Ohio State Cornerbacks, Receivers Talk About Each Other, To Each Other

COLUMBUS — It was media day for the Ohio State wide receivers and cornerbacks following the eighth practice of fall camp on Friday. Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and receivers coach Brian Hartline met with reporters, as did a large handful of receivers and cornerbacks, including the media debut of freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The highlights of much of what was said can be found below.

Tim Walton

• On the competitive nature between the WRs and CBs: They compete in a loving manner.
• Walton is confident in playing five cornerbacks this year, and “possibly another one.” Those five are presumably Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Jeremiah Mathews, and Calvin Simpson-Hunt. Aaron Scott could be one of those guys if he keeps at it.
• There is no concern with the depth at nickel back despite what Ryan Day said previously.
• Lorenzo Styles, Jr. is “good to go” but he’s still got the green jersey on.
• “We’ve got a deep room” at cornerback. They’re getting better every day going against these wide receivers.
• They’ve gotta play the young guys early this year.
• Calvin Simpson-Hunt is growing every day, doing well on special teams. He was behind last year because he enrolled in June. He’s part of that big pool of possibilities.
• Areas of growth for Denzel Burke? Leadership, and they continue to challenge him with game-like situations regarding adjustments on his own that they haven’t necessarily covered yet. Basically, challenging him to be ahead of the coaching in some respects because you can’t prepare for everything that happens in a game. “I give him challenges every day.” Same thing with Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock.

Brian Hartline

• This is the best DB corps “depth wise” that he’s seen at Ohio State in his time as a coach.
• This could be the deepest group of WRs he’s had. It certainly rivals one or two others. “I’m feeling really good about a good group of guys.”
• Hartline was trying to be cautious when asked about Jeremiah Smith but did say that earning Iron Buckeye recognition is impressive and Smith embodies everything that goes with that: “It’s not just lifting numbers, speed numbers. It is the way you carry yourself, the way you train, the edge to you.”
• Carnell Tate probably has the strongest hands on the team. Very clean route runner. If he makes a mistake he’ll never make that mistake again.
• Mylan Graham has done a very good job of coming in and learning the offense. He takes a lot of pride in his work. “He does not like having [missed assignments] almost to the point where he tries to justify himself and why he did this. I’m like, ‘Mylan, come here, take a deep breath.'”
• You see flashes with Damarion Witten but like all freshmen he’s still working on consistency. The freshmen are all competing against each other, including walk-on Dorian Williams.
• Brandon Inniss is a leader and his teammates love his approach and energy.

Emeka Egbuka

• Will Howard continues to get better and better since the spring.
• Biggest growth area in camp for Jeremiah Smith has been the mental abilities, like taking the good with the bad and consuming the playbook.
• You don’t want to have to teach a tough mentality to players, that’s why you recruit them instead. Jeremiah Smith has that.
• Doesn’t matter if this is a run-first team because it will open the pass. Doesn’t matter who gets the touches as long as the team succeeds. They have the best RB and WR room in the nation.

Denzel Burke

• Working against the WRs is getting everybody better. “They’re barking back now.”
• Jeremiah Smith “is a dog.” Loves his mentality, his approach to 50/50 balls. He’s a pro’s pro. Everything you want in a prototypical wide receiver.
• “Will Howard’s been gaming.” Only one interception in camp — which went to Burke on Thursday. He’s accurate and a great leader when it’s time to go good vs. good. Howard’s pocket presence is noticeable.

Jordan Hancock

• “For sure” feels more prepared for his role this year than he did a year ago.

Jeremiah Smith

• Camp’s going well. “I’m just a freshman.” He listens to everybody and everybody helps him out.
• The attention is a blessing but he doesn’t let it affect him. It is “very easy” to block out because he’s not on social media that much.
• He’s quiet off the field but louder off of it.
• Ohio State fans would come to watch him in high school. No other fan base did that.
• Being able to go against guys like Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun: “That’s why I came here.”
• At Thursday’s practice, Davison Igbinosun knocked away a pass intended for Smith in the end zone. Igbinosun let him know all about it. Smith said he told IGB simply, “Okay, I’ll be back.” About 20 minutes later, Smith brought in a deep 50/50 ball on IGB. What did he say then? “I told you I was gonna be back.”
• His footwork has improved in fall camp.
• He was never flipping from Ohio State.
• Smith doesn’t embrace all of the expectations being placed upon him because that’s not what’s important. Plus, the first game can get here and things may not go as “expected,” so just focus on what you can control.
• Why is he so mature? His father always told him “don’t act my age.”
• “When I see a 50/50 ball, I gotta get that ball.” Doesn’t matter if it’s a good throw or bad throw.

Brandon Inniss

• It feels great to have the coaches speak so highly of him on the field and off of it. He always wants to bring energy to the team.
• Leadership has been instilled in him since he was young.
• It was very frustrating to not be full go in the spring but he’s healthy now.
• Mylan Graham is staying in the playbook. He’s an advanced route runner for a freshman. “I like his releases a lot.”

Carnell Tate

• Tate is shooting for 1,000 yards receiving this year. He thinks they have three or four guys who can get there. And a couple of 1,000-yard rushers as well.
• Is Carnell Tate being slept on? “No, I don’t feel like I’m being slept on. When the game’s on, they’re gonna game plan for me as well. I let the media talk and I just play ball.”
• On Will Howard’s speed: “It’s a big bowling ball, I’ll tell you that.”
• Who is the biggest trash talker among the cornerbacks? “Number one (Igbinosun). You’re gonna feel One out there. You’re gonna hear him and you’re gonna feel him.”
• What are people going to see from Carnell Tate this year? “They’re gonna see me play ball and talk my trash with it.”

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