff to talk about today, so let's get right to it.

Jordan Whiting headed back home. As Ian told you yesterday, the Kentucky-born linebacker is transferring to Louisville. After sitting this year, he'll have only one year of eligibility left to play.

He never got the playing time he expected as a four-star recruit, as he could never move up the depth chart. Despite being part of Tatgate, he seems to be a fine young player and gentleman, tweeting thanks to Coach Tressel and AD Gene Smith. Best of luck, Jordan.

Another DB coach? Yep, and again Ian's on top of it. I really need to quit my job so I can get these awesome breaking stories. Or not...Anyhow, Kerry Coombs comes north from the University of Cincinnati to fill Bill Sheridan and Taver Johnson's shoes. Coombs led Colerain High to a state championship in 2004, so he certainly knows his way around recruiting. However, considering he's the third guy to hold the DB job in about six weeks, chances are he'll be hired as a head coach somewhere in a few weeks...

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. 

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.