The pecking order at Ohio State’s free safety position came into clear view during the Buckeyes’ season opener.
As expected, senior Josh Proctor saw the lion’s share of snaps. His 63 were tied for the most among Buckeye defensive backs against Minnesota last week. Proctor, who tallied seven tackles and had a field-flipping interception return called back during the game, would have played even more if not for an injury sustained in the fourth quarter. Proctor collided with a Gopher tight end and stayed down on the field clutching his arm before eventually walking off to the sideline. He did not return.
It was not Marcus Hooker, who started the first several games of the 2020 season at free safety for the Buckeyes, that entered the contest in place of Proctor. Redshirt sophomore Bryson Shaw, who had already seen a few snaps earlier in the game, closed out the final couple of Minnesota drives as the last line of defense for Ohio State.
If Proctor is limited or out for Saturday’s matchup against Oregon – something that head coach Ryan Day has neither confirmed nor denied on multiple occasions this week – Shaw is likely to reprise that role and quickly become a major factor in a contest with the No. 12 team in the country.
“Been waiting on my time and I feel like my time’s here, I feel like it’s arrived,” Shaw said Wednesday. “I know all the safeties have a lot to bring to the table, including myself, and I’m just excited for the future of this team and this secondary. I think we’re just getting started. I think this defense is very good, we have very high standards for ourself and I think you will see that.”
Shaw played 15 snaps in the season opener, and his performance was good enough to earn a champion grade from the Ohio State coaching staff. It was evident from the reps he received in the first half that Kerry Coombs and company feel more comfortable playing the former three-star recruit during his third season in the program, but taking over for Proctor entirely late in the game was a clear vote of confidence.
“I was ready. Josh and I, and all the safeties, we’ve pushed each other,” Shaw said. “If his number was called, he’s gonna be ready. If my number was gonna be called, I was gonna be ready. If someone else’s was called, they were gonna be ready. Everyone was ready for that game. So when he went down, I just had to go in there and do my job and I thought I was ready.”
The Eldersburg, Maryland, native and former lacrosse standout, who entered the program as just the No. 575 overall prospect in the class of 2019, didn’t see much playing time in his first two years as a Buckeye. However, Day said Shaw has paid his dues, and Day likes what he saw out of the third-year defensive back against Minnesota.
“He played well, graded out a champion. I think that’s an example of somebody that just kept working every day and didn’t complain, didn’t make it about him, just kept putting days in front of days,” Day said on 97.1 The Fan Thursday. “And because of that, he went out there and played well. I thought he tackled well, I thought he was where he was supposed to be, he makes the calls, so he’s a little bit of a calming force back there. Looking forward to a good year from Bryson.”
Ronnie Hickman, who led the Buckeyes with 11 tackles in his first career start at the bullet position last week, entered the program in the same recruiting cycle as Shaw in 2019. Both players have seen the other climb their way up the depth chart over the past couple of years, and Hickman said he can “always trust” Shaw to make the right calls and keep him in position on defense.
“Bryson’s my guy, we came in from the jump so we’ve had those freshman struggles, those young guy struggles together,” Hickman said Wednesday. “Just to watch him grow, he’s a really detailed guy. A lot of guys ask him, go to him for questions, that kind of thing. So just seeing him locked in and staying with the team no matter what. It’s not always good, but he’s stuck with us. He’s a hard worker. I’m just excited for him to show what he can do on the field, especially this Saturday.”
There’s no guarantee Shaw sees a significant uptick in snaps this weekend, as Proctor appeared to be dressed in full gear after Wednesday’s practice, but it’s uncertain whether the Oklahoma native will be good to go against the Ducks.
Just last week, senior cornerback Sevyn Banks was neither listed as a game-time decision nor unavailable on the Buckeyes’ status report and was fully dressed for the Buckeyes’ pregame warmups but did not end up playing due to injury.
Shaw’s admiration for Proctor was apparent in his comments this week, and he said either one will be happy to see the other succeed on the field.
“I believe Josh is one of the best safeties in the country, if not the best, and he makes me elevate my game, because obviously I want to be the best too,” Shaw said. “I push him, he pushes me, we have different but similar skill sets and it’s just been a blessing working, competing with him. Obviously I wish him the best of luck in everything he does, I mean he’s my brother. When he’s out there I get pumped up and happy for him, and I know when I’m out there, he gets pumped up and happy for me. It’s a brotherhood for real.”
But no matter who lines up for the Ohio State secondary against Oregon, Shaw has a feeling the group will be just fine on Saturday.
“Everyone in our back end can play, I can tell you that right now,” Shaw said. “Everyone in our back end has put in the time, put in the effort. We’re ready.”
