Playing high school football for Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, Shaun Wade had an acute understanding – and appreciation – of press man coverage.
He developed into the second-ranked cornerback recruit in his class while playing in a press-heavy environment. Naturally, that style of play attracted him to Kerry Coombs and Ohio State, which had gained a reputation for having aggressive, pressing cornerbacks. The penchant for that physical cornerback play also helped the Buckeyes land Jeff Okudah, the top-ranked cornerback in that class.
For two years, Ohio State continued to rely heavily on pressing, first with Coombs in 2017 and then with Taver Johnson in 2018.