Buckeye on the way
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AUBURN | The Tigers appear to have created a possible solution to thin staffing in the defensive backfield.
Ohio State cornerback Jamel Dean, who signed with the Buckeyes in December after graduating early from high school, has announced plans to transfer to Auburn. Though he enrolled at Ohio State, Dean failed to gain medical clearance and never practiced.
The former four-star prospect is expected to enroll here later this month and should arrive fully eligible with the usual five years to play four.
An Auburn source confirmed the move Friday morning.
Dean's situation has been a flashpoint of controversy during the past several months in Columbus, Ohio. He suffered a torn knee ligament during the 2013 season at Cocoa (Fla.) High School and tore a meniscus in the same knee last fall.
Ohio State examined the knee after Dean's arrival four months ago and ruled that he wasn't fit to practice. That decision was criticized by Dean's high school coach, who told Cleveland.com that "it's all ridiculous and I don't appreciate them treating my kid this way."
There may be more to the story. Ohio State reportedly was at the 85-scholarship limit and simply didn't have room for every player it signed. That fueled speculation that Ohio State trumped up issues with Dean's knee to ease the scholarship bottleneck -- a charge coach Urban Meyer has denied.
Dean, a 6 foot cornerback, may be able to make a difference at a position of need for Auburn. All-conference performer Jonathan Jones remains hobbled by a foot injury while rising senior Joshua Holsey and redshirt freshman Stephen Roberts appear to be the next-best options.
Walk-on Michael "Dirty Mike" Sherwood started the A-Day game opposite Holsey.
