While the entire coaching staff at OSU is absolutely terrific, I wanted to focus on the job Luke Fickell is doing with the defense. Under the guidance of Jim Heacock, Coach Fickell has become one of the top young coaches you will find anywhere in college football. Am I biased because he is a former teammate? Of course! However, I had a deep respect for Luke when I played, and I have a deep respect today as I watch him roam the sidelines (or actually the press box on game day).
He is not a rising star in the coaching ranks...because he has already risen. Three of his linebackers were taken in the first three rounds. I give much of the credit to those three linebackers, but I give some credit to Coach Fickell as well. He is firm, but fair. He can motivate with patting a guy on the back. He can motivate with getting in someone’s face. Luke knows which levers to pull and when to pull them. Big strong athletes get gobbled up in those mid-rounds. Big strong athletes with an understanding of the game go early like these guys.
In addition, he has learned schemes from Heacock, Pagac, Tenuta, Dantonio, Snyder, and others. He has coached defensive line and linebackers. He has witnessed the 3-4, the spread offenses, every blitz package imaginable, and he has had success with veteran players as well as rookies. Coach Fickell can call himself a National Champion. I can assure you no coach demands and gets more respect from those players.
This spring also tells the story. Is there life after Hawk? Well, Coach Fickell has been on the recruiting trail. Prospective players and parents are drawn to his honesty, character, and did I mention his honesty. What you see is what you get. Coach Fickell really has a way to connect with these players. Recruits can sniff out a slimy, unethical coach, and Luke couldn’t be further from that.
This April, OSU had tremendous depth at linebacker. That means the players were working hard in the weight room, but they were also working hard in the meeting room. The young guys were prepared because they have an understanding of what it takes to be great at this level.
Many ask if he will be a head coach someday. If he wants to be, he will be. What’s unique though is that he is not all about the “pub.” He also is not all about the dollar. He loves Columbus and he loves the Buckeyes. Luke has always been someone that has his priorities lined up.
Coach Cooper used to make the comment, “What you see is what you coach.” To me that means if a team is sloppy and undisciplined, it is a reflection of the coach. If a team is sharp and crisp, it is a reflection of the coach. With that said, I think that linebacking corps looked pretty darn good last year. They also looked good this spring.