COLUMBUS, Ohio - The journey of Chris Worley was a long and winding road, but few fans will forget his impact.
Arriving in Columbus as a three-year, 185 pound linebacker from powerhouse Glenville High School in Cleveland carried some hype early on. But it took time for Worley to develop into the linebacker he left Ohio State as.
After starting out at safety, Worley bulked up a bit and battled Darron Lee for a starting job. For two seasons, Worley waited patiently behind a future first-round pick.
In all, Worley finished his career as a Buckeye with 153 total tackles, 11 of which were for a loss. A constant presence in the middle-tier of the Ohio State defense, Worley was a member of units that consistently produced top-tier defensive production.
Even after missing three games due to a foot injury in 2017, he ranked fourth on the team in solo tackles. There's a reason Urban Meyer spoke volumes about the Ohio native any chance he got.
A consummate leader and solid defender, Worley flashed his skills this season in both run and pass defense. On passing downs when Ohio State was in nickel sets, Worley was consistently the second linebacker on the field, showing ample ability to cover tight ends and running backs over the middle.
Moving to the next level, Worley has the kind of athleticism and football smarts teams and coaches adore. However, there were times in 2017 where the Glenville product showed he will be a bit undersized to play in the middle in the NFL.
It's likely Worley will move to the outside after the draft, with teams anxious to use his speed and football smarts in coverage on the edges of the field and containment of outside runs. Currently, he is ranked as the No. 24 outside linebacker prospect in the upcoming draft according to WalterFootball.com.
Following in the footsteps of Raekwon McMillan, Josh Perry and Lee, Worley's solid production and work ethic will likely give him a leg up at the next level. Even with the position in good hands with upcoming talents like Baron Browning and Malik Harrison, Buckeye fans will miss seeing No. 35 go from sideline to sideline to make plays.
