COLUMBUS, Ohio — As defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs discussed Ohio State football’s freshmen, he quipped on how little they know, praised them for their talent and boasted of their absorption of Buckeye toughness and culture. No surprise there. Go find a coach who has ripped his team’s incoming class five weeks before the season begins. This is the time to dangle the carrot of contribution in front of the entire roster, to facilitate the iron-sharpens-iron mentality OSU’s coaches preach for the preseason. What Coombs said next, however, hinted at a potential 2020 departure from the usual practice of youngest Buckeyes typically waiting their turn. “I think those kids are all going to contribute,” Coombs said. “I think that this season more than any other, you’re going to have to depend on young players and inexperienced players to step in and fill roles. So we’re working really hard on coaching our…
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