Ohio State Football: How can the Buckeyes replace Gareon Conley?

After losing three players in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, how will Ohio State football rebuild its top-ranked secondary?

Ohio State’s 2016 defense was one of the best in college football.

The squad ranked fourth in total defense, sixth against the pass and intercepted 19 passes en route to an 11-2 record.

With 15 starters returning from the 2016 squad, the 2017 Buckeyes squad could be even better, but it’s not without its holes.

Three of Ohio State’s star defensive backs, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, cornerback Gareon Conley and saftey Malik Hooker, heard their names called in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While losing so many talented players from one position group could be extremely worrisome for some teams, it’s nothing new for the Buckeyes faithful.

Since Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus in 2012, there have been six Ohio State defensive backs taken in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, but never before has the team lost three starters in one off-season.

If Ohio State wants to continue to build upon the foundation set by last season’s Buckeyes squad it will need to assimilate new players into the secondary to play along side it’s lone returning starter, senior strong safety Damon Webb.

While Denzel Ward seems to be the obvious candidate to replace recently departed number one cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the heir apparent for Gareon Conley is not as set in stone.

Replacing Gareon Conley

Gareon Conley came to OSU as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Ohio.

After redshirting his first season at Ohio State, Gareon became a fixture for Urban Meyer’s squad, appearing in all 41 games for the Buckeyes during his three years of eligibility.

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He served as a reserve corner and special teams ace during his red-shirt freshman season before stepping into a starting role as a starter. Over the course of his final two seasons in Columbus, Conley was a cornerstone of the Buckeye’s secondary, logging 54 tackles and six interceptions while starting all 26 games.

Over the course of his Buckeye career, Conley developed into one of the best cornerbacks in college football. According to Pro Football Focus, he only gave up 14 receptions for 159 yards in coverage, leaving opposing quarterbacks with a QBR of only 14.0.

Conley was a master of Ohio State’s press man coverage scheme, and was able to mirror opposing receivers on nearly every play. His advanced vision and aggressive tendencies allowed him to consistently fight for contested balls and he pulled in 6 interceptions over his 26 starts.

In addition to being a standout outside corner, Conley also had the versatility to play inside while OSU’s defense was in the nickle. This position flexibility allowed the Buckeyes to play Denzel Ward on the outside and gave Ohio State one of the best defensive secondaries in college football.

This skill set, in addition to his 4.44 40-yard dash, helped to convince the Oakland Raiders to select Conley with 24th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, and will make it extremely difficult for the Buckeyes to replace him.

While there isn’t a player waiting in the wings to take over Conley’s multifaceted role in Greg Schiano’s defense, there are a number of players who could help to fill the void.

Damon Arnette

Sep 17, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Mark Andrews (81) dives for an overthrown pass defended by Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Damon Arnette (3) in the third quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Of the players competing for Ohio State’s open outside cornerback position, only one has actual in game experience for the Buckeyes, Damon Arnette.

Arnette had an interesting recruiting experience to say the least.

After committing to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Arnette began flirting with the idea of flipping his allegiance to the Buckeyes. On signing day, he again changed his mind and committed to Auburn, but ultimately couldn’t stay away. He renewed his commitment to the scarlet and gray after visiting campus on Feb. 2, 2015, and the rest is history.

After redshirting as a freshman, Arnette, a three-star recruit from Fort Lauderdale, appeared in all 13 games for the Buckeyes in 2016. That same year, playing 181 snaps at cornerback for Ohio State he recorded 21 tackles and even intercepted a pass against Nebraska.

According to Ourlads, Arnette is presently listed as a starting cornerback for the Buckeyes. This designation was confirmed in Ohio State’s spring game when he lined up on the first team and recorded an interception against starting quarterback J.T. Barrett.

On the field Arnette plays with an aggressiveness that is almost a requirement for Ohio State cornerbacks at this point. A high school safety and linebacker, he is a willing tackler who can help the team not only with his coverage skills, but also as a stout run defender and blitzer.

While Arnette has yet to start a game for the Buckeyes, he will definitely see the field as one of Ohio State’s most experienced cornerbacks.

Kendall Sheffield

Apr 16, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Kendall Sheffield (11) grabs the facemark of Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Cam Sims (17) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Another player who could be seeing the field alot in 2017 is former five-star recruit turned junior college transfer, Kendell Sheffield.

The ninth-ranked player in the 2015 recruiting class, Sheffield originally committed to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide before eventually deciding to transfer.

After having to redshirt his freshman season at Alabama, Sheffield went on to start for Blinn Community College in 2016 instead of sitting out his freshman season, hoping to rebuild his stock and commit to a new college for the 2017 season.

Sheffield excelled against his JUCO competition, logging 31 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in only 9 games. His production drew interest from college heavy weights like USC, Texas, and TCU, before ultimately committing to play for the Buckeyes.

Through spring of 2017 Sheffield is currently listed third on the Buckeyes depth chart, behind the aforementioned cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Damon Arnette.

While Kendell has yet to play a regular season snap for Ohio State, he did flash for the team during the OSU Spring game. Sheffield has the loose hips, ball skills and field vision that defensive coordinators adore and his skill set should assimilate very well into Ohio State’s man press scheme.

Sheffield may be one of the most athletically gifted cornerbacks on the Buckeyes roster, and if he can regain his previous form, he may end up being Ohio State’s next star cornerback.

Shaun Wade

This season Ohio State has a wealth of talent at the cornerback position. While he may end up red-shirting during his freshman season, former five-star recruit Shaun Wade could be a dark horse in the Buckeyes cornerback competition.

Wade came to the Buckeyes as the No. 19 player in the entire 2016 recruiting class. The jewel of Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class, he enrolled early at OSU in January of 2017 and entered the team’s Spring practices. Wade excelled in the spring game, leading the team with six tackles and notching a pass breakup in his first game in scarlet and gray.

Wade’s tape shows a player with experience in man, press and zone coverage schemes and the aggressive tackling that Ohio State corners are known for. While many players need time to adjust to the speed and complexities of college football, his tape shows a player who could contribute from day one, even in one of the best defenses in college football.

While he probably won’t play for the team in 2017, expect Shaun Wade to eventually emerge as a fixture of the Buckeyes secondary for years to come, and ultimately end up forming OSU’s next great cornerback tandem alongside Kendell Sheffield.

Final Thoughts

While there is no clear cut replacement for Gareon Conley on OSU’s roster, the team shouldn’t lose a step.

While Damon Arnette and Kendell Sheffield appear to be on the team’s short list to start in 2017, it seems more likely that the team will instead use a cornerback rotation like they did in 2016.

Rotating between 3-4 cornerbacks over the course of a game gives Ohio State the opportunity to keep fresh players on the field and adequately combat against modern fast-paced spread offenses.

While OSU’s man press defense is incredibly effective against opposing offenses, it needs talented cornerbacks to shutdown wide receivers. Ohio State may end up being one of the rare teams that could play a deep cornerback rotation and maintain the same level of play no matter who is on the field.

As Ohio State continues to attract five-star recruits in each year’s subsequent recruiting class, it appears that cornerback rotations are the way of the future for the Buckeyes.

Next: How can Ohio State replace Marshon Lattimore?

Regardless of who is eventually named the starter in 2017, expect Damon Arnette and Kendell Sheffield to play extensively in the Buckeye’s defensive backfield across from Denzel Ward.

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