Michigan legacy Jacob Oden ready to build Ohio State relationships
COLUMBUS — Kerry Coombs and Ohio State fell just short in an attempt to land a top Michigan legacy and cornerback in the Class of 2022.
The Buckeyes look as though they may try again, this time in the Class of 2024. Harper Woods (Mich.) 2024 cornerback Jacob Oden, whose father Rod is a Michigan high school football coach and a Wolverines alumnus, was at Ohio State on Wednesday and was very impressive working out with Coombs and defensive backs coach Matt Barnes.
Michigan offered last Sunday after a camp in Ann Arbor.
“The Michigan offer meant everything,” Oden told Lettermen Row. “Because that’s where I grew up. That’s where all my family members went and that’s who I grew up watching. But my dad, he’s open to me going anywhere. He says it’s my decision and wherever I go they’ll support me.”
That kind feeling for a young player who grew up in Michigan makes his recruitment seem pretty cut-and-dried. He says that’s not the case, though there is some pressure to stay home.
Jacob Oden was very impressive at his first Ohio State camp stop. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
“For sure there is pressure,” he said. “We’re supposed to not like Ohio State but I’m not with all that, for real. Even though I like Michigan I actually like Ohio State. They are known for putting defensive backs in the league. I’m big on production, like sending guys to the NFL and graduation rates. So I watch Ohio State, they produce defensive backs every year. This is one of my favorites schools right now.”
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For the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Oden, working with the Buckeyes coaches gave him a chance to see what Ohio State is teaching the defensive backs it puts in the NFL.
“I learned a lot from their coaches,” Oden said. “Kerry Coombs, Matt Barnes, I learned the stuff that they teach in the games not just like normal defensive back drills, like everybody else does. We learned what they teach their corners to do in a game, and I could see that. It was way better than I expected.”
Ohio State didn’t offer Oden. The Buckeyes coaches rarely offer sophomore prospects, especially when they’re so close to Columbus. The proximity means that Coombs and Barnes will likely have multiple chances to evaluate Oden. For the young cornerback, he’s just going to work on getting better.
“We talked about an offer and that,” Oden said. “I want to gain more knowledge of the game and keep studying in the classroom so I can get better.”
