*Shaun Wade, Ohio State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

05/08/21 - CB *Shaun Wade, rJr/2021, Ohio State

Joe Horitz, the Ravens' Director of Player Personnel referenced Wade when discussing how the front office evaluated players who opted out or came from conferences whose seasons started late. Both qualifiers applied to Wade. "Some guys went through some struggle and we just watched how they competed," Horitz sad. "We know they might have been dealing with something this year - maybe not the same preparation in terms of getting ready for the season. "We watched the competition on film and went back to last year's film, when they had more normal season and matched it up to see where they improved or what they did better that year. I think our scouts did a great job marrying the two years up and coming up with an opinion on the players."

Wade was so good as Ohio State's slot cornerback in 2019 that it made him a 2020 consensus All-American despite his struggles after moving outside. DeCosta introduced Wade as a "nickel corner, slot corner." The expectation was that whatever team selected him would either move him back inside or possibly to safety. "Two years ago, he really excelled as one of the best corners in football," DeCosta said. Wade came back to Ohio State to build on that foundation. After the draft he listed all of the factors he believed contributed to his underwhelming performance - turf toe, a knee injury, deaths in the family. Yet he also acknowledged the disconnect between reputation and results - and the only remaining path forward. "I know what I can do," Wade said. "I know my smartness, my talent. Like everyone said, they know I have first-round talent and I know I have first-round talent. Right now it's just putting it on the field and doing it every day." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

rJr/2021