Barnes leaves for Memphis job; Olave: Decision to sit difficult
Ohio State assistant coach Matt Barnes was named the new defensive coordinator at Memphis on Monday.
Promoted to secondary coach last year after spending his first two seasons on Ryan Day's coaching staff as the special coordinator, Barnes also called plays for the defense this past fall.
After Day stripped defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs of his play-calling responsibilities in the aftermath of a 3528 loss to Oregon in September, he handed those over to Barnes, who had also called plays as the linebackers coach at Maryland in 2018.
The Buckeyes gave up an average of 20 points per game with Barnes as the play-caller. In announcing the 35-yearold Barnes as the Tigers' new defensive coordinator, Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield called him “one of the brightest young defensive minds in college football.”
Barnes is replacing Mike Macintyre, who left to become the coach at Florida International after two seasons as the defensive coordinator.
In order to open up a spot on the staff at Ohio State for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, at least one of the 10 on-field assistants needed to depart in order to remain under the NCAA limit.
Knowles started on the job Sunday.
Olave: Opt-out decision difficult
Star receiver Chris Olave said after the Rose Bowl that it was a difficult decision to skip the game.
“It was hard for me,” he said. “It took a couple weeks for me to finally back out. I never was an individual. I was always team-first, so it was definitely hard for me to opt out, but I had the make the best situation for myself.”
Olave still practiced with the team and was on the sideline during the game with teammates, but was not in uniform.
None of the Buckeyes' other opt-outs were at the game.
“It's huge for me just to be around my teammates,” Olave said. “To be on the sideline was huge for me. Just seeing my guys practicing, Zone 6 was huge. I'm proud of them."
Ruggles undecided on future
Kicker Noah Ruggles is undecided on whether to return for his final season of eligibility at Ohio State or enter the NFL draft, but expects to make up his mind in the near future.
“We're going to figure it out very soon,” he said.
Ruggles, who was nearly perfect on field goals and extra points after joining the Buckeyes as a graduate transfer from North Carolina last summer, made the winning field goal in the Rose Bowl.
He also made a 31-yard field goal late in the third quarter, but especially relished the one that gave Ohio State a lead with nine seconds left.
“I'm so glad it came down to me,” Ruggles said. “I'm so glad I was able to have that opportunity to get that kick to win the games for these guys. I love this team.”
A finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the top kicker in college football, Ruggles made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts and all 74 extra-point tries.
Ransom hurts leg
Day said sophomore safety Lathan
Ransom's leg injury, suffered while covering a kickoff in the Rose Bowl, was similar to the to the leg fracture safety Josh Proctor sustained in September.
Trainers put Ransom's left leg in an air cast and carted him off the field.
“Just standing over him shows you what a tough game it is,” Day said. “Prayers out to Lathan and his family. Hopefully he gets a quick recovery in this area.”
Recruiting update
Ohio State landed two verbal commitments over the weekend.
The biggest pickup came Sunday with defensive end Omari Abor, one of the highest ranked prospects in the 2022 recruiting class.
He gives the Buckeyes three defensive linemen in the 2022 cycle, including Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson, who were among the 18 players to sign during the early signing period last month.
Cedrick Hawkins, a four-star safety from Florida, committed Saturday, giving Ohio State a third commitment for its 2023 class.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.