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DB Marcus Williamson (Official Thread)

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ScriptOhio said:


MARCUS WILLIAMSON, CORNERBACK


  • Says Coombs has "brought a new life" to the secondary. Williamson says he's been around a long time and brings a "culture" to the program.
  • Williamson says he has spent most of his time inside at slot cornerback. Coombs preaches versatility, though, he says, so a lot of guys are bouncing around.
  • Ohio State has worked some of the young guys at nickelback, including Ronnie Hickman and Cameron Martinez.
  • Williamson says he has been able to bring "a lot of football knowledge" to the position since he's a senior cornerback.
  • He says "every year, it seems" he has had changes at his position coach. All of the different coaches, he thinks, have allowed him to build certain skills. On Coombs' return: "It's really rejuvenated me."
  • Coombs "understood my career here hasn't been ideal or hasn't been perfect for myself." He says Coombs came in the first day and told Williamson he's still the same player he once recruited.
  • It might take some time to understand the term "BIA," he says. Coombs harps on the cornerbacks compete against past first-round cornerbacks rather than against each other.
  • Tyreke Johnson is "extremely talented." He says sometimes it's hard to break through at cornerback. "We're really excited for Tyreke. He's been showing great things."
  • "I came in pretty much injury-ridden my first couple years." He says you see the stories of Justin Hilliard and Johnnie Dixon and it's motivating even if his injuries haven't been as bad as theirs. "Having this year, this extra year, it's given me a new lifeblood."
  • Ryan Day and his staff has talked about practicing as a pro without the pads on, he says.
  • He says Coombs has helped players learn how to take their next step.
  • Williamson says all cornerbacks are trying to reach the standard set by Jeff Okudah and others.
  • Williamson says this year has been a "blessing in disguise" because he's had injury-riddled years in the past and now he has an extra season of eligibility.
  • Once pads come on, Williamson says, it's like "having the training wheels come off."
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Excited to see Marcus play this year, he always showed so much promise in the limited action he has got, just had so many injuries. I hope he gets to shine this year and the extra year of eligibility will pay off for him.
 
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“I’ve had, every year it seems, some changes in our coaching,” Williamson said Tuesday night. “Guys move up, move on to the next level or what have you. I think, you know, with all that coaching has brought so much knowledge, different techniques and styles that I’ve been able to bring, and utilize on the field, and now that Coach Coombs is back, it’s really rejuvenated me.

“You know, it has kind of reminded me of why we come here. We come here to win championships and to get to the next level. Coach Coombs preaches that every day. We’ve had that relationship really since I was 15 when he started recruiting me. It’s great to have him back.”
 
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At the moment, it looks like that slot position is going to be filled by Williamson, as he has been at the position all summer long. Williamson is a senior now and the maturity has shown throughout the offseason. He may have had his first two seasons ended due to injury, but he played in every game last year. And, unbelievably, as long as defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs doesn’t go anywhere after this year, next year will be the first time Williamson will have had the same position coach two years in a row at Ohio State.

Williamson's career began in 2017 with Coombs, then Coombs left for the NFL and he was replaced by Taver Johnson. Then Urban Meyer retired and Ryan Day replaced Johnson with Jeff Hafley. Now in Williamson’s fourth go-round, he is at least being coached by somebody he knows well.

In fact, Coombs began getting to know Williamson when he was a 15-year old up-and-coming cornerback prospect at nearby Westerville South. While some players may view the vast number of coaches as a reason they haven’t seen the field as much as they would have hoped, Williamson sees it as a positive.

“Personally, I've been in this program for a few years. I've had a lot of coaching, a lot of different coaches. I think I've been able to bring a lot of that football knowledge to the position along with my personal skill set,” he said. “So I'm excited to get started and get to work with Coach Coombs and have a great season.”

As a true freshman, Williamson played in 10 games before having his season ended. The next year he only made it five games before an injury ended his season.

“I came in pretty much injury ridden my first couple years. Anybody that goes through injuries, you've got the great stories here like Johnnie Dixon, you've got the Justin Hilliards, you know these great stories of these comebacks. And luckily I haven't had these major, like Achilles and knee, but I've had my struggles,” Williamson.

Finally healthy last season, Williamson was able to play in every game. He then attacked the offseason because he knew 2020 would be his final go-round as a Buckeye. Due to the pandemic, however, everybody playing football this year will get an extra year of eligibility, meaning that Williamson will also be a senior in 2021, which has also added a pep to the step.

“I’ve had some seasons cut short here and having this extra year, it gives me a sense of freedom to just go out there and play and have fun, and be that leader for the guys that I think we need on defense,” he said. “We can really strive and go do big things this year.”

Even before the extra year was granted, Williamson and Coombs were approaching this as a new beginning, but a familiar one as well.

“Coach Coombs, he came in and he understood my career hasn't been ideal or hasn't been perfect for myself. But you come in, he's brought that new sense of energy,” he said. “And he came in the first day and told me that you're still the same player that I recruited and let's get to work. And I think we've just been making extreme strides since he's been here, so it's great to have him.”
 
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ShowMeBuck said:
This could be one of those under the radar things that ends up to actually be a fairly big deal next year.

Certainly helps the depth.
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Bingo! This was my first thought. I think all of the younger guys have higher ceilings, but Marcus has that veteran leadership and quality in game reps that the younger guys don’t have yet. At the very least I feel comfortable about slot coverage in ‘21
 
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ShowMeBuck said:
This could be one of those under the radar things that ends up to actually be a fairly big deal next year.

Certainly helps the depth.
Click to expand...

With this, Wade is the only departure (or at least should be the only departure) so depth should no longer be an issue once the 5 new freshman hit campus and , Woody willing, a full spring/summer schedule to acclimate.
 
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