P Derek Erwin (Walk-on)

[Buckskin86]

OSU football: Clear Fork, Buckeye Central grads bid to become Buckeyes
By JON SPENCER ? News Journal ? May 11, 2009

Buckeye Central graduate Derek Irwin, a walk-on punter at Ohio State, warms up before last month's spring game. (Submitted photo)

At 5-11, Erwin knew his lack of size for a first baseman would be a drawback in his hopes of earning a baseball scholarship somewhere. So once he enrolled at OSU in 2007 and began pursuit of a civil engineering degree, he fell back on his football skills and tried to join the Buckeyes as a punter.

"I tried out (the winter of) my freshman year and didn't make it, but I decided to give it one more shot this year because I didn't want to look back and regret not doing it," Erwin said. "It's always been a dream of mine. Coming from Buckeye Central, it's so much different. I was used to there being 30 guys on the team. Now there's more than 100 and most are way bigger than what I'm used to size-wise."

There's a reason the NCAA rule book is as thick as a New York City phone book. Believe it or not, one of the rules prohibits the use of footballs during tryouts. So, with his dad wielding a video camera, Erwin headed back to his old stomping grounds last fall and put together a practice tape. The Buckeyes were impressed enough with his leg strength and hang time to take a closer look.

Britt and Erwin probably won't know for several weeks if they will be asked to remain with the team for summer conditioning and fall camp. The coaching staff is on the road recruiting and evaluating. The staff will huddle up upon returning to campus to decide which walk-ons to retain.

Erwin earned 10 letters in football, basketball and baseball for Buckeye Central. His OSU locker is next to Shelby walk-on Garrett Hummel, in his third year as a wide receiver for the Buckeyes.

"He told me to always give 110 percent and do the extra-effort things that will get you noticed by the coaches," Erwin said.

He got the same advice from another Buckeye Central grad, Chris Rietschlin, who spent the last two seasons as a walk-on defensive tackle for the Buckeyes.

Erwin is one of two walk-on punters on the roster, working behind fifth-year senior Jon Thoma and redshirt freshman Ben Buchanan. Those two are the leading candidates to replace the departed A.J. Trapasso.

"My (punting) average wasn't that great in high school because I was always banged up from playing linebacker and quarterback and never coming off the field," Erwin said. "I know the staff here is looking for potential. They want to coach us up and see if we can build off that."

<b>OSU football:</b> Clear Fork, Buckeye Central grads bid to become Buckeyes | mansfieldnewsjournal.com | Mansfield News Journal

 

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

Derek is a classmate of mine, a real good kid. It was real exciting to see him make it through to the team.

 

[bigdog3300]

The thread title says Britt is an OL, but the article said he's been playing DE......is he splitting time or just a typo?

 

[Buckskin86]

Meet a Buckeye: P Derek Erwin
By Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch
Thursday December 15, 2011

Holder/punter // DEREK ERWIN
Age: 22
Year: Senior
Vitals: 5-10, 200 pounds
Hometown: Tiro (Buckeye Central), Ohio
Major: Civil engineering

Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch

The backup punter and primary holder on place kicks for the Buckeyes this season after making the team as a walk-on his third year in school, he played the sport of the season for his small high school. He was a full-time employee in football, playing quarterback, linebacker and doing the punting and was a North Central Ohio Football Coaches Association all-star. He also won four letters in baseball and three in basketball. Off the field he was named president of the school?s chapter of the National Honor Society.


Q ? Considering you rarely left the field in high school, how have you come to grips with the fact your legacy as a college player will be as the unsung holder for the kicker?

A ? Until this year, actually, I never really thought I would get to play at all. I was really just happy to be on the team the first two years, and this season, I wanted to try to contribute in some way. Ben Buchanan had the punting job locked up, so I competed for the holding job and happened to get it.

cont...

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/12/16/gameday/meet-a-buckeye.html