Malik Hooker intercepts a pass, and the thought runs through Urban Meyer’s head.
“I see the same thing, man,” Ohio State's head coach says. “Every time I watch him, I’m going to flip him over on offense and pitch it to him a couple of times.”
So, Malik Hooker, two-way star?
It’s probably not going to happen. Let’s start there. Meyer, co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and a few players all said Monday they like where Hooker is at safety. The plan, for now, is for him to stay there.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to discuss, so let’s do that.
Hooker has five interceptions in nine games this season — a number that leads the Big Ten and is tied for second nationally. Two of those picks have been returned for touchdowns and the latest came in the third quarter of Ohio State’s 62-3 pasting of Nebraska on Saturday night.
The way he weaves in and out of traffic after picking off a pass is unique, and he certainly looks like a natural with the ball in his hands. But playing him on offense?
“Nah, he’s good where he’s at,” Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett said. “I know where you’re going, but he’s good at DB. I think that’s where he’s the best for us.”
“Malik, he’s never come to me saying he wants to play offense, but I would probably shut that down really quick.”
Two-way stars are rare nowadays in college football, but there are still some out there. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers is probably the most famous example as Peppers plays linebacker on defense and occasionally lines up at running back and as a Wildcat quarterback on offense for the Wolverines.
Hooker seems like he could be a viable option to get some snaps on the offensive side of the ball, too, but the Buckeyes are pumping the brakes on that discussion for now. After all, Ohio State has to get the ball to players like Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown and Mike Weber. Barrett also needs his touches.
“They’ve got a lot of guys over there they need to get the ball in the hands of and I don’t know if you want to disrupt the chemistry of different things. A lot goes into that,” Fickell said. “The reality is, yeah, those are guys that can do a lot of different things and obviously Malik is one that you’ve seen in the last few weeks with his ability to get his hands on the ball and take it back, but you’ve also got to look at the chemistry in the things you do."
"In order for Malik to get better at what he’s doing, focusing in on those [defensive] things are what he needs to do.”
Fickell was around when Ohio State had Chris Gamble play both ways during the Jim Tressel era. Gamble was a dynamic defensive back and wide receiver for the Buckeyes. He has seen this movie before.
What he maybe didn’t see was Hooker turning into such a dynamic defensive playmaker.
“I saw what he did with the ball in his hands on the basketball court. I didn’t see as much of what he did with the ball in his hands on the football field,” Fickell said. “But it’s obviously a great asset to have.”
For now, Hooker will remain in Ohio State’s secondary. But Meyer has played guys on both sides of the ball before — he mentioned Allen Rossum at Notre Dame and how he was “so close” to doing the same with Joe Haden at Florida — so maybe he’ll have a change of heart.
“How do you practice them? How do you take time from them?” Meyer asked. “We do have good skill players that are developing on offense so it’s not really — he’s just so valuable right now.”
“But we have thought about it.”
And for now, that’s all it will remain: a thought.
