COLUMBUS, Ohio — Josh Proctor was not the Ohio State football coaching staff’s first choice to solve the free safety position last season.
The senior may be the only choice — or at least the most obvious and experienced once — to solidify the back end of the Buckeyes’ defense in 2021.
Proctor’s ascendancy to stardom did not unfold as some expected. He spent most of 2020 in an important yet part-time role. He said he emerged from the experience with a better understand of what Ohio State wants — and needs — from him as a potential leader in the defense.
“I think it was really just being consistent,” Proctor said. “Always being in the right spot and knowing what I’m supposed to do and not trying to make that big play or do everything by myself, really.”
Proctor seemed poised for big things while backing up Jordan Fuller in 2019. A year ago at this time, he was still considered the front-runner to succeed to current Los Angeles Rams player as OSU’s starter.
Instead, Marcus Hooker emerged as the coaching staff’s preferred free safety option. At the time, then-assistant defensive backs coach Matt Barnes — who now oversees that position group — said Hooker’s rangy skills fit that position better. He described him as having “freakish” ball skills and complemented his ability to track the ball.
Proctor was considered a better fit for man-to-man responsibilities. He spent most of the season playing cover safety on passing downs.
Hooker, however, never consistently displayed those attributes Barnes described. Then he encountered an unspecified injury prior to the Big Ten championship game, opening the door for Proctor to take over for the rest of the season. Even if Hooker were not currently serving an indefinite suspension for a recent arrest, Hooker would be the presumptive favorite to start at free safety this fall.
Earlier this spring, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said the other deep safety options included sophomore Bryson Shaw — a former three-star prospect with limited game experience — and true freshman Jantzen Dunn.
Ohio State finished 2020 ranked 122 out of 127 teams in passing yards allowed per game (304). Proctor said the defense entered spring drills with “a chip on our shoulder.” His ability to bring more reliability to free safety may be crucial to knocking that chip off.
“We’re going to we’re going to have some guys that are going to be able to do more than one job in the back end,” Coombs said on March 19. “We’re going to have to. That’s one thing COVID taught you, right? You’ve got to have guys that can do it. Well, same things true if injuries or anything else arise.
“But (Proctor) went out there and played it and played it well today, so I was excited about that.”
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Proctor welcomes the responsibility of locking down free safety. He also sees a benefit in focusing on one position “so I can learn what I need to learn.” It may also help that additional cover safety options have begun to emerge since the middle of last season, including Lathan Ransom, Ronnie Hickman and on occasion starting slot corner Marcus Williamson.
Leading those younger defensive backs has also been part of Proctor’s transmission. He is also trying to bring a more mature playing style to the field himself.
“I kind of like, slowed everything down for myself,” Proctor said. “I get excited sometimes and my eyes get going everywhere, and I start thinking about a lot. But I think I’ve slowed down.”
Proctor described himself as comfortable and confident this spring. If he stabilizes free safety, the Buckeye defense can play more comfortable and confident this fall.
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