Ohio State football’s veteran newcomer calmed the Buckeyes’ wide-eyed cornerbacks: Nathan Baird’s observations

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three observations from Ohio State soccer’s 52-21 victory over Wisconsin within the Buckeyes’ Huge Ten Convention opener.

1. Tanner McCalister watched Ohio State cornerbacks JK Johnson and Jyaire Brown put together for his or her first profession begins and thought again to Nov. 2, 2019.

On that date, McCalister was an Oklahoma State sophomore pressed into his first profession begin by an harm above him on the depth chart. Regardless of his nerves, he recorded six tackles in opposition to Texas Christian that evening.

McCalister, a veteran of 45 video games with the Cowboys and Buckeyes, made positive the younger cornerbacks knew they weren’t being requested to win that sport by themselves.

“I went as much as then and simply informed them, ‘You don’t need to do something particular. You’ve simply bought to do your job,’ ” mentioned McCalister, who joined OSU as a graduate switch final winter. “Typically if you’re younger, you suppose, ‘Oh, it’s all on me.’ However you’ve bought 10 different guys on the sector, and we’ve bought your again.”

After encouraging Brown and Johnson together with his phrases, McCalister backed them up together with his play. His interception on Wisconsin’s opening drive helped OSU bury the Badgers early. His fourth-down go breakup on the purpose line on Wisconsin’s ultimate drive of the primary half preserved a 31-7 halftime benefit.

This was McCalister’s finest sport in his transient Buckeye profession — a well-timed shot of stability for a depleted secondary. It was primarily the identical stability McCalister has supplied since arriving as a switch within the winter with a working information of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ system.

“He made numerous nice performs, and he’s superior,” linebacker Tommy Eichenberg mentioned. “If you happen to ask anybody about him, everybody loves him.”

McCalister’s was not the one veteran presence that lifted the protection. Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned he spoke to Adjuster security Ronnie Hickman early within the sport about enjoying with poise and calm to ease the novices’ nerves.

But different Buckeyes additionally universally praised the performances of Brown and Johnson, who have been elevated when starters Cam Brown and Denzel Burke have been unavailable.

Johnson recorded 4 tackles. Jyaire Brown added one deal with and a go breakup on third right down to power a punt.

Per week earlier than in opposition to Toledo, McCalister was the veteran taking a seat for harm causes and turning the nickel security place over to Cam Martinez. McCalister known as himself “nonetheless slightly banged up” after Saturday’s sport.

Whereas Saturday was certainly not McCalister’s first begin, it was his Huge Ten debut — because it was for each Johnson and Jyaire Brown. It got here in opposition to a program recognized for its rugged, bodily method to offense.

“I all the time attempt to envision myself succeeding,” McCalister mentioned. “Earlier than you play video games, you watch movie and also you type of see your self making the performs that perhaps someone you watched on movie made. I positively was making an attempt to talk among the performs into existence.”

2. For the primary two seasons of Julian Fleming’s soccer profession, affirmation of his skills got here largely from behind the scenes.

He sometimes made a heady play when within the sport, reminiscent of when he ran down an Indiana defender who had intercepted a go in 2020 and compelled a fumble. As a receiver, although, Fleming didn’t flash within the transient alternatives afforded by both his well being or the top-heavy depth chart. Gamers reminiscent of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Emeka Egbuka, although, did make folks take discover early.

That started to vary with Fleming’s sideline toe-scrape landing catch in opposition to Toledo. Then he turned in two playmaker moments in opposition to Wisconsin.

On the primary, he caught a go from C.J. Stroud on an intermediate route, righted himself by placing a hand to the bottom, then redirected and shot previous Wisconsin security John Torchio for a 31-yard achieve. On the second, he caught a go contained in the 5 yard line and needed to twist and battle by way of a crowd into the top zone.

“Robust — that child deserves all the things that’s coming to him,” tight finish Cade Stover mentioned. “He was one of many hardest staff we had over the summer season and over the winter. What’s occurring proper now’s no shock.”

With Smith-Njigba’s weekly availability up within the air in the intervening time, Ohio State wants Fleming to maintain piling up these true receiver moments.

3. One early season pattern for the OSU protection was a minimum of interrupted Saturday evening.

Notre Dame kicked a area purpose on its opening collection within the season opener. Arkansas State responded to OSU’s early 7-0 lead with a area purpose on its second drive. Toledo equalized the rating 7-7 with a 50-yard landing go on its opening drive.

Wisconsin’s first three possessions, although, featured 23 yards on 11 performs, with an interception and just one first down.

“Once you’re up 14-0, the (opponent’s) sport plan modifications,” Eichenberg mentioned. “They’ll’t simply go off what they deliberate to do. They’ve bought to begin passing extra, and the D line was beginning to get after him, too.”

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If you happen to or a liked one has questions and desires to speak to an expert about playing, name the Ohio Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700.

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