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We’re starting to get a lot of information coming just a few days into spring ball at Ohio State. There’s been an injury of note to running back Master Teague, some shuffling of players and positions early on, and some comments from the head coach on several key position battles going on.
Arguably the most important position group to hammer out for this fall is the defensive backs. Gone is All-American Jeff Okudah, along with two other talented guys in cornerback Damon Arnette and safety Jordan Fuller.
But unexpectedly back is a guy that may have been a little underrated on the national scene. Cornerback Shaun Wade had a decision to make at the end of last year as it relates to the NFL, and instead of making the jump, he ultimately decided to come back and be the presumed No. 1 guy on the back end of the defense for Ohio State in 2020.
The reality is that Wade’s return provides the coaching staff with a special talent to build around in a very inexperienced secondary. He may not have received the press the more seasoned trio that departed did, but he’s got the skill set to develop into another one of the program’s first-round NFL DB talents.
Potential 1st Rd pick this yr @shaunwade2017 has decided to RETURN to @OhioStateFB!! Gives Shaun a chance to play lock down corner replacing Jeff & Damon-Has been playing Nickel most of his career-Will really help him develop & go to a whole different level-Top CB in CFB in ‘20! https://t.co/tmbgUOQJxv
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) January 4, 2020
You can count Ryan Day as a big believer in what Wade brings to the team. When speaking to the media on the opening day of spring practice, Day was asked about the secondary and singled out the 6-1, 194 lb. rising redshirt junior.
“Shaun coming back was huge,” said Day. “I think Shaun, in my opinion should be considered the top corner in the country coming back in all of (college) football.”
The tape doesn’t lie either. All you have to do is look at the times when Wade was out last year to understand how he was missed on the field. The Ohio State secondary showed a little more bend to it when he was banged up a bit against Michigan and Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.
And not to pick off the scab from the Fiesta Bowl, but Clemson gained a little momentum and started to move the ball down the field a little better once Wade was ejected for targeting in the second quarter out in Glendale.
So yeah, the kid can play a little. He was a five-star DB out of Jacksonville when he made he made his way to Ohio State as a freshman, and it’s time for him to shine this fall. Day and the coaching staff believe it, it’s now time to make it happen on the field.
That all continues this spring.
* Lori Schmidt contributed to this story.
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