Darron Lee didn’t even come to Ohio State as a linebacker.
As noted by Gerry Ahern of USA Today, Lee, a redshirt freshman, was a high school quarterback for New Albany High School (Ohio) and joined the Buckeyes as a safety. Now in the middle of the Buckeyes defense, Lee has turned into one of the pleasant surprises anywhere in major college football. On Monday night against Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Lee can be the game’s surprising X-factor.
Lee has emerged in the second half of the season, recording at least five tackles in five of the last six games. In all, he’s third on the team with 73 tackles. In the 42-35 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, Lee was named the game’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player with seven tackles and a pair of sacks.
In fact, Lee is second on Ohio State’s defense in sacks (7.5) only to star defensive end Joey Bosa (13.5). However, sacking Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota might not be Lee’s No. 1 priority—at least ideally.
Lee’s job against the Ducks? Spend less time in the backfield and more time using his speed to slow down Oregon’s offense in space.
In an interview with Martin Rickman of Sports Illustrated, Pac-12 Network analyst and ex-USC assistant Yogi Roth said the Buckeyes must get pressure on Mariota with their defensive line:
If you look at the history of teams who have had success against Marcus, they’ve had the…
Continue Reading: The Surprising X-Factor in Oregon vs. Ohio State National Championship
