Walk-on FB Darryl Wood

[BB73]

Darryl recently graduated from Eastmoor Academy in Columbus (Archie's HS). He lost his father, who was slated to testify in a drug case, in a shooting last December.

Although offered a scholarship chance to play football at Cornell, he accepted an academic schollie in engineering at tOSU. He played center and DT in HS, but will probably try fullback when he walks on at tOSU this fall.

Dispatch

Mike Harden commentary: Football, family, faith beat teen's grief

Darryl Wood didn't have to wait until he was handed his high-school diploma from Eastmoor Academy to recognize the hardest good-bye of his senior year.


Yesterday morning, in a coffee shop on S. High Street, Wood remembered a Tuesday in December when he called to his father, after whom he is named.

"All right, Dad. I'm going to school. I'll see you later. Love you," he said.
Not long after that, a gunman was standing over Wood's father on the front lawn of the family's Argyle Drive home, pumping bullets into him.

The 43-year-old Wood had been indicted in a drug-trafficking case and was about to testify against a pair of co-defendants when he was killed.

"I'm not saying I would have gone off the deep end," the younger Wood said of losing his namesake father, "but my family is what kept me focused."

He believes that they played no small part in his being able to finish high school with a 3.6 grade-point average and notch a full ride to study engineering at Ohio State University.

Cont'd ...

[brodybuck21]

Good Luck Darryl!

[jenkinswoody]

Sounds like this could be an incredible story to watch unfold over the next few years. Good luck!

[Apache]

It appears that this young man has not only been a survivor, but that he is one who prevails in spite of tragedy and being exposed to violence. Only time will tell. Character is the one component that will win out in spite of tragedy.


Darryl


Think Like a Champion.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Wasn't Yao Smith also an engineering major who walked on?

[sparcboxbuck]

This is the kind of kid who, regardless of how proud we could be for him, I hope he walks away 10-fold prouder of himself. He's already got a lot to be proud of.

Looking forward to a lot of good stories to unfold about him over the next few years.

Best of luck young man!

[Sportsbuck28]

Can't imagine having to go through what he did.

This is a true Buckeye. Its not every day a kid passes up a chance at an Ivy League education to wear the Scarlet and Gray. Hope he does well, it'll be great to see him play in the coming years.

[leroyjenkins]

5-9 240 I like

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by leroyjenkins

5-9 240 I like

Originally Posted by ScarletInMyVeins

Me too!

[Taosman]

Scholarship offer to Cornel? And walking on here? Wow! He will be a fine Buckeye! He will make us all proud.

[RugbyBuck]

Hell of a story. We'll all be pulling for him.

[tundra1]

Originally Posted by BB73

Darryl recently graduated from Eastmoor Academy in Columbus (Archie's HS). He lost his father, who was slated to testify in a drug case, in a shooting last December.

Although offered a scholarship to Cornell, he accepted an academic schollie in engineering at tOSU. He played center and DT in HS, but will probably try fullback when he walks on at tOSU this fall.

Dispatch

Just a clarification--I don't think the article cites a scholarship to Cornell. It said that Cornell wanted him for football. The Ivy League does not give out athletic scholarships.

Check out College Football Scholarships for All NCAA Divisions

"Ivy league schools have Division I football programs, but athletic scholarships are not part of their scene." There are a number of other sources that confirm this.

So the choice was between a full academic scholarship at Ohio State, or Cornell, net of whatever financial aid he received.

Don't get me wrong--I'm just setting facts straight. I'm glad he's at Ohio State. I wish him all the success in the world, both on and off the field. Ohio State has a very good engineering program, and having the opportunity to go for free is quite an academic achievement.

Oh--and I hope he also gets the chance to blast some 5'8", 165 lb. TSUN DB into oblivion too.

[BB73]

Originally Posted by tundra1

Just a clarification--I don't think the article cites a scholarship to Cornell. It said that Cornell wanted him for football. The Ivy League does not give out athletic scholarships.

Check out College Football Scholarships for All NCAA Divisions

"Ivy league schools have Division I football programs, but athletic scholarships are not part of their scene." There are a number of other sources that confirm this.

So the choice was between a full academic scholarship at Ohio State, or Cornell, net of whatever financial aid he received.

Don't get me wrong--I'm just setting facts straight. I'm glad he's at Ohio State. I wish him all the success in the world, both on and off the field. Ohio State has a very good engineering program, and having the opportunity to go for free is quite an academic achievement.

Oh--and I hope he also gets the chance to blast some 5'8", 165 lb. TSUN DB into oblivion too.

Thanks for the correction. Since I have a daughter that attends Cornell, I should have known that.

[kippy1040]

I don't know if a lot of you remember Pete Johnson but Darryl and his size made me think of Johnson. He was a very forcefull running back and i hope Darryl makes it a fullback and li have noticed that Ohio State has used
fullbacks as very succesfull blockers. At times Tressel has let them tote the rock on occasions in certain surprise playsl. Good luck Darryl.