THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES 58 JOSHUA ALABI Defensive Tackle 6-5, 295, RS Fr. Detroit, Mich
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THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES ______________________________________ ______________________________________ 58 JOSHUA ALABI 3 DAMON ARNETTE Defensive Tackle Cornerback 6-5, 295, RS Fr. 6-0, 195, RS Fr. Detroit, Mich. | Cass Tech Fort Lauderdale, Fla. St. Thomas Aquinas Overview: Joshua Alabi is in his second season with the football Overview: Damon Arnette is in his second season with the Buckeyes … program … he red-shirted the 2015 season as a true freshman and is he red-shirted the 2015 campaign as a true freshman and is majoring in exploring majors … Alabi was rated as the No. 1 defensive line prospect communications … one of the last in this class to commit to attending Ohio in the state of Michigan by Scout and a Top 30 strong side end by both State, Arnette carried a 4-star rating from ESPN and came from the strong Rivals (No. 26) and 247Sports (No. 30) as a high school senior … he, St. Thomas Aquinas program … Aquinas, coached by Rocco Casullo, has along with high school teammates Mike Weber and Damon Webb, give captured two of the last three Florida 7A state championships, including Ohio State three recruits in the past three years from the prominent Cass in 2014 with a 15-1 record … Arnette provided length and strength as a Tech program that won a state title in 2012 and back-to-back Detroit roving defensive back with most of his time spent at cornerback … he was Public School League championships in 2013 and 2014 … Alabi started ranked as the No. 24 safety by ESPN and the No. 51 cornerback by Rivals along the defensive line since his sophomore season when Cass Tech … the 247Sports composite ranked him No. 60 at cornerback … he was made the state championship game … he accumulated more than 100 ranked as the talent-rich Florida’s No. 83 prospect after recording three tackles in his career … was also an accomplished offensive lineman who interceptions, five additional pass break-ups and three quarterback sacks helped his team rush for over 3,000 yards in 2014 … was named Division as a senior … he earned honorable mention all-defensive team honors on 1-2 first-team All-State in 2014 as well as Detroit News all-metro, Public Broward County’s Class 8A-7A-6A list. School League all-city, PrepStar all-Midwest Region and a member of MLive’s 2014 Dream Team … called a “quiet giant” by his mother, Felicia Jones … father is Charles Alabi. ______________________________________ 35 ALEX BACKENSTOE Running Back ______________________________________ 6-0, 220, So. 88 A.J. ALEXANDER Hilliard, Ohio | Davidson Tight End 6-2, 254, RS Fr. Burke, Va. | Lake Braddock Overview: Alex Backenstoe walked onto the team in the spring of 2015, is a sophomore in eligibility and is exploring majors … played for the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2014 … lettered four years in lacrosse and two Overview: A.J. Alexander is in his second season with the football each in football and wrestling at Davidson H.S. … earned conference program … he red-shirted the 2015 season as a true freshman and is and district player of the year honors in football … was the Ohio Division exploring majors … coming out of high school, Alexander was described I defensive player of the year and a first-team all-state honoree … was as having a “unique blend of size, power and speed” and as a result a finalist for Mr. Ohio (football) … high school football coach was Brian received national rankings as a tight end and wide receiver … he had White … was one of 58 students in his high school to graduate with over 4-star ratings by both ESPN and 247Sports despite missing most of his a 4.00 grade point average … is the son of Tammy and Bill Backenstoe senior season with a knee injury … he had six receptions and scored two … the oldest of two children … father played center in football at Ohio touchdowns as a senior, including a 95-yard kickoff return, before the University … great grandfather, Jim Patterson, is in the Ohio State injury … he was rated as high as the No. 16 tight end nationally by ESPN University athletic hall of fame for diving. and 247Sports and he was considered a Top 100 receiver by Scout … a Virginia all-state honoree in 2013 after catching 41 passes for 650 yards and seven touchdowns, plus intercepting five passes on defense … also ______________________________________ chosen all-Metro as a junior and helped Lake Braddock to the Class 6A 17 JEROME BAKER North Region state semifinals … second-team all-state in basketball as a Linebacker junior … parents are Katrina and Anthony Alexander. 6-1, 225, So. Cleveland, Ohio | St. Benedictine Ohio State Overview: Jerome Baker earned his first Varsity “O” letter last season as a true freshman … he played in the final seven games of the season for the Buckeyes and was in on 90 total plays … he will wear jersey number 17 this year after sporting No. 4 last season … he is exploring majors. 18 2016 Ohio State Football THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES More on Jerome: Baker was a Top 10 linebacker prospect nationally whose last high school game was a state championship game win over Kettering Alter, 21-14, in 2014 at Ohio Stadium … Baker scored twice, including the winning score early in the fourth quarter, to cap a 14-1 season and give St. Benedictine its seventh state title and coach Joe Schaefer state crowns as a Bengal player (2003) and coach … Baker also had 11 stops on defense to earn game MVP honors … his outstanding senior season included being named first-team Division IV all-state by the Associated Press and earning co-defensive player of the year honors … called an “absolute force from his linebacker spot on defense” and “one of the most disruptive players in the state,” Baker was a consensus 4-star prospect who was ranked as the No. 41 player nationally by Rivals and the No. 67 player on the ESPN 300 … earned BARRETT impressive outside linebacker ratings by Rivals (No. 4) and Scout (No. 10) … a U.S. Army All-American, Baker was used sparingly on offense as a senior but still finished with 3,065 career rushing yards … parents are Theodora and Jerome Baker Sr. ______________________________________ 16 J.T. BARRETT Quarterback ______________________________________ 6-1, 222, Jr. 26 JARROD BARNES Wichita Falls, Texas | Rider H.S. Safety 6-0, 200, Graduate Student Westerville, Ohio | South Ohio State Overview: Two-time team captain J.T. Barrett – he has already been named a 2016 captain and he was selected by teammates Ohio State Overview: Jarrod Barnes walked-on to the Ohio State team as a captain in 2015 as a sophomore – will lead the Buckeyes in 2016 in June of 2015 after graduating in three years from the University of as the starting quarterback and as a preseason candidate for all of the Louisville with a degree in health and human performance … he played major national awards and honors … this true leader is 15-2 as a starter in just one game last season for the Buckeyes – 10 plays on special and in those 17 games he has averaged 302 yards of total offense per teams vs. Rutgers – but he has impacted the program and established game (220 passing and 82 rushing) and accounted for 58 touchdowns himself as a team leader through his deeds off the field … Barnes was (41 passing and 17 rushing) … his stellar record includes an 11-1 record an OSU Scholar-Athlete last year while earning his master’s degree as a freshman in 2014 when he was named the Big Ten Conference in kinesiology, which he will receive in August 2016 … he is currently quarterback of the year while setting 19 school and Big Ten Conference working with Dr. David Graham, Assistant Provost/Associate Athletics records … he started five of the last six games of the 2015 season, Director for Student-Athlete Success, on developing a course for including directing the Buckeyes to convincing wins at Michigan and student-athletes who leave school early … and he is also working in the against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl to cap a 12-1 campaign … Barrett athletic department’s career services area as part of the department’s owns two of the top five completion percentage seasons in school Bucks-Go-Pro initiative ... he will begin work on his Ph.D. this fall. history – 64.6 pct. in 2014 is second all-time while last year’s 63.3 pct. is fifth … his 166.3 passing yards per game average for a career is third More on Jarrod: Barnes was a member of the Louisville Cardinals’ at Ohio State while he is also third with 77 touchdowns responsible for team from 2012 through 2014 … he red-shirted the 2012 season and (Braxton Miller holds the record with 88) and first with 236.8 yards of played in 21 games in the 2013 (11 games) and 2014 (10 games) seasons, total offense per game for a career … his 45 touchdown passes rank primarily on special teams … Jarrod played for coach Rocky Pentello at sixth at Ohio State with Bobby Hoying’s school record of 57 within reach Westerville South … was a two-year letterman and a team captain as a … Barrett is a senior academically who is majoring in communications. senior … earned two academic honor roll citations … is the son of Deb and Tom Mackay. 2015 Season (Sophomore): Barrett was the backup to Cardale Jones for the first seven games of the season before working his way back into the starting lineup for game No.