Nate Ebner, a freshman walk-on defensive back from Hilliard Davidson, did not get to play in the Spring Game but enjoyed the experience very much from the sidelines. After blowing out a hamstring in spring camp, Ebner was drafted by the Scarlet team but did not play in the annual Scarlet vs Gray game.
Steve Patterson
Freshman Walk-On
With 4.4 speed and good size at 6'1" 197 lbs, the very athletic Ebner walked-on on to Ohio State's football team last year after playing fullback on the OSU Rugby squad. Leaving the Rugby team in November of 2008, Ebner made the decision that he wanted to be a part of the Ohio State football defensive backfield. A U19/U20 standout in high school, some were shocked by his move to football.
We asked Ebner about the team's performance in his first spring as a football Buckeye. "Team performance was really good." he explained. "We worked really hard and stayed focused." he reported to us about the defensive players competing for the wide open corner back position.
Corner backs Battle for Open Spot
"Everyone is vital to the success of the team." was Ebner's feeling about the corner back battle that is taking place after Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington both left for the NFL this past Winter. Chimdi Chekwa returns as one corner but the other side of the field is open with Andre Amos, Devon Torrence, and Travis Howard hoping to fill the need.
Spring Game Atmosphere
For the Spring Game, a record crowd was on hand with 95,722 Buckeye fans watching the team scrimmage one last time before breaking for the summer. "The atmosphere was unlike anything I've experienced and it was a good view from down on the field to look up at everyone there for the same reason." Ebner explained about the atmosphere.
He hopes to make an impact at the corner back position and approaches his progress in a steady fashion. "My goals are to get better each day." He explained about his goals for this coming fall.
In a side note, Ebner's father, Jeff Ebner, was assaulted at the families salvage yard in Springfield Ohio on a weekend in mid-November of 2008 and died at the hospital shortly thereafter. Jeff was a rugby player for Des Moines before returning to Ohio to run the family business.