Brittany Bott / Staff Photographer / bb211605@ohiou.edu

Ohio cornerback Mark Parson evades a tackle during the Green and White game at Peden Stadium on April 21. Parson’s job at cornerback is solidified, but the other spot is wide open.

In the past two seasons, the cornerback position has become a cornerstone of the Ohio defense.

Dion Byrum brought national attention to Athens in 2005 with his two interception returns for touchdowns in a nationally televised game against Pittsburgh. Byrum finished his senior campaign tied for second in the nation in interceptions and received countless awards from various magazines and news outlets.

Last season, T.J. Wright led Ohio’s secondary at the cornerback position, finishing with a team-high four interceptions and leading the Mid-American Conference in passes defended per game. He, like Byrum, was also a recipient of a number of post-season awards and acknowledgements.

Both Byrum and Wright are now employed by franchises in the NFL.

Returning starter Mark Parson knows he has a tough act to follow, but is adamant on continuing this mini-legacy for Bobcat cornerbacks.

“We want to make Ohio a university known for its cornerbacks,” said Parson, whose six defended passes in a game last season against Akron tied for the highest single-game total in the nation. “We basically breed cornerbacks. We’ve got high expectations.”

Dave Brown, Ohio’s cornerbacks coach, is looking for Parson to be the man opposing quarterbacks avoid when trying to make a completion.

“Each year someone has stepped up, and this year we’re looking for Mark Parson to be a lead guy,” Brown said. “And we need someone else to step up so Mark can actually see a ball thrown his way.”

While Parson’s job is set, the cornerback position on the other side of the field is far from it. Like the quarterback slot, Ohio’s second cornerback spot remains open going into fall practice.

“It’s still pretty wide open, which in a lot of ways is a good thing,” Brown said. “We’ve got guys competing at a very high level and no one’s really run away with it, so a lot of guys are in the mix.”

Those considered in the mix are sophomores Idris Lawrence and Thad Turner and redshirt freshman Julian Posey. Lawrence started with the first-team defense in the end-of-spring Green and White game, but Turner and Posey saw snaps with the unit as well.

Brown said that all three “bring something different” to the table. As far as physicality goes, Lawrence is the leader, but when it comes to ball skills and speed Turner or Posey have an edge.

Bobcat fans will just have to wait until the end of the summer before they know every member of the starting defensive unit.

“This spring was a good starting point,” Turner said. “But this summer is going to be real critical just to be able to play on a higher level.”

One thing Turner and the others can rely on, as they fight for the position this summer, is Parson, who appears more than ready to etch his name among the all-time prominent Bobcat cornerbacks.

“He’s kind of like the Tim Duncan type of guy,” Brown said. “When you have the best player in the group doing things right, it’s easy to follow.”