Fall Camp Spotlight: Gareon Conley
8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 16, 2016
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Name: Gareon Conley
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Hometown: Massillon, Ohio
High School: Washington
2015 Statistics: 13 Starts, 49 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups
by Dan Herbener, Ohio State Athletics Communications
A year ago, Ohio State brought back three of four starters to a national championship secondary. With one spot to fill, Gareon Conley was tasked with stepping in as the second corner and fourth member of the team’s aerial defense.
This year, expectations have changed for the 195-pound junior from Massillon, Ohio. Conley stands as the lone returner to Ohio State’s defensive backfield. However, Conley is used to the pressure of stepping into a larger role and plans to use his experience from last year to help him groom a young secondary this season.
“Last year I was a new starter so I was learning and trying to get experience,” Conley explained. “Now as the only returning starter it’s my turn to lift these guys up and get them to meet expectations.”
Conley was definitely up to the task in year one, finishing second on the team with two interceptions and having stand out games against some of Ohio State’s toughest competitors: he finished with a team-high eight tackles vs. Virginia Tech and finished with a career-high and team-best seven solo tackles vs. Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. All this lead Conley to be named to an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
However, the junior knows a big first season just means the bar has been raised.
“Being that leader just means I need to be held to a higher standard,” Conley said. “Those guys last year held me to the same standard, though, and I’m just the only one who didn’t leave. I just need to do the same and hold the young guys to the same high standard this year.”
That high standard comes from his position coach, Kerry Coombs, who expects the best and nothing more.
“Coach [Coombs] talks about it all the time, he wants to uphold the tradition. He wants first-round draft picks and he wants championships. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Coombs has a right to expect greatness as each of the last three top corners at Ohio State have been drafted to the NFL: Bradley Roby was a first-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos in 2014, Doran Grant was drafted in the fourth round to the Pittsburg Steelers in 2015 and Eli Apple was another first-round draft pick in 2016 to the New York Giants.
While Conley is focused on the present, head coach Urban Meyer believes that Conley is the next Ohio State corner to be playing on Sundays.
“I don’t really feel pressure about [getting drafted],” Conley explained. “I’m really not thinking about that right now. I’m just worried about having a good year and I am worried about my team. All that stuff I can worry about come the end of the year.
“Gareon is playing, man. He’s playing at a high, high level right now,” boasted Meyer. “He’s an NFL corner someday.”
