Ohio State DE Prospect to Make Announcement Sunday

Darryl Baldwin, a Defensive End out of Solon High School in Solon, Ohio, is expected to make his college choice known Sunday, July 19th. His has narrowed down his options to Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State.

By Marlene Gundlach

Baldwin is on of the top rated players in the state of Ohio, rated #5 for 2009. His is 6’5” and weighs 248 lbs. His forty time is between 4.65 and 4.7. In 2008, his junior season, he recorded 37 tackles, 19 for loss. This is down slightly from his 40 tackles in 2007. What recruiters see initially is his physical stature; for a DE he has great height, a large frame for adding more bulk, and an impressive wingspan. Some feel that given his size, he should be more productive on the field. He shows the ability to use his hands to take on a block, and can get to the inside shoulder of blockers to infiltrate the backfield. Baldwin can get tied up with blockers at times, and should be able to utilize his wingspan  to gain more separation. While pass rushing, he does a decent job of getting his hands up and will bat down some passes. At times, his tackling is lacking the punch expected from a player of his size, and he needs to attack the ball carrier more consistently. With work, Baldwin has the raw talent and the size to be a strong defensive weapon.