Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley won’t refer to opposing players by name. There’s no psychology or motivation behind it, though. He simply doesn’t know the names of any players on opposing teams.
Frankly, he doesn’t have any desire to learn them, either.
“I don’t really know everybody’s name, I just go by numbers,” Conley said following practice Wednesday. “I don’t care about nobody’s name, I just care about my team.”
Conley’s response came after he was asked a question about the best receiver he’s faced so far this season. “No. 84 from Western Michigan,” he said, referring to Broncos wideout Corey Davis.
It’s an interesting perspective considering how many quality players Conley has squared off with through the first seven games of the Buckeyes’ season. You’d think by now he would have at least learned of some of the wide receivers he’s going against. Apparently, that’s not the case.
He didn’t know Leonte Carroo’s name, either. But when he was asked about No. 4 for Rutgers, Conley knew exactly who a reporter was referring to.
“He’s a big guy, kind of like No. 12 from last week from Penn State,” Conley said, referring to Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin by number. “He has speed and I know he’s their top guy, they’re gonna try and get him the ball so it’s going to be a great challenge.”
Carroo is the best player for the Scarlet Knights and one who has been a problem so far this season for opponents. That is, of course, when he’s been on the field.
Carroo missed two games earlier in the season due to a suspension and now, after returning and recording 291 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the last two games, he has suffered an injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against No. 1-ranked Ohio State.
According to NJ.com, Carroo did not practice for the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday, but head coach Kyle Flood said he is “moving in the right direction.”
The Buckeyes, and more importantly Conley and fellow cornerback Eli Apple, expect to see him out on the field Saturday night.
“For me, there’s nothing better than going against a great receiver like that,” Apple said. “There’s no way he’s gonna miss the game so I expect to see him out there.”
Earlier this week, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer called Carroo “an NFL player” and he’s certainly looked the part this season, too, despite having played in just four games. Carroo leads the Big Ten in touchdown catches with nine; Ohio State’s Michael Thomas is second with five. He’s also averaging 118 receiving yards per game, which is tops in the league.
The Buckeyes seem to welcome this type of challenge.
“It’s more motivation because when you got guys that don’t get the ball as much, you’re out there at corner and you don’t get really a lot of action,” Conley said. “I’m gonna get a lot of action this week because he’s a big receiver so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Neither Conley nor Apple would reveal the Ohio State’s game plan for containing the Rutgers wide receiver. The Buckeyes don’t usually have one of their corners shadow a player around, although it did do that one year ago with Doran Grant on Michigan State’s Tony Lippett. Expect both Conley and Apple to spend some time lining up across from Carroo.
That is, of course, if he plays.
“As a defense, whatever you have to do to stop him, that’s what we’re going to have to do,” Apple said. “It doesn’t really matter to me, I’ll do whatever the coaches tell me to do and I have great confidence in our abilities and I feel like we have a good game plan.
“He’s going to be a great challenge for our secondary and I can’t wait for that matchup, for sure.”
