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There is a new star in the Ohio State defense – true freshman Christian Bryant.
The former four-star prospect from Cleveland Glenville opened fall camp at the cornerback position but has been shifted to the star position – a hybrid linebacker/safety spot utilized when the Buckeyes deploy their nickel defense.
With junior Nate Oliver sidelined by injury, Bryant spent Tuesday’s noon practice as the second-team star and worked behind senior Tyler Moeller.
“He’s doing a good job,” Moeller said of Bryant. “He’s a freshman so he doesn’t know too much and he’s out there just playing football but he’s out there and he’s a good player. He can lay some hits. I think that’s a big reason why they moved him from corner to safety.”
Listed at 5-9, 178 pounds, Bryant lined up at cornerback, quarterback, wide receiver and kick and punt returner during his prep career. While at Glenville, he played with Jermale Hines, who has played the star position but will be a full-time safety this fall.
A senior, Hines said he likes having Bryant at his old spot.
“Christian is a very competitive guy and very physical,” he said. “I’m trying to teach him the ropes. He should be OK. He definitely has the physical mentality to be a safety.
“I realized it the first day of camp. He had about three big hits in a row and everybody was like, ‘Woah.’ It only took one day. I already knew he could hit from watching him in high school. He showed it in one day.”
While Moeller and Hines are in favor of the move, senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa is not. Chekwa and Bryant are roommates during camp, and the starter said he will always consider the freshman to be a cornerback.
“I took him under my wing and then he moved out to safety,” Chekwa said. “I still see him as a corner. He’s playing that star position so he’s not necessarily a safety but it’s more safety movement so you put him in the safety room but I still expect him to play like a corner.
“He wasn’t really excited. He’s a corner at heart, but he wants to play football so he’s hungry to play football. He doesn’t care what position he plays; he just wants to get on the field and make an impact.”
Like Hines, Chekwa said he is impressed with Bryant’s ability to hit.
“I think he fits just about any role he wants to fit,” he said. “He came in coming downhill hitting guys. Once you start hitting, you can play whatever position you want to once you have that mind-set. That’s why I think he’s going to be successful and great at this school.”
By Adam Jardy
Staff Writer
Posted Aug 20, 2010
Posted Aug 20, 2010
(BUCKEYESPORTS.COM)
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