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Ohio State football: News and notes on Malcolm Jenkins, Eugene Clifford and the defensive backs
Posted by jmorona April 09, 2008

Defensive back depth chart: According to cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, behind starters Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington, Chimdi Chekwa is the No. 3 corner and Andre Amos, now back from a knee injury, is the No. 4 corner. Shaun Lane, a special teamer, would be No. 5 and redshirt freshman James Scott is there, too.

According to safeties coach Paul Haynes, behind starters Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman, Jamario O'Neal is the No. 3 safety, Eugene Clifford sounds like the No. 4 safety and Nick Patterson and Aaron Gant are also in the mix.

Haynes also mentioned linebackers Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller potentially working in as nickel safeties, though we heard that with Moeller last year and it never really materialized.

"Those guys both could be safeties, body-type wise and running wise," Haynes said. "And they play out there anyway in our base formation. It's just a body, but we play the same defense."

Haynes especially likes the way those guys can stop the run when receivers try to block them.

Ohio State football: News and notes on Malcolm Jenkins, Eugene Clifford and the defensive backs - Cleveland Sports News – The Latest Breaking News, Game Recaps and Scores from The Plain Dealer