COLUMBUS – It may surprise many to hear that Ohio State — a program that has become known recently as “DBU” – had not seen a member of its secondary voted the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year.
That changed Wednesday when cornerback Shaun Wade became the first Buckeye to win the honor.
The fourth-year junior from Jacksonville leads Buckeye defensive backs with 16 tackles. He has added three pass breakups and has an interception in each of the last two games. Wade was also a first team All-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media.
Joining Wade of the first team All-Big Ten list by the coaches was senior LB Peter Werner.
In all, seven defensive players made either a first, second or third All-Big Ten team, including linemen DT Tommy Togiai and Zach Harrison on the second team and Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper and Haskell Garrett on the third team.
The 4th-ranked Buckeyes take on No. 20 Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game for the second time in three years on Saturday (Noon/FOX).
-0-
The early signing period for letters-of-intent coincides with the end of the regular season this year, thanks to schedules disrupted by COVID-19.
Alabama is believed to have the highest-rated recruiting class in the country but Ohio State is not far behind.
Head coach Ryan Day unveiled a 21-member recruiting class Wednesday ranked No. 2 by 247Sports and Rivals and featuring 18 players who earned either four or five-star rankings.
This year’s class features two top-100 prospects at running back, the nation’s No. 4-ranked quarterback and the top wide receiver.
Day signed the top four players from Ohio, including Pickerington North defensive end Jack Sawyer, defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. of Streetsboro, wide Jayden Ballard from Massillon Washington and Ironton linebacker Reid Caricco.