Whatever spot Caden Curry fills, Ohio State believes he's elite prospect
Have a question about Ohio State recruiting? This is the place for you. Check-in daily to see what’s on the mind of Buckeyes fans all over the country. Today’s question is about top Ohio State target Caden Curry.
Ohio State Recruiting Question of the Day
Ngl I feel like Caden Curry has more of a defensive end frame than DT in college, is OSU recruiting him for the interior of the defensive line?
— jack (@jack08793623) July 25, 2021
When Caden Curry walked around the football field at Ohio State last month, being passed from one Buckeyes coach to another, it seemed fair to look at his defensive tackle prospects somewhat skeptically. The No. 3-ranked player in Indiana’s 2022 class, Curry is listed at 6-foot-5 and 250-pounds but looked decidedly thinner than that.
But analyzing the situation a bit more, the realization struck that Curry, like many other young athletes, plays multiple sports. Curry is a very good baseball player and had spent most of the spring and summer on the diamond, not in the weight room or eating copious amounts of calorie-rich foods.
So, yes, his weight seems like it’s down a bit. But that’s not a permanent situation. However, no matter how much of a commitment Curry gives to his calories from here on out, he’s not likely to grow into a traditional defensive tackle body — and that’s perfectly OK for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been recruiting Curry as hard as any program in the country, and that’s because they know exactly what kind of player he can be regardless of where he lines up on the defensive line.
Ohio State target Caden Curry has elite quickness for a defensive tackle prospect. (Caden Curry/Twitter)
Caden Curry isn’t a 1-tech defensive tackle prospect. He’s flexible, capable of playing multiple spots on the edge of the line or lined up over a guard as a 3-tech. Without assigning too many expectations on Curry directly, a good comparison for his potential role would Nick Bosa. The two share a number of similarities in their frame and playing style, and that’s what makes him so appealing to Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes.
Football is changing. Ohio State is searching for a number of different bodies to fill different roles in the defense. Caden Curry isn’t going to be a 300-pound defensive tackle in college. For the Buckeyes purposes, he doesn’t need to be. That’s why Johnson is recruiting guys like Hero Kanu, Chris McClellan, Christen Miller or Kenneth Grant — each guy is different.
The national recruiting networks have picked up on a lot of these changes. Curry isn’t even listed as a defensive tackle anymore because the 247Sports.com composite rankings list him as a defensive lineman, generically. That label comes solely as a result of his unique athleticism and upside.
Put on the tape, Caden Curry is a game-wrecking defensive lineman no matter where he’s lined up.
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