It is intriguing how quickly trends develop in college football. Take the curious case of outside linebacker Darron Lee.
Three years ago, when Ohio State signed him out of New Albany, coach Urban Meyer had to be persuaded by defensive coordinator Luke Fickell that the Buckeyes weren’t about to waste time and a scholarship on someone who had potential at no clearly defined position. Lee had been a high school standout, mainly on offense, but what Fickell saw more than anything else was a simple observation:
“He’s a football player,” Fickell said.
That meant Fickell thought Lee had a sense for the game, a nose for the ball and physical attributes, particularly speed, that could take him places.