He was recruited as a cornerback, but new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he was working at nickel recently. ExploreKnowles sheds light on new position in OSU defense The new scheme has five starting defensive backs, but a glut of scholarship players still exists on the roster and the men who recruited them — Kerry Coombs and Matt Barnes — have moved on to other jobs. Ronnie Hickman, who led the Buckeyes with 100 tackles last season, figures to start at boundary safety or free safety while Tanner McCalister is the early favorite to take over at nickel. McAlister played that position for Knowles at Oklahoma State last season. Proctor could reclaim the free safety role or become the team’s boundary safety, which is known as the “Bandit” and involves more run support responsibilities than it did in the previous scheme. Kourt Williams, who had 27 tackles in 10 games…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Buckeyes: Pair of defensive backs leaving program
