College Football
The college football season hasn’t started yet, but Ohio State has already been dealt a blow. Incoming true freshman Marcus Hooker was arrested June 16 following a traffic stop. The Ohio State recruit is facing charges of purchase of alcohol by a minor, driving under the influence, careless driving, disregarding traffic lanes and having no rear lights. The 18 year old’s blood alcohol level was somewhere between .10 and .16. His preliminary hearing is set for July 5 in Neshannock Township, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. His hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania, is nearby.
Why the Ohio State Recruit is Here
Ohio State recruit Hooker, the younger brother of former All-American Malik Hooker (currently of the Colts), ranked as the number 60 cornerback in the country. For the state of Pennsylvania, he ranked as the number 20 player of any position. The 3-star recruit is 6’, 200 lbs. He chose Ohio State over offers from schools including Big Ten rivals Penn State and Rutgers, among others. Although his ranking is at cornerback, it seems likely that Ohio State will move him to safety. He is not his brother, nor did his brother play a part in why he was recruited to Ohio State. Marcus played football all 4 years of high school, while Malik only played 2. This means Marcus is further along in his football development than his brother.
Hooker also showed a willingness to improve and work hard before Ohio State offered. Coaches saw him play, and then offered some tips for improvement. Marcus made the adjustments they had suggested, then showed up to their Friday Night Lights camp in July, and proved that he had done what they asked. Ohio State made the offer, and he committed the next day.
The University has not made an official statement. Hooker moved to OSU on June 3, where he joined other members of the 2018 recruiting class. Ohio State opens their season September 1 against Oregon.
Written by Susannah Schmidt
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