Changing Diggs

Three years ago, Ohio State linebacker Na’il Diggs had his life figured out. After a solid football career at Dorsey High, Diggs planned to play for USC, where Charlie Parker coached the Trojans’ basketball team.

Diggs lived only blocks from USC with his sister, Roslyn Simpson, and Parker, Simpson’s boyfriend at the time. Diggs had lived with them since the death of his mother three years earlier and figured playing for the Trojans was an easy family decision.

But on the day Diggs mailed his letter of intent to USC, Parker was fired. It didn’t take Diggs long to change his commitment to the Trojans, which made him a free agent of sorts.

“There were a couple of things [at USC] that I didn’t like after I looked at the school and what was going on,” said Diggs, who led the Buckeyes in tackles for losses this season and is second in total tackles. “I just didn’t feel too comfortable about things after that.”

Diggs became a Buckeye after Simpson called Ohio State Coach John Cooper, whom she had met years earlier. Although he didn’t have Ohio State on his final list of schools before committing to USC, Diggs fell in love with the school after visiting the Columbus, Ohio, campus.

“Sometimes, you get guys because you outwork the competition,” Ohio State linebacker coach Bill Conley said. “And, sometimes you get them because you get lucky, With Na’il, we got lucky, extremely lucky.”

It’s easy to understand why the Buckeyes are so happy to have Diggs. After redshirting his first season, Diggs was a reserve last season and ended up starting the last two games. This season, he has started every game, and many Ohio State followers say he has outplayed more celebrated teammate Andy Katzenmoyer.

“It’s really good to be here; I don’t regret my decision one bit,” said Diggs, who has 74 tackles to Katzenmoyer’s 69. “Football here is taken very seriously. It was exactly what I wanted. . . . I wouldn’t be better off anywhere else.”

Diggs’ fast development and versatility are major reasons the Buckeyes consider this season’s defense on a par with the 1996 unit, which was among the school’s best.

Diggs has 53 unassisted tackles and is second on the team in sacks with six. Diggs also plays a key role in the Buckeyes’ pass coverage.

“He’s gone from being a talented player when we were freshmen to being an authority figure out on the field,” offensive tackle Tyson Walter said.

“The best comparison I can make is he’s a Simeon Rice-type player, when he comes off the edge [on the pass rush]. But Na’il is almost better in the sense that he can also drop back into coverage at linebacker.”

Diggs says that playing next to Katzenmoyer has its advantages, which has helped him have the type of season he has had.

“I enjoy playing with him because a lot of teams go after him and forget about blocking me,” Diggs said. “I was able to get off to a good start when he was always double-teamed. Now, teams are paying more attention on me but they can’t get both of us.”

If Katzenmoyer opts for the NFL after this season--as many predict--Diggs will clearly be the man for the Buckeyes next year. At 6 feet 4 and 235 pounds, with 4.5-second 40-yard speed, he’s a big-play specialist who might be a better pro prospect than Katzenmoyer.

Diggs, who says that if Parker had not been fired he would have honored his commitment to the Trojans, says the wounds from what happened have not completely healed, despite his success at Ohio State.

“I wouldn’t say that USC did me a favor or not because a lot of feelings got hurt and there was a lot of pain,” Diggs said. “But, in the long run, this was the best for me. To go away to college and get away from home. What happened changed the way that I made big decisions. I now look at the reality side of things and look at every aspect before I make a decision.

“It took a great deal of faith in God that led me to this position. I’m just glad that it has worked out like it has.”