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Former Ohio State coach John Cooper helped develop Buckeyes as ‘Cornerback U’
OSU’S LEGACY OF CORNERBACKS
LURES BARNETT TO COLUMBUS
Northmont High School senior C.J. Barnett didn’t envision wearing Scarlet and Gray when the recruiting process began.
“I wanted to go down South, where it was warmer,” he said.
But a closer inspection of Ohio State history — especially its ability to crank out NFL cornerbacks — and a promise from a friend changed his mind.
Barnett, one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects, signed his national letter of intent with Ohio State on Wednesday, Feb. 4, joining a dozen other Greater Western Ohio Conference stars in a ceremony on National Signing Day at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation Center.
“When I first started playing corner my sophomore year, I didn’t know how,” said Barnett, a 6-foot-1, 187-pound first-team All-Ohio Division I performer in 2008. “I got a DVD that taught me how to play.”
The instructor: Former Ohio State head coach John Cooper.
“He spoke about all their DBs who had a chance to go to the next level,” Barnett said. “I figured if I can do what I need to and be a starter, then I have a good chance. After looking at Ohio State and seeing what they have to offer, that’s the best choice for me.”
Kurt Coleman, the Buckeyes’ starting strong safety from Northmont, decided to return to Ohio State in 2009 and not make himself eligible for the NFL draft in April. He urged Barnett to join him in Columbus.
“Kurt told me, ‘If you come, I’ll stay and show you the ropes,’ ” Barnett said. “I said, ‘All right. I’ll hold you to that.’ He held true to his word.”
The powerful GWOC is sending two other players to the Big Ten in the Centerville duo of defensive tackle Adam Replogle (Indiana) and center-guard Jake Feldmeyer (Illinois); plus six to the Mid-American Conference; and one each to the SEC, Big 12, Mountain West and Ohio Valley.
Headed to the MAC are Bowling Green tailbacks Mark Mays (Northmont) and Erique Geiger (Wayne), Miami linebacker Austin Moore (Springfield), Kent State linebacker Danny Gress (Northmont), Akron cornerback Jordan Houser (Fairborn); and Buffalo offensive tackle Jeremy Johnson (Springfield).
Wayne spread its wealth of talent beyond Ohio’s borders by sending defensive back Javon Marshall to Vanderbilt of the SEC and defensive end Anthony Pyle to the U.S. Air Force Academy of the Mountain West.
Trotwood-Madison left offensive tackle Chris Freeman pledged his allegiance to Missouri of the Big 12, while Springboro defensive end Eric Damian signed with Morehead State of the OVC.
“The great experiences these players are having today just puts an exclamation point on our league and what our league’s all about, when you have this many guys going Division I,” Wayne football coach and athletic director Jay Minton said.
“It’s neat to see these guys come together. They compete so hard throughout their careers for their own schools. Now they represent our league and each other. When they go off to college, they’re taking not only their own schools and their own reputations with them, but the reputation of this league. Everything is positive about this.”
OHIO STATE CORNERBACKS
CURRENTLY IN THE NFL
(Years lettered at OSU)
• Donte Whitner, Buffalo (2003-05)
• Ashton Youboty, Buffalo (2003-05)
• Dustin Fox, Buffalo (2001-2004)
• Chris Gamble, Carolina (2001-03)
• Antoine Winfield, Minnesota (1995-98)
• Nate Clements, San Francisco (1998-2000)
• Shawn Springs, Washington (1994-96)
• Note — Ahmad Plummer, SF’s first-round draft pick in 2000 (24th overall), spent 6 seasons with the 49ers before retiring on June 16, 2006.
IN JOHN COOPER’S WORDS
“We’ve had a bunch of corners go to the next level. Some of them played who are no longer in the league like Ahmad Plummer. He was a No. 1 pick who’s not in the league anymore. Of course you’ve got Antoine Winfield, Shawn Springs and Nate Clements. There’s a ton of ‘em.
“Two things we did. We started nationwide recruiting and we kept these kids here 12 months a year and worked them out. When you go nationwide recruiting, you’ve got to … I used to tell people: ‘You’ve got to sell John Brown what John Brown buys. You’ve got to see things through John Brown’s eyes.’
“In other words, these guys all want to win football games. They want to get an education. And — these academic people at the university don’t want to hear this stuff — but thease guys all want to play on Sunday. If they’re good enough, they want to play in the NFL.
“I told ‘em: ‘If yiou want to play in the NFL, come to ohio state. We’re going to run a pro offense. We’re going to run a pro defense. You come here and we’ll get you ready to play in the National Football League.
“We played a lot of man coverage on defense. We played a lot of bump and run — basically the same coverages you see in the NFL. Man, Cover-2, Cover-3. And we haad a ton of great wide receivers — probably as many good wide receivers as defensive backs. Terry Glenn and David Boston and Joey Galloway.
“These guys went against each other every day in practice. Saturday was a picnic for them. If you’re out there covering Joey Galloway every day in practice like Shawn Springs was, on Saturday afternoon you’re not going to face Galloway.
“And then once you start getting guys going — just like the kid you’re talking about (Northmont’s C.J. Barnett) — he wants to come to Ohio State because of the great legacy we’ve had with corners — it sort of snowballs.”
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