Scarlet Sunrise: Kamryn Babb lands job with Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute at Ohio State

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Kamryn Babb lands job with Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute at Ohio State

Kamryn Babb is staying at Ohio State, after all. Well, not as a sixth-year wide receiver, but he is remaining within the Buckeyes athletics sphere. It was announced Monday that Babb has taken on a program coordinator position with Ohio State’s Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute.

According to its website, “the institute provides leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes in order to best prepare them for life after graduation.”

We are excited to welcome former @OhioStateFB Student-Athlete @kamm_o the EDSLI team‼️✅🔥 pic.twitter.com/vmdstdfRO3

— The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (@EDSLInstitute) February 13, 2023

In a video he posted to social media, Babb announced last month that he was excited “to start the next chapter that God has for me by sharing my story with the world.”

That marked the conclusion of Babb’s injury-riddled yet inspiring Buckeyes playing career. Dating back to his sophomore year of high school, Babb had suffered five season-ending injuries, including four ACL tears. He was a four-star prospect at Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, however, he couldn’t struggled to stay healthy, particularly when he got to Ohio State.

Babb fought his way back to the field in 2022 as a team captain wearing the Block O, even after dealing with a tweak to his “lower extremity” this preseason, according to Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. He did so to record his first and only catch of his Ohio State career. It went for a touchdown against Indiana, making for one of the season’s most memorable moments.

Babb earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in kinesiology from Ohio State.

Former Buckeyes stars take shot at Ohio State hoops team

Things aren’t going well for Ohio State men’s basketball. At all. The Buckeyes have lost 11 of their last 12 games, are on their longest losing streak since 1997-98 and are on track for their first losing season since 2003-04. This past Sunday was a new low for this year’s squad, as Ohio State mustered just 41 points in a 21-point defeat to Michigan State.

That was the Buckeyes’ fewest points in a game since Feb. 10, 1996, also against the Spartans.

Former Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones took to Twitter to remind everyone that he believes the Buckeyes football team could beat the school’s basketball team on the hardwood. Jones averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

We still can https://t.co/Ga8AY51roA

— Dawand Jones (@dawandj79) February 12, 2023

I'm in starting 5… y'all sleep

— JSN (@jaxon_smith1) February 13, 2023

Former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba got in on the fun, making the claim that he’d be in the football team’s hypothetical starting five. Then two-time Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud retweeted Jones. The former Buckeyes signal caller started the conversation back in July at Big Ten football media days.

“I honestly think if we played … it’d be close,” a lighthearted Stroud said. “I think we’d win.”

C.J. Stroud says he recently beat Jaxon Smith-Njigba in H-O-R-S-E nine straight times. He says he's the best shooter on the team, though Dawand Jones is the most complete basketball player … and he thinks a group of football players could beat the Ohio State basketball team. pic.twitter.com/v0kc4a8f93

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 27, 2022

At the time, Stroud said that Jones was the most “polished” basketball player on the football team but also shouted out tight end Cade Stover and safety Josh Proctor as solid all-around players.

Naturally, several Ohio State basketball players responded to Stroud’s comments in the summer, with center Zed Key notably tweeting, “let’s run it then.”

Of course, Jones, Smith-Njigba and Stroud are all preparing for the NFL Draft right now. That’s their livelihood. But they’re still pretty confident in their on-court abilities, too.

Four Buckeyes storylines to follow as NFL Draft prep heats up

Speaking of the NFL Draft, it’s going to be yet another big one for Ohio State. Eight former Buckeyes players were invited to this year’s NFL Combine: quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, center Luke Wypler, defensive end Zach Harrison, cornerback Cam Brown and safety Ronnie Hickman.

A handful of others will have a chance to make their case for the league at Ohio State’s Pro Day in March.

Lettermen Row is tracking the Buckeyes’ prospects throughout their journeys to the NFL. And we’re starting the coverage with four storylines to track as former Ohio State standouts look to make the jump to the next level. Check it out here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 200 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 284 days

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