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Defensive back goes from largely unnoticed to Big Ten conference Player of the Week
By George M. Thomas Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Chimdi Chekwa largely went unnoticed by college scouts, primarily because they had trouble finding his school in Clermont, Fla.
It wasn't until Notre Dame came to see wide receiver Richard Jackson that other colleges started to pay attention to the school's other players. Even then, Chekwa expected to attend an area school, such as the University of Central Florida.
''When (OSU) coach Darrell Hazell came down to talk to me, I didn't take it that seriously,'' Chekwa said. ''I just thought it was another stop. Then they gave me an offer. It really came all at once.''
The same can be said of Chekwa's success in the Buckeyes' defense in recent weeks.
After playing under the radar the first few games of the season, public address announcers are calling Chekwa's name (Chimdi means ''God is with me'' and Chekwa means ''death pass over me'') with encouraging regularity. In the Minnesota game, he recorded five solo tackles, and last week's game against the Purdue Boilermakers turned into a coming-out party.
In that contest, Chekwa made 10 solo tackles, an effort that almost doubled his season total.
For his hard work, the Big Ten selected the redshirt freshman the conference Player of the Week, the first in that class to receive the honor since Andy Katzenmoyer in 1996. His success took coach Jim Tressel by surprise.
''I'm not sure I would have predicted that a year ago, but he's a worker,'' Tressel said. ''Chimdi Chekwa is in the weight room. He's not very I don't know what he weighs but he is strong. He spends time preparing. He spends time in the film room, practices extremely hard.''
Tressel and Chekwa credited former OSU defensive back Ahmed Plummer with aiding in his development. Chekwa spent time working with the former NFL starter this summer.
''We did a lot of one-on-one stuff. He helped me with my footwork,'' the soft-spoken Chekwa said. ''Naturally, my feet turn outward. That kind of messes me up with backpedaling . . . so we worked on footwork and covering skills.''
No rest for 'Beanie'
Even though Chris ''Beanie'' Wells hobbled off the field in the game against the Boilermakers because of what has evolved into a chronic ankle problem, Tressel said that he has no plans to hold him out of Saturday's game against the Kent State Golden Flashes.
''The only reason you would do that is if you thought you were further injuring it, and at this moment, our medical people don't think that that's the case,'' Tressel said. ''Now, if there's ever a point where they do, then you absolutely would do that, but at this moment, from a medical standpoint, there's not a feeling that way at all.''
Teammate Brian Hartline said the nagging injury keeps frustrating Wells, who has rushed for 645 yards and five touchdowns on 114 carries.
''If he wasn't frustrated, I'd be a little worried,'' Hartline said, ''but he's fighting through it.''
No time to rust
Tressel didn't have much reaction to Kent State coach Doug Martin's statement that he plans to save many of his starters for the stretch run of the Mid-America Conference season.
''If we go out and Ohio State plays (its) best game and we play our best game, they're probably going to win,'' Martin said at his weekly news conference Monday. ''But that's why you play the game; you never know what might happen. If we catch them on a day when they don't play their best game and we play really well, then that's when special things happen.''
Tressel said his team will be planning for the Golden Flashes' starters.
''What do they say, 'When you rest, you rust?' No, we're putting a game plan together and those that deserve to be in the game and deserve to stay in the game once they're in it will play,'' Tressel said.
Polling place
The Bowl Championship Series' first poll comes out Sunday, but Tressel had thoughts about other polls as well.
''I think the time at which the BCS ratings come out is probably a good time for a first poll,'' he said. '' It's probably better and it will be more accurate than the poll that comes out in August, and I know it won't sell magazines in August if we don't have a poll, but I think it's a good time, it's the right time.''
Bruce still feisty
A reporter asked Tressel his thoughts on why there have been so many upsets in college football this year.
After guessing turnovers, the OSU coach deferred to his mentor, former coach Earle Bruce, who cracked: ''Yeah, I'd say that, and then coaching.''
Talkin' Tribe
Tressel opened his weekly news conference with talk about the Cleveland Indians' victory over the New York Yankees. When asked about the Indians later, the Berea native couldn't hide his glee.
''The Tribe, we're going into this next series fresh, C.C. (Sabathia) didn't have to go twice, (Fausto) Carmona didn't have to go twice, and they didn't take us to the full five, so we're a little fresher, and we'll take two and hit to right,'' he said.
Players of the Week
Offensive lineman Alex Boone was chosen Offensive Player of the Week, while his partner at tackle, Kirk Barton of Perry, received the award for Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Chekwa claimed the defensive award and Shaun Lane was chosen Special Teamer of the Week.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Chimdi Chekwa largely went unnoticed by college scouts, primarily because they had trouble finding his school in Clermont, Fla.
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