SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.: Darron Lee had to practically beg Ohio State coach Urban Meyer for a scholarship.
The former quarterback at New Albany High School was listed as an athlete among the Class of 2013. He started out as a safety, then spent his redshirt year as a scout team linebacker. He told then-roommate Joey Bosa he was going to be the next Ryan Shazier, a linebacker picked in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 that Lee was determined to replace.
“I didn’t believe it,” Bosa said a year ago. “He must have known something we didn’t know.”
In his first game, Lee returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown. In his 14th, he was named defensive Most Valuable Player of the Buckeyes’ Sugar Bowl upset of No. 1 Alabama. In his 15th, he had eight tackles and broke up a pass as the Buckeyes won the first College Football Playoff championship over Oregon.
Now, after two seasons at his new position, Lee could be a first-round selection in next year’s NFL Draft if he decides to give up his final two years of eligibility.
Going into Friday’s BullFrog Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, Lee is among coach Urban Meyer’s greatest success stories at Ohio State, a perfect example of what a talented, intelligent, somewhat overlooked recruit can do with hard work and perseverance.
“He’s one of the best players in the country,” Meyer said after Lee’s 41-yard interception return for a touchdown provided the winning points in a Sept. 19 victory over Northern Illinois. “I love that kid. And he’s a high-energy guy. He’s got great, offensive skilled hands.”
During pre-bowl interviews Monday at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, it was easy to see how early Lee is into his life as a linebacker. Even his mind hasn’t totally made the conversion.
“Quarterback is like ... was literally like breathing to me,” he said, correcting himself. “I always had a feel for it. I was always throwing the ball around. I had been playing it since I was 5. I wish I had played linebacker since I was 5 to see where I am now.”
Although Lee said he’s pushing aside his NFL decision until after the bowl game, draft analysts are already on Lee’s side. ESPN’s Todd McShay put Lee No. 23 in his first mock draft, even though McShay wrote that Lee could benefit from another year and playing more inside.
But if he leaves early, NFL personnel executives will find it hard to ignore Lee’s two-year numbers: 25½ tackles for losses, 10 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Also driving Lee is his quiet arrival at Ohio State. At that time, Lee weighed 195 pounds, now he’s listed as 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds. Meyer once said he was not impressed when Lee showed up at an OSU camp wearing tie-dyed socks.
Lee said his fight for a scholarship “will be with me for the rest of my life.”
“I try to use everything I’ve done up until this point as a teaching tool for the younger guys,” he said. “Whenever they get down on themselves and want to quit, I say, ‘This is my story. Yeah, it worked out for me. Hang in there, you’ll be OK.’ ”
Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was in Lee’s corner from the start. But Fickell said sometimes it’s easier for young Buckeyes who aren’t five-star recruits and don’t feel the need to live up to the hype from Day One.
“A lot of times the best situation is almost like a Darron Lee,” Fickell said. “It’s harder sometimes if you’re thrust into the spotlight right away. If I had my way I’d love to see guys battle their butt off for the first year or two.”
Lee is quick to thank Fickell and teammates Joshua Perry, Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell for the boost they’ve provided. But he doesn’t overlook what he did himself to earn a starting role.
“Josh and coach Fick, he’s been a huge help through all this, just making sure I’m ready to play,” Lee said. “I’ve learned a lot from Vonn and Tyvis, they’ve given me some tips on coverage. I did a lot of that in the offseason, picking up cues in the pass game. I think it’s a huge bonus that I can cover slot receivers.
“But I’ve taken the initiative to go out of my way to learn a little bit more, do a little bit more. I’m not going to lie, it’s cool to see how far I’ve come. But I still have a lot of work to do.”
Lee’s mother Candice is a news anchor for WCMH (Channel 4) in Columbus and Lee, a consumer science major, could be destined for a broadcasting career after he’s through with football. But that could be a long ways away.
“I’ve been blessed,” Lee said. “Not a lot of guys get to play for Ohio State. Not a lot of guys who play for Ohio State succeed at Ohio State.
“It’s still hard to fathom because I guess I’m beating the odds.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.