It isn't uncommon for the Ohio State coaching staff to repeatedly glow about a young player during spring practice.
Wind the clocks back a year, and that player's name was Darron Lee.
Urban Meyer, Luke Fickell and others ranted and raved about the young linebacker coming off a redshirt season when he bulked up from playing quarterback in high school. It took a little while for the media and fans alike to figure out who Lee was in terms of an Ohio State football player, but needless to say he didn't disappoint in his first year as a starter.
This spring, that player is Noah Brown.
"Noah Brown's probably has about as good a spring as I could have wanted. He's dropped 25 pounds, he's on a different level than he was in the fall. So I'm really, really pleased with where he's at," wide receivers coach Zach Smith said Tuesday. "He's come a long way and he's still got a little bit of work to do but he's looking like a guy that's going to contribute heavily in the fall."
Recruited and listed as an H-back on the Ohio State depth chart all of last season, Brown played at a bulky 240 pounds. He only touched the ball twice in 2014, but was noticed for a punishing crack-back block during the Illinois game among other occasions.
"That started in high school. I was first to block in high school, too," Brown said Saturday. "It's just something I like to do and as a big receiver you want to dominate a DB and that's definitely a chance to do it when the ball's coming to your side or something like that, you let them know you're there."
He's caught the eye of Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs this spring as well, getting more reps out wide than usual with Michael Thomas missing time as he recuperates from sports hernia surgery.
"Noah Brown has had a great spring for a young kid," Coombs said. "Again, a strong kid who’s lost a lot of weight and is quicker. He’s got a good first step, a burst and quickness."
Meyer added that Brown's always had the potential and skill set that could help Ohio State, he just needed to look the part.
"He's lost 24 pounds because we got him here, he's a competitor, he's a tough guy," Meyer said March 31. "You saw that last year as a true freshman blocking, very tough guy and he goes hard."
But with a slew of playmakers like Jalin Marshall, Ezekiel Elliott, Dontre Wilson, Curtis Samuel and others all returning for the team that won the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship, Brown's just trying to make his mark.
"You want to go out and make your play when your number's called," Brown said. "That's really what it comes down to is being there for your teammates and helping them but when your number's called, make sure you make that play."
He's getting his chances, working at H-Back and both X and Z receiver this spring. With that in mind, Brown knows he needs all the snaps he can get in order to get noticed.
"Coming here, you know that's what's going to happen. You gotta fight to get on the field," Brown said. "That's one of the things that enticed me to come here, because I'm forced to get better or else I won't see the field. I think that really played a role in my decision to be a better player."
