Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah claps back at a question that wasn’t based in reality during his NFL Scouting Combine press conference
Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is widely considered the clear-cut top corner prospect in the 2020 NFL draft class, and should be a top-10 lock when April rolls around.
As he prepares to show off his skill set at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Okudah fielded questions Friday morning at a press conference in Indianapolis.
One question didn’t sit well with the shutdown artist:
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Oklahoma State defensive back prospect Alvin Green
If your favorite team is looking for an under-the-radar defensive back prospect in the 2020 NFL draft, Oklahoma State’s Alvin Green should be on their short list.
An experienced defender who leads by example, Green recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his decision to return for his senior season in Stillwater, how he approaches covering receivers with differing skill sets, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.
JM: What can you tell me about the decision to return for your senior season?
AG: I just felt like I had more to accomplish on the field honestly. I wasn’t done yet. I had some personal goals or achievements that I was still striving for. As I continued to think about it, playing another season of college football with my brothers started to sound better and better to me.
JM: You’ve started every game since your sophomore year. Not only have you been durable, but that experience is huge. How will that serve you well going forward?
AG: I’ve played a lot of football throughout my time, and mostly at the cornerback position. I have a lot of experience under my belt. Playing in a pass-happy conference like the Big 12 has prepared me for what’s next. I know that all of us rookies will face a steep learning curve as we get acclimated to the NFL but playing against these high-powered Big 12 offenses should have at least given me a little hint of what to expect.
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JM: You’ve played in so many different systems, but I’m curious if there’s a scheme that you think fits you best at the next level?
AG: I wouldn’t say that I have a preference per se. I do enjoy being right up in the wide receiver’s face though. I like to get my hands on him and re-route him a little bit. I definitely enjoy playing press man.
JM: How do you cover a bigger, more physical receiver differently than you would a smaller, shiftier one?
AG: You wanna be more physical with those bigger, taller receivers. I have to use my finesse to my advantage with those guys. I’ll probably have a lower center of gravity with those 6-foot-6 receivers. I try to nag and disrupt them whenever I can. If they’re running an in-breaking route for example, I can use my quickness and shiftiness to be one step ahead of him. With those smaller and faster receivers, I also try to disrupt them at the line of scrimmage. I try to bully them a little bit. I try to assert my dominance on those smaller guys.
JM: That’s a great answer. Earlier, we touched on the Big 12 offenses and how that prepared you for what’s next. Who are some of the best receivers you’ve ever had to cover?
AG: I‘ve faced some pretty stiff competition in the Big 12. Not just receiver wise, but quarterback wise as well. Receiver wise, a guy like Allen Lazard comes to mind. I’ve squared off with CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Reagor. Those guys were all different but all very talented in their own right. It was fun to compete against all of those guys.
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JM: What are three traits a successful cornerback must possess?
AG: You have to be willing to compete on a snap-by-snap basis. You also have to have a short-term memory to play this position. You can’t beat yourself up if something doesn’t go your way. You gotta pick yourself up and get ready to compete on the next snap. Lastly, you have to be a film junkie.
JM: How did practicing against Chuba Hubbard make you a better run defender?
AG: Chuba is the type of running back that has the ability to see a tiny hole and punish you for it. He’ll see one cut and he’s gone. He has the ability to beat you to the edge as well. That’s the thing with Chuba. We knew he was coming to compete every day. He always gives it his all. You gotta be on your P’s and Q’s at every practice. Practicing against him, of course we couldn’t really hit him because we’re all trying to stay healthy. We still got to compete against him and we had to learn how to stay low and maintain your leverage.
JM: What kind of impact is Alvin Green going to make at the next level?
AG: I feel like with whichever team that I’m blessed to go to, I’ll make a significant impact on the back-end of their defense. With my size and speed, I have the ability to match up with bigger and smaller receivers alike. I feel like I’m gonna provide a great boost to whichever team decides to take a chance on me.
Many were unsure if it would happen, but with a 38-17 win over Minnesota, last weekend, Wisconsin and Ohio State will face-off for the second time this season. However, this time it will be for more than a regular-season win. This time it is for the Big Ten Championship on Saturday in Indianapolis. The Badgers have revenge on their minds after a 38-7 beatdown at the hands of the Buckeyes on Oct. 26. A win by No. 8 Wisconsin over No. 1 Ohio State could change the outcome of the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin has been waiting weeks to get a second chance at facing the Ohio State after a demoralizing loss showed many of the team’s flaws. Head coach Paul Chryst had a lot of positive things to say about the improvement of his team since its loss to the Buckeyes. During his weekly press conference, Chryst said his team is playing at a higher level than the last time the two teams met. That certainly looked to be the case after the Badgers dominated Minnesota.
Whether it’s October or December, the Badgers offense does its best when Heisman hopeful Jonathan Taylor finds success on the ground. Taylor has a chip on his shoulder after being held to a season-low 52 yards rushing in the first matchup. Quarterback Jack Coan will also need to have his best game of the season to make sure that Ohio State isn’t solely focused on the running game. He threw for just 108 yards and one touchdown in the first matchup. On the defensive side, the Buckeyes need to keep an eye on senior linebacker Chris Orr, who had six total tackles and one sack in the first matchup.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, another Heisman hopeful, will be playing in the game despite some pain he is feeling in his strained knee. He aggravated it during a 56-27 thumping of Michigan last weekend. He’ll be wearing a brace on his left leg, which will no doubt limit his running capabilities. Fields threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the first game vs. Wisconsin and rushed for 28 yards. The Badgers defense has to prepare for the explosiveness of running back J.K. Dobbins, who has shined in the last two games against Penn State and Michigan and killed the Badgers for 163 yards on 20 carries. Just as big of an impact player on the defensive side of the ball is Chase Young, who tallied four sacks in the first matchup. He’s considered by most observers to be the best defensive player in the country this season.
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Chase Young, the dominant defensive end for Ohio State, has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Chase Young, the dominant defensive end for Ohio State, has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Young has followed the recent trend of absolutely dominant defenders for Ohio State that started with Joey Bosa and Marshon Lattimore and has continued down the line. Bosa was the last to win this award in 2014.
Young also was named Defensive Lineman of the Year after breaking the university’s single-season sack record, entering the Big Ten Championship Game with 16.5 sacks. He also has 19.5 tackles for loss and 38 total tackles.
Being suspended for two games, Young could’ve easily been looking at 20-plus sacks had that not occurred. But, they did, and Young was sparred of any season-ending penalties, a sigh of relief for all Ohio State fans.
A projected top-two pick, Young is clearly the best defender in the nation. This should just be the start of the season-ending award for one of college football’s most dominant defenders.
Those betting for Ohio State to beat the spread have been sitting pretty, but will they continue to trust when they’re 50.5-point favorites?
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Those betting for Ohio State to beat the spread have been sitting pretty, but will they continue to trust when they’re 50.5-point favorites?
It’s difficult to go against them again as they just trampled Maryland by 59 points. However, Maryland beat Rutgers 48-7. This seems like another safe bet.
We should also note that Ryan Day isn’t just looking to win these games. Yes, that’s the bare acceptable minimum against any non-ranked team, but the fact of the matter is that he wants the CFP to understand Ohio State’s dominance.
They’re feeling the pain now, and Rutgers may be feeling it come Saturday. That said, the 50.5-point line was first released by Circa Sports.
The Buckeyes are 8-1 against the spread this season so it seems like a safe bet to continue putting money on. Even without Chase Young, this team is just all-out dominant.
Scoring 73 points against Maryland, the Buckeyes are bound to put up another near-100 score on Saturday.
