Options at free safety appeared to be wide open for Ohio State when Josh Proctor went down for the season, but only one came to fruition in the Buckeyes’ first game without their regular starter.
Even after teasing Marcus Hooker, Ryan Watts and Kourt Williams as players that could see reps as the last line of defense for the Buckeyes, it was Bryson Shaw that played every defensive snap for Ohio State, logging a team-high 88 on Sept. 18. Soon thereafter, secondary coach and defensive play caller Matt Barnes realized that approach would not be sustainable.