Dallas Gant learning, working toward key role for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Dallas Gant is trying to soak it all in for Ohio State.

It’s not as much the undefeated season, the College Football Playoff appearance and the already impressive campaign the Buckeyes are having that has the attention of Gant. That’s obviously part of the joy in this season.

But Gant is finding fun in another aspect, too. He’s just trying to learn as much as he can from each older linebacker in the meeting room.

Gant, a former 4-star linebacker from Toledo, has flashed in limited playing time this year. But as his role expands in the future, he’ll always have the experience of sitting behind the current talented stable of Buckeyes at linebacker, learning from what position coach Al Washington has to say.

“They’re all great guys — I kind of learn from all of them, all the older guys have something to bring to the table,” Gant told Lettermen Row. “It’s interesting to learn from all of them. Tuf [Borland], Malik [Harrison], Baron [Browning], Pete [Werner], Justin [Hilliard], any of them.

“Just to see them, how they work and how they do their thing is awesome.”

Gant doesn’t mind the role of inexperienced student right now. Instead, he’s finding a way to put one of the most positive spins possible on his backup role. And he’s been doing that all season, even before it started when Washington praised Gant all the way back in March.

Those kinds of things don’t happen just because. Washington clearly saw things he liked out of Gant early in his Ohio State tenure.

“Man, that guy, he’s done all the little things,” Washington said during spring practice. “In our culture … special teams is huge. A lot of times it’s a rite of passage for a young player. Dallas Gant, man, he’s taken that and run with it. He’s done a great job with that and in his role at linebacker.

“You watch the tape and he shows up. He’s competing. Every day he’s getting better, and we’re really excited about him. He’s done a great job.”

The tape finally translated a couple times this season. Against Rutgers when the backups played nearly the entire second half, Gant tallied five tackles and a tackle for loss. Those kinds of games are momentum builders for second-year players like Gant.

And although he didn’t see the playing time he might have liked to this season, he has began to carve out a spot in the future rotation while finding his ideal fit in Greg Mattison’s defense beyond this upcoming College Football Playoff run.

“Basically, if you’re a linebacker, you can play any of the positions,” Gant said. “We’re just going to see how it rolls out in the future. There’s no particular spot that I could fit in or anything like that, I can play any of them. We’re just going to see how it plays out.”

So, while Gant continues to make plays on the practice field and in games when he gets the chance, he works for himself for the future — but also for the older guys. The linebackers in the room have taught Gant and allowed him to learn from them for two seasons. So when he has a chance to earn a spot on the field for meaningful snaps next year, he can be prepared.

But he isn’t ready to think about the future yet.

“I mean, [future playing time] is in the back of your mind somewhere, but right now, you’re only worried about what’s here now and playing for the people next to you, the older guys because you know this is their last shot,” he said. “Playing for them is a huge thing, so I’m not really worried about next year at all. Just trying to take it one game at a time.”