The position battle to be Ohio State’s starting strong safety may not be entirely in the spotlight yet, but there is no doubting that it is a crucial position that must be filled by at least one capable candidate. And if that candidate can be more than capable, then so much the better.
Malik Hooker was the big star last year with seven interceptions and three pick sixes. He is off to the NFL now, however, and the Buckeyes must figure out how to continue to get better without him.
Senior Damon Webb is the only returning starter at safety. He started every game last season, finishing fifth on the team with 57 tackles. Webb brings a sense of calm to a position that is in a significant state of flux.
Hooker’s performance last year should be an inspiration and example that one player can make a huge impact in his first year as a starter. Every safety competing to replace Hooker will have an opportunity to become Ohio State’s next superstar, but the question is whether or not this will actually happen.
“I don’t know that yet,” said OSU defensive coordinator and safeties coach Greg Schiano. “That’s what we have to find out. But then again, we didn’t know we had that in Malik. We had an idea, but until you do it you don’t know. We sure work hard at it, to develop that skill. Stretching your range is something we work very hard at and it’s a daily process.”
Webb is stepping up as a leader and is the only safety guaranteed a starting spot. Even though Webb and Hooker play different safety spots, Webb believes that is up to him to set the standard for the entire safety room, leading everyone toward a common goal.
“Last year, they set the standard, but it’s definitely up to me to be a leader and to show them what it is to be…we call ourselves BIA [Best in America], so there’s no drop off or no lagging off,” he said. “It’s definitely up to me to set the standard and keep the tradition going.”
The Candidates
Looking to join Webb are Erick Smith and Jordan Fuller. Whether it be both of them or just one of them, Schiano doesn’t really care. At this point, he just wants to make sure one of them will be ready to go.
“You’d love to play more than two guys,” he said. “That would be ideal, but you’re not going to do it at the cost of performance. If it’s a dead heat, then yeah, until somebody pulls away you play them both. The one guy you want there is D. Webb though because he runs things. Even last year he was the guy making the calls back there. So it’s good.”
Smith is a physical safety who has been in the program for four years, most of that time has been spent dealing with injuries. Last season, however, he was Hooker’s backup, so he saw how well the position can be played.
Fuller, meanwhile, was just a true freshman last year, but he played in all 13 games. He was behind Webb at free safety last season, but could be on the verge of lining up next to him when the season gets underway later this month.
It’s too early at this point to say if one player is ahead of the other. That won’t be the case much longer.
“We evaluate every single thing they do,” Schiano said. “But at the end of the day it really comes down to whoever steps on that field first is the one you think can give you the best chance to win.”
