McCall ready to get started
North Ridgeville (Ohio) athlete Demario McCall has been one of the gems of the 2016 Ohio State recruiting class for a while now. He's ready to turn the hype into reality.
From very early on in the process it was pretty clear that North Ridgeville (Ohio) athlete Demario McCall was going to be a member of Ohio State's recruiting class. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect was one of the first offers the Buckeyes put out within the state of Ohio and growing up an Ohio State fan, there was very little doubt of where McCall was going to end up.
The dream became a reality on Wednesday morning when McCall officially signed his letter of intent with Ohio State. Now the Army All-American is hoping to make an early splash when he arrives on campus this summer.
"I'm definitely trying to get in the mix early," said McCall. "I want to get out there my freshman year. I'm excited to get in there and get my business done."
McCall is one of the most versatile prospects that the Buckeyes have signed in recent years with the ability to play multiple positions on offense and also cornerback on defense. The Buckeyes want to get McCall's speed and quickness into the open field with the ball in his hands.
"I'm going to be a speed back and I'm going to play the H position and sometimes tailback," he explained. "They're going to have me all over the place, punt return, kick return, in the slot, in the backfield, catching swing passes, that's the role that coach Meyer wants me to play and that's the role that I'm gonna play."
McCall's analysis of his role was spot on. He is the type of player that you just find creative ways to get him the football and let his speed and instincts do the rest. In an event that isn't particularly tailored to running backs, McCall still flashed great burst and quickness when given opportunities at the Army Bowl last month.
McCall's goal is to play early, and while his speed may push him on the field sooner rather than later, a redshirt year might be in his best interests, with Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel returning. The redshirt year would allow him to get stronger and Wilson will graduate with Samuel being a potential early entry candidate next winter.
If McCall is able to get on the field this fall, he will have certainly earned it against an experienced and crowded depth chart. He is an electric playmaker and should provide Ohio State fans plenty of excitement over the next few years.