Even though Tanner McCalister just arrived at Ohio State in January, many of the Buckeyes’ other defensive players are already turning to him for advice.
His 1,849 defensive snaps of playing experience at the collegiate level – nearly 800 more than any other player on Ohio State’s roster – would be reason enough for the other Buckeyes to want to learn from McCalister. More importantly, though, McCalister played those 1,849 snaps in an Oklahoma State defense coached by Jim Knowles, who is now Ohio State’s defensive coordinator.
Because of that, McCalister’s value to the Buckeyes as a graduate transfer extends beyond his own ability to play the nickel safety position in Knowles’ defense.