Ohio State defensive lineman Caden Curry has a nickname he can't explain
Ohio State's Caden Curry was an early enrollee who arrived on campus in January 2022, and since then, has been a quiet and steady contributor for the Buckeyes, particularly on special teams.
As a freshman, Curry has played a role on the kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units. He's been on the field for point-after attempts, as well as lined up at his natural position of defensive end.
The Greenwood, Indiana, native has played in every game this season, He has registered tackles in seven games, and he's recorded multiple tackles in four games. He also has 1½ tackles for loss.
Off the field, he's a member of a blue-collar family, a gamer, and a fan of "The Godfather."
Meet the Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 1: Tanner McCalister's interests lie in the Big Ten and Fortune 500.
Week 4: Very chill Chip Trayanum spends his free time training his mind.
Week 6: Roomates Zak Herbstreit and Toby Wilson finish each other's sentences.
Week 7: Javontae Jean-Baptiste is Ohio State's very own "Riddler."
Week 8: Enokk Vimahi thinks OSU's emphasis on mental health "saved me."
Week 10: Ronnie Hickman shows versatility, breaks down everything from Drake to Oreos
Week 11: Family matters to long snapper Mason Arnold and his twin
Get to know Caden Curry
I'm sure you've always been busy with sports, but have you ever been able to hold a job?
Actually, during COVID, I found myself a little job at a friend's dad's warehouse painting walls and just finding a way to make a little extra cash.
So based on that, what advice would you give to other people looking to paint their walls?
Definitely patience. That's the first thing. You can't just rush through it, or it will be really bad at the end.
Was this Sistine Chapel-type work?
It was straight warehouse walls, just white walls, up to 17 feet. It was pretty high. It was fun, though. Great time. Something different.
What do you like to do in your rare spare time?
I like to play video games. I'm one of those guys. And really just hanging out with friends and finding new things to do, because this is a new city and I've never been here, so just finding new things is fun to do.
What have you learned about Columbus?
Definitely endless opportunities. You can really just drive around and find something to do. You don't have to go searching or anything. It's just fun. Great city, great people, and you always have a good time anywhere you go.
What's the most fun you've fallen into during your time here?
Really just walking around the city, seeing all the sights, all the old structures and everything. Just taking it all in. It's really nice. Nice city.
Is there a particular building you enjoy?
I think there's a building that looks like the Eifel Tower. It catches my eye every time I pass it.
You're big into architecture?
Oh, yeah. Definitely, definitely.
How did you get into that?
I don't know. Well, my dad works in glass, so ... that's what I see. Because I just remember my dad, that's what he sells, it's what his job is, so that makes me look at it more.
Sells glass? So windows?
Yeah. He's just a business partner for windows for buildings like that.
He does windows and you do walls. You could build a house together.
(laughs) You could say that.
What does your mom do?
She's actually in telecommunications for Genesis. It's a phone service company.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have two older brothers.
What are they up to these days?
One just started an asphalt company. He does custom jobs. And my other brother is a plumber. We've got it all down.
I was joking before, but you really could build your own house.
Oh, yeah.
What's the most important lesson you've learned from your family?
Getting your education and staying in school. You definitely learn a lot from it. Really just working for your dreams. Everybody wanted to do their own thing, and they all chased it, and they all achieved their dreams. Now it's time for me to do mine.
So they preached education. What's a class you would take even if you got no credit hours for it?
I feel like I already took that class. It was a mafia movies class. We just got to watch mafia movies and dissect them, and I feel like that was a really fun class.
So do you have a favorite mafia movie now?
"The Godfather."
Oh, come on. That's so obvious.
I like all of them, though. They're all good.
All right. I have to admit. I don't like "The Godfather." This is your chance. You can sell me on it.
I feel like just that family perspective, just seeing how close they are, it brings it back to football really, seeing how close we are and how tight-knit we are.
Have a favorite movie that doesn't involve the mafia?
I like "Blindside" a lot. I like that storyline, and just all that he overcame in his life. I'd like to line up against him someday if I could.
Do you have a nickname?
My family calls me Digs.
Digs?
Yeah, which I don't know where it came from. My brother just came up with one day, and we stuck with it forever.
What are your brothers' nicknames?
We call one of them Meat, and one of them is just Cur, because our last name is Curry. ... I (also have) three stepbrothers who are triplets. And they all played hockey together. ... They actually came (to the Indiana game).
Are they identical?
They're all three different sizes, different body styles, different everything. One has red hair, one has brown hair, one has black hair. It's crazy. It's fun, though. ... We used to live in a house where it was me, my two brothers and then them three, and my mom and stepdad. We'd have Nerf wars: me and my middle brother and my parents versus the three triplets and my oldest brother. Upstairs versus downstairs. We'd come upstairs and they'd be waiting for us.
Who won?
We did. because we had the better guns. My mom and stepdad always made sure we had the better guns.
You said you were into gaming. Do you have a favorite game?
I definitely play the new Call of Duty that just came out. I'm big into that.
Modern Warfare 2, right?
Oh, yeah. You got it.
I've talked to some of your teammates who are gamers.
Yeah. We're all on it.
Is there someone you especially enjoy playing with?
Right now my biggest competition is probably Kyion Grayes, the wide receiver. Me and him have been going at it. We've been playing together, and sometimes we go against each other. It's fun. Just killing him and being toxic about it.
Offensive, defensive rivalry there?
Oh, yeah. You know it.
Best trash talk?
I don't know if I can say it.
Fair enough. What's the best prank you've ever had pulled on you?
One time my girlfriend, she (typed) song lyrics into a text. I didn't know what it meant, and it was just this really sad song. It got me confused and freaked out a little bit. I was wondering, "What's going on?" And then she got to the end of the song, and I was like, "What was that all about?" She finally told me. It was probably the best prank I've ever got pulled on me, I'd say, because it had me confused for, like, two hours after.
You thought you were breaking up, and it was, like, Taylor Swift lyrics?
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. She got me good.
That seems a little bit mean, though. I hope you got her back?
I tried.
You tried? Emphasis on tried?
Yeah.
Speaking of your girlfriend. She posted a happy birthday message to you on Twitter, and it had you in a tan suit. And it looks really sharp, but it's a bit daring, and I wondered how you knew you could pull it off.
It was actually her idea. It was for prom. She found her dress, and then she told me just to pick a cream or a tan colored suit. ... It was a great look for us, obviously.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet Caden Curry of the Ohio State Buckeyes
