Ohio State's Ross Homan and Chimdi Chekwa on coming back, notes and video
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
January 07, 2010
Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and linebacker Ross Homan talked to reporters today about returning as fifth-year seniors for Ohio State next season. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who was the only first-round projection in the bunch, wasn't there as planned. But it's always interesting to hear what these guys think about when deciding their futures. Some thoughts:
Ohio State junior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa
* Chekwa said he was projected as a mid-round pick by the NFL, while Homan said he was given a third-round grade. That grade for Homan might be higher than some people expected, but it shows he did have a decision to make. Chekwa admitted he was at least 50-50 about coming back for a while, and it sounds like he would have gone pro if he thought he would have been picked higher. One NFL draft analyst I spoke with said the cornerback crop this year is pretty weak, and corner is a position that is always in demand, so maybe Chekwa could have moved himself up before the draft. Homan said everything he considered pointed to him returning, but he did think about it.
* Chekwa was interesting about the reality of life at Ohio State, realizing that almost any player can be replaced. So you have to think about yourself first when deciding to stay or go.
"It's more of a selfish decision," Chekwa said. "I think at Ohio State, you have guys who can step in and play your position. If I was to leave, you have guys like Travis Howard or Donnie Evege who could step in and play next year."
The Chekwas: A family of athletes
Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa grew up in the shadow of five siblings who excelled in athletics
By Ashley Waltermeyer
[email protected]
Published: Monday, May 17, 2010
Chekwa runs for to complete a play at the Rose Bowl versus the Oregon Ducks.
Andy Gottesman / The Lantern
Chekwa assists in the tackle of Toledo tight end, Danny Noble, at the game on Sept. 19, 2010.
Andy Gottesman / The Lantern
Chekwa takes on tight end Rhett Ellison in Ohio State's game vs. USC Sept. 12, 2009.
Some might say that athletic talent is a quality people are born with. They might even say it runs in the family.
In the world of sports today, brothers like Eli and Peyton Manning both excel as NFL quarterbacks. Multiple siblings also represent Ohio State athletics, such as the Homan brothers in football and the Hill siblings in basketball.
For the Chekwa family, athletic excellence is practically an expectation.
Senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa is the youngest of six children, all of whom have excelled at sports on the high school or collegiate level.
Before the talented children came talented parents. Chimdi?s father, Charles, played professional soccer on Nigeria?s national team. His mother, Eunice, was also an athlete, running track during her younger years.
According to Charles, sports were just as popular for his family growing up in Nigeria.
?All of my brothers and sisters were involved in athletics too,? Charles said. ?My older brothers played softball and ran track, and my younger sisters did too. When we grew up, it was just natural for you to get involved.?
Chimdi is preceded by three older brothers: Uche, the oldest; Chima, the second-oldest; and Ike, the third-oldest.
?For me, it was my older brothers and sisters who inspired me to do sports,? Chimdi said. ?I just watched them and they loved sports, so I loved sports. When you have the brothers, you basically do what they do.?
If the hip issue that buchtelgrad04 talked about in January is fully healed, then I expect Chimdi to have a great season, and check off many of the "weaknesses" that were spelled out in his scouting report. If he's not healed, then I'm not sure that the youth of the secondary won't be a glaring problem for this defense. There a alot of unknowns back there, and a healthy Chekwa could go along way toward letting the secondary gel as another asset for the defense.JXC;1741350; said:
Chekwa hopes for happy return
Aggressive play, team goals top senior's agenda
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
FRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCH
Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (5) passed on the NFL draft for one more season with the Buckeyes.
Chimdi Chekwa clearly has his sights set being a cornerback in the NFL - he even pondered entering the draft after his junior season at Ohio State last year.
But he realized that returning for his senior year would benefit him in two ways. There was the team theme, working toward a common goal of winning it all, as well as an individual one, improving his physical play while out there "on the island" covering receivers.
He now knows his chances to make an impact are just around the corner, so to speak.
"One thing I understand playing corner is that the plays will come; somebody will throw the ball your way," Chekwa said. "When you have a great D-line and linebackers, they've got to throw the ball."
In preparation this preseason, individual aggressiveness has been his theme.
"I want to improve on everything, but if I had to pick something, it's just attacking more," Chekwa said. "Whether that's attacking the football, attacking the ball carrier or just having an attacking mindset when I'm on the field, I want to do that."
