The state of Ohio is bringing one of its own to lead its off-field player development program.
CJ Barnett, who was a security guard for the 2010-13 Buckeyes, is returning to the Ohio State football program as his new player development director, as first reported by Tony Gerdeman of Buckeye Scoop. He is listed on the Ohio State employee list as the director of player development and foreign affairs.
Barnett replaces Ryan Stamper, who has been Ohio State’s director of player development for the past nine years before leaving last month to join Urban Meyer’s team with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A three-year holder with the Buckeyes who was a team captain as a senior, Barnett spent the last year and a half working as a Columbus Police officer, joining the force in July 2018. Prior to that, Barnett worked as a sales consultant for Mazda Subaru Byers in Dublin, Ohio. Barnett also spent time with the New York Giants of the NFL in 2014, although he never played in the regular NFL season.
Now, Barnett will bring his experience from various walks of life back to Ohio, where he will oversee the Real Life Wednesdays program, as well as other off-field development opportunities for Buckeye football players.