At 6-foot-6-inches tall, 250 pounds and with a 40-yard dash time of 4.69 seconds, it’s clear why Ohio State recruited defensive end Darryl Baldwin.
He was ranked as the No. 5 player in the state by Ohio Magazine and No. 131 in the nation by ESPN.
“He’s a great athlete and never had to adjust to his size,” said Jim McQuaide, Baldwin’s coach at Solon High School. “He’s very coordinated, [has] good hands and can catch verywell.”
That was a big reason Baldwin was able to play on both sides of the ball in high school.
As a senior captain, Baldwin was the leader every coach desires. With 63 tackles — 25 for a loss — on defense, Baldwin led his team to the state regional finals before ending the season with a loss. With his versatility and size, Baldwin could play defensive end or defensive tackle.
“He is a speed guy that has size,” said Kevin Noon, managing editor for BuckeyeGrove.com.”Size is something you cannot teach.”
A three-year starter in high school, Baldwin hopes to repeat that trend in college and “win a lot,” he said.
Steve Helwagen, recruiting expert for Bucknuts.com, compared the young Baldwin to OSU greats Cameron Heyward and Will Smith, both versatile defensive ends with great power and speed.
Baldwin said he models his game after Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, one of his favorite players.
While some may argue that Baldwin is not one of OSU’s biggest recruits, Noon reiterates that it is not a bad thing. Being under the radar, without high expectations, Baldwin may take the time to grow into the great athlete most think he will become at the next level.
Baldwin will be playing in the North-South Classic game in Ohio Stadium on April 23.
