Ohio State head strength coach Mickey Marotti gives updates on early enrollees, Justin Fields, injuries, more

“‘You’re talking about the largest mid-year group that I’ve ever been a part of,’ (Mickey Marotti said). He says it’s ‘pretty impressive’ from a size standpoint. He also mentioned the freshmen have been great at ‘taking care of their business.’”

— Marotti on the early enrollees, via Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

Ohio State football strength coach and assistant athletic director for football sports performance, Mickey Marotti, made a rare appearance for media availability on Wednesday where he discussed offseason workouts, injuries, player development updates, and early enrollees.

Some notable tidbits from his press conference include:

• Freshman wide receiver Gee Scott reminds him of Austin Mack.
• There’s a sign of the Fiesta Bowl score hanging in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center weight room for motivation.
• The freshmen wide receivers have the potential to be as good as the stand outs in the past, but they need to put in an “inordinate amount of work.”
• Justin Fields is working out with zero restrictions.
• Players from Texas and Ohio high schools, like Paris Johnson Jr., stand out as being well-trained and more physically ready.
• The addition of former NFL coach Kerry Coombs has “put more tools in his toolbox.”
• He’s had to slow down a very eager Jonathon Cooper to keep him healthy.
• The defensive backs “have a lot of work to do.”
• Once the recruits get on campus, he no longer has to be nice to them.
• Master Teague = physical monster

I mean—worse case scenario—I’m sure there’s a lot of room at Michigan’s practice facility.

Ohio State men’s basketball junior wing Musa Jallow is set to have reconstructive surgery on his right ankle on Friday. Head coach Chris Holtmann said he will redshirt and thus have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Jallow’s redshirt isn’t surprising, however. He had surgery on the same ankle less than a month before the season opener, and therefore has not played a game this season. In his first two seasons at Ohio State, Jallow averaged 2.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.

While he didn’t give an exact time period for when he’ll be back, Holtmann did say that “he’ll be back in time for a good offseason.”

“Hill was one of the biggest standouts of the entire day on Tuesday, particularly during the one-on-one portion of the day, when he dominated all three of his reps against opposing defensive backs, showing his ability to separate from defensive backs with his route running.”

— Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Five former Buckeyes— tied for the second-most among all schools— showed up and showed out in senior bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday. Former wide receivers K.J. Hill and Austin Mack, left guard Jonah Jackson, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and linebacker Malik Harrison are preparing to compete in front of NFL scouts in Saturday’s Reese’s Bowl game.

Jackson, who’s been watching past Reese’s Bowl offensive line and D-line highlights for the past few years, has dreamt of being a professional football player since he was a kid, and his performance in Tuesday’s practice just got him one step closer to that dream, according to Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors.

Jackson is one of four Buckeyes suiting up for the North squad this week, along with Harrison, Hamilton and Hill. The same mean streak and punching power that he showcased this past season at Ohio State was on display during offensive line drills on Tuesday, and his goal is to perform well enough this week to convince scouts that he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the entire 2020 NFL draft class.

Hill showed off his elite route running and athleticism, making him the talk of the town.

Hamilton showed scouts how powerful and quick he is, but wants to make sure that NFL teams get to know him as a person, as well. And Harrison, who weighed in as one of the biggest linebackers at the Senior Bowl (6-foot-3, 246 pounds), wants to prove that he, like Hamilton, is explosive, athletic, and quick.

Mack, who just received his invite due to another receiver getting injured, has a lot to prove this week. He made great plays at Ohio State but didn’t make enough plays. He is in a talented group, so he is hoping he can prove that he can outsmart and outrun any opposing secondary in the league.

You can catch the Reese’s Bowl on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on NFL Network.

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