Report: OSU DB Marcus Hooker Charged With DUI

Marcus Hooker arrived at Ohio State earlier in the month for summer enrollment, but the freshman safety’s actions away from campus appear to have landed him in legal trouble.

As first reported Wednesday by the New Castle (Pa.) News, Neshannock (Pa.) Township police charged Hooker with driving under the influence.

Police additionally charged Hooker, 18, with purchase of an alcoholic beverage by a minor, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and no rear lights.

Lawrence County, Pa., court records show that Hooker’s preliminary arraignment for the documented June 16 incident begins July 5 at 9:30 a.m.

According to those records, the description of Hooker’s driving under the influence details his offense as having a high rate of alcohol with a blood alcohol content between .10 and .16.

On his way to OSU, Hooker hauled in an offer July 26, 2017, and committed to the program the next day.

After he inked his National Letter of Intent during the early signing period Dec. 20, Hooker — who is the younger brother of former Ohio State defensive back and current Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker — officially joined the Buckeyes’ 2018 recruiting class.

The 247Sports composite rated Hooker as a three-star recruit out of New Castle High School, ranked nationally as the No. 642 overall player and No. 20 prospect in Pennsylvania.

As the void left by former two-year starter Damon Webb remained open through the end of the spring, Hooker was considered a candidate to earn playing time in the fall at boundary safety, where OSU has a vacancy next to junior field safety Jordan Fuller.

Despite the emergence of sophomore Isaiah Pryor, multiple members of the Ohio State staff — head coach Urban Meyer, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Alex Grinch — pointed to Owasso, Okla., four-star Josh Proctor and Hooker as the two incoming freshmen with chances to compete for the starting position.

BSB will update this developing story as more information becomes available.

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