Leading up to National Signing Day, Devin Bass had a tough decision to make.
He had a desire to play Division I football, but without any offers from Football Bowl Subdivision schools, he said that wouldn’t be a possibility because he couldn’t afford an education without a scholarship.
He decided that he’d enroll in a junior college and try to earn a scholarship, but the night before players signed their letter of intent, Bass received a call from Ohio defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow.
“The night he called me, I was ecstatic to talk to him,” Bass said. “He said, ‘We have a spot for you here. How does that sound?’ And it sounded great to me, man. Just getting that D-1 offer the night before signing day was real big.”
Bass, a redshirt sophomore cornerback from Millard North High School in Omaha, Neb., made waves after his on-field cartwheel during a kick return against Louisville in Ohio’s season opener. He continued to do so when he started alongside redshirt senior cornerback Travis Carrie in the backfield during a week three victory against Marshall.
After recording 11 tackles, four pass breakups and a game-sealing interception, Bass earned the Mid-American Conference defensive player of the week honors and drew high praise from Ohio coach Frank Solich after the game.
“If you look at the first three games, he’s as dynamic a player that we’ve had,” Solich said. “I love the way he responded. He’s proven to be a tremendous competitor and a very aggressive football player that’s only got one speed.
Bass puts a good deal of the credit for his successes — he ranks third in the FBS in passes defended per game— on first-year cornerbacks coach James Ward.
Ward preaches that players’ game day performance echoes the effort they give in practice. “I’m really...demanding,” Ward said. “The preparation...is what allowed (his performance) to happen.”
Bass’ season took a turn in week four when he was suspended for violating team rules, just one week after his performance against Marshall that earned him conference-wide notoriety.
Standing on the sidelines during Ohio’s shutout win against Austin Peay was uncomfortable for Bass, who said he dreaded watching his teammates prepare without him.
“I didn’t like having to sit out on the sideline because personally, I’m just not that type of player,” Bass said.
Bass was relieved to be on the field with his teammates for the Bobcats’ win against Akron on Saturday after waiting out Ohio’s week five bye. He said he used the game he didn’t suit up for as motivation.
“Missing that game put a feeling in my stomach that I didn’t have before,” Bass said. “I’m just feeding off not letting that type of stuff happen again and just using that for my future play to continue to play well.”
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@C_Hoppens
