By: JOHN VARGO (Tribune Chronicle) —
Dan Herron quickly makes his presence known at an Ohio State University football practice.

His 5-foot, 10-inch 193-pound frame catches a couple of eyes, more so when he dons the gray helmet with a scarlet and white stripe across the dome. Then, he slips on a red or white jersey bulked up with shoulder pads.

Herron turns his head as a coach or teammate shouts, “Boom.”

“It came from when I was in little league football,” said the former Warren G. Harding standout. “Coming up playing running back at a young age, I always wanted to try to run people over. Me being a little guy trying to run over big guys, it came from an impact of me trying to run somebody over. It was like a boom and people started calling me that.”

Herron was the team’s third leading rusher with 439 yards on 89 carries and six touchdowns behind Chris “Beanie” Wells and quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Wells shared some words of wisdom before departing Ohio State as the Arizona Cardinals’ top draft pick in this year’s NFL draft. Wells led the Buckeyes with 1,197 yards on 207 carries and eight touchdowns.

“He told me I had to build leadership, stay focused, do the right things, keep working hard,” Herron said. “I have to keep carrying the great tradition we have here in the Ohio State running backs. We have a great group of guys that are working hard and we all have an opportunity to play a lot this year.”

Herron’s not the only one vying for that coveted OSU featured back spot. Speedy junior Brandon Saine and freshmen Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde are also in the running for Wells’ spot.

Herron said once camp starts in early August that decision will be a bit clearer.

“You kind of find out where you stand when it comes to camp,” Herron said. “The guys that came in, they’re great guys. They’re working hard. We’re all working hard. We’re all meeting together about two or three days a week, just trying to teach the young guys everything. When you’re a freshman, it’s hard to come in here and pick up on the playbook. I believe we have a great group of guys.”

It could be set up where it is a running back by committee, but Herron reiterated those decision will be made in camp.

“I think all of us could play a part in this year’s season,” he said. “You’ve got fast guys, power guys. All of us have something to give. We just have to do the work to the best of our abilities this year.”

OSU quarterbacks’ coach Nick Siciliano, who was at Cardinal Mooney’s Camp of Champions on June 29, said Herron is an asset to the Buckeyes.

“He’s one of the hardest working guys we’ve got,” Siciliano said. “He’s one of the first guys to step up if somebody else needs some help, whether it’s school-wise or football-wise, he’s always there to help us.

“We’re very fortunate to have a guy like Boom with us. He works extremely hard at what he does and he cares about the game of football. We’re counting on him to carry the ball a lot this year.”

ON, THEN OFF THE FIELD

Herron is more than an OSU running back. Herron, like many men who have walked through the halls of OSU, has been involved in the Columbus community.

“I want people to see me as a great person, who would do anything to help anybody,” he said. “He’s there for you if you need him. I don’t want to have any negative sides. I just want to have positive.”

Those under coach Jim Tressel, former Youngstown State University coach, have been introduced to a book called “The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life.” The book is described as “a personal playbook for success, filled with insights on what it takes to be a winner in the game of life from some of the greatest coaches, athletes, writers, thinkers, and leaders in the world.” The book is one Herron and other players look to throughout the season.

“That’s something we read right before we go out to practice, camp and everything,” Herron said. “It’s not all football. Of course, that’s the main thing. We also have time to learn how to become better men.”

Herron started his journey of manhood early in life watching his father, Rev. David Herron, a community activist in the Warren area.

“My father is a big community guy and does as much as he can,” Dan said. “He taught me a lot from that. He’s my No. 1 role model. I talk to him every day. He keeps me on the right path.”

His brother, David Herron, a middle linebacker out of Michigan State University, has spent the past two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

“He wanted me to come here, but he just wanted me to be comfortable,” Dan said of Michigan State. “Getting recruited is a huge process. You have people calling you every day. It’s real crazy. He said wherever you feel comfortable at, wherever you feel at home at, that’s where you go.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity playing for coach Tressel. He’s one of the greatest coaches out there now.”

As for David, he’s a great role model for Dan.

“We talk every day. He gives me all the good advice I need,” Dan said. “Be at the right place at the right time. Don’t be at the wrong place at the wrong time – basically being focused.”

He loves when he and some teammates can cheer up an ailing patient at a Columbus-area hospital.

“When they see us, it makes them feel so much better. They sit up, smile, have conversations with us,” Herron said. “That’s like a big deal to me, make their day so much better. I love the community thing. I feel I can take somebody’s bad day and make that a good day.”

Being part of the community, whether its in Columbus or Warren, is something Herron does.

“If I’m free, I’d love to do anything with kids, whatever,” he said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to talk to them, give them advice. They have questions and stuff like that. It really doesn’t bother me answering questions. I’d do anything for the community, as long as I’m free and I get a call ahead of time.”

It’s all part of being a student-athlete.

“Of course, I want to graduate, get my degree and everything,” Herron said. “I don’t want to be just a leader on the field, I would love to be a leader on campus to show that I’m more than just a football player. I’m a student, actually.”

This is all from a redshirt sophomore.

“He’s one of the leaders of the football team as a sophomore. That’s good at a young age,” Siciliano said.

BUCKEYE BATTLE CRY

When he makes a cut, fakes out a defender inside the confines of Ohio Stadium, Herron feels at home.

“He runs the ball extremely well,” Siciliano said. “He has great vision. He does whatever he’s asked to do.

“If the linemen need help, he helps. If the quarterback needs help, he helps. If the wideouts need a little direction, he’s there to direct them.”

Herron’s strategy never wavers, even when he’s lined up behind a mobile quarterback like Pryor.

“The guy is very gifted and talented. He can run it. He can throw it,” Herron said. “If I don’t have the ball in my hand, I better be looking for someone to block. If I’m not blocking, I’m out on a route. Get the ball in my hands.”

When he hits a defender, you can be sure to hear a little boom.

“But he does run with a little bit of boom. We’re very fortunate in that,” Siciliano said.

Despite his stature, Herron proves each and every game, practice and drill, he has the boom – the same which he had in his youth in Warren.

“I have to prove myself every game. I don’t feel it’s a bad thing, but it’s a good thing,” he said. “Everyone has their own opinion on each person. I feel if I come out and perform to be best of my ability people will know I’m capable of playing at this level – being one of the great running backs from Ohio State.”