Buckeyes bringing coach back home By Bill Rabinowitz The Columbus Dispatch
Reports say Grove City’s Grinch to be defensive co-coordinator.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State reportedly will hire Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch as its 10th assistant coach when the position becomes officially available next week.
The hiring of the Grove City native has been rumored for a while. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported that Grinch’s addition as defensive co-coordinator is a done deal.
The NCAA has allowed programs to add a 10th assistant as of Wednesday. Ohio State football spokesman Jerry Emig said the Buckeyes would not announce the hiring at least until then.
Grinch helped turn around a Washington State defense in his three seasons with the Cougars. Washington State ranked 16th in total defense nationally in 2017, though its season ended poorly with a 42-17 Holiday Bowl loss to Michigan State. In 2015, the Cougars ranked 84th in total defense and improved to 62nd in 2016 before taking a bigger jump this year.
Grinch began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Missouri under Gary Pinkel, who is his uncle. He also coached at New Hampshire from 200508 and Wyoming from 2009-11 before returning to Missouri as safeties coach.
Grinch played collegiately at Mount Union in Alliance, and the Purple Raiders won Division III national championships in 1998, 2000 and 2001. He earned thirdteam All-America honors as a safety his senior year.
Center transfers: Redshirt freshman center Jack Wohlabaugh announced on Twitter he is transferring to Duke, where he will enroll Jan. 10.
Wohlabaugh did not play this season after being unable to make his way up the depth chart.
“I would like to thank everyone at Ohio State University for making the last year and a half very memorable and I am very appreciative for the opportunities they have provided,” Wohlabaugh wrote. “I’ve made amazing friends and learned many things both on and off the field.”
Wohlabaugh is the son of Dave Wohlabaugh, who played center for the Cleveland Browns when they were revived as an expansion team in 1999. Wohlabaugh, a Cuyahoga Falls native, graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School.
The sport and industry major earned 2017 Academic All-Big Ten honors for having a grade-point average of at least 3.0.
Wohlabaugh is the second Buckeyes offensive lineman to become a Blue Devil. Evan Lisle transferred to Duke as a graduate transfer after the 2016 season. He started at right tackle this season.
Another recent transfer from Ohio State to Duke — safety Jeremy Cash — earned All-America honors in 2014.
Recruits shine: Five future OSU players showcased their talents Thursday night in the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando.
Cornerback Sevyn Banks, offensive lineman Matthew Jones, linebacker Teradja Mitchell, running back Brian Snead and OSU’s newest commitment, defensive end Tyreke Smith, all suited up for Team Spotlight, which beat Team Highlight, 23-21. All five showed why they were highly-touted prospects.
Smith, who started the game by announcing he had committed to the Buckeyes, showed disruptive pass-rush ability.
As part of a defensive line that included Alabama signee Eyabi Anoma and Georgia signee Brenton Cox, Smith had five of his team’s 11 quarterback pressures. He did not have a sack, but he was a disruptor throughout the game.
Smith twice came close to sacks before the opposing quarterback threw the ball away.
He also had a critical pressure on a final drive to keep Team Highlight from rallying.