toledoblade.com --

COLUMBUS - Ashton Youboty has been on the move his entire life.

His family left their war-torn homeland of Liberia when he was only 4 years old and moved to Philadelphia.

Youboty spent part of his elementary school years in boarding school, and his dad once was away from home for the better part of two years.

By the time Youboty reached eighth grade, his folks had relocated to Texas. He eventually blossomed into a super-quick cornerback at Klein High School near Houston.

Youboty grew up a fan of both Michigan and Penn State, but he accepted a scholarship from another Big Ten school - Ohio State.

He wasn't interested in playing for the Maize and Blue or for Joe Paterno at Linebacker U.

Youboty wanted to be part of Cornerback U. in Columbus, where the Buckeyes annually mass-produce top-shelf secondary players and first-round draft picks for the NFL.

In the last decade, Ohio State has had five first-team All-Americans in its defensive backfield, including safety Mike Doss (three times), cornerback Antoine Winfield (twice), cornerback Shawn Springs, strong safety Damon Moore from Fostoria, and strong safety Will Allen.

During that same period, five cornerbacks - Springs, Winfield, Ahmed Plummer, Nate Clements, and Chris Gamble - have all pocketed big paychecks and hefty signing bonuses as No. 1 picks.

Youboty's credentials and legacy don't come close to matching up to his predecessors - he was merely a first-team All-Big Ten pick last year - yet he is expected to be the latest Ohio State cornerback to hit the jackpot during the NFL draft on April 29-30.

Several draft experts, including Mel Kiper, Jr., have Youboty listed as one of the top 25 players in the entire draft.

Youboty, who decided to bypass his senior season to enter the draft despite a so-so junior year, clocked a 4.43 and 4.45 in the 40-yard dash last month at the Buckeyes' pro day.

Youboty (5-11, 189 pounds) is about more than just foot speed. He is a good cover man with exceptional athletic ability.

He would appear to be a premium pick for any NFL team.

"I think on the field, I'm a complete corner," Youboty said. "I'm going to be out there - the guy competing 110 percent every play. Off the field, I don't think you'll see me get in any trouble - I'll go to practice, go home, get some food, get some sleep, and go back to practice.

"That's my goal - to be a first-round draft pick. I look forward to it, and I'll just do my best. Whatever comes out of it, I'll appreciate it."

As a freshman in 2003, Youboty quickly worked his way up the depth chart. He played in 13 games - mostly as a nickel back - and served as the backup at cornerback to the lightning-quick Gamble.

Gamble, who now plays for the Carolina Panthers, taught Youboty how to study tape and receivers in college, and how to play bump-and-run coverage.

And they critiqued each other's play.

"I learned a lot from Chris," Youboty said. "When he was at Ohio State, during game days he'd come to the sideline to me and ask me what he did wrong because he knew I was always watching.

"I was always blunt with him. I always told him what he did wrong."

In 2004, Youboty broke into the starting lineup in the second game after senior captain Dustin Fox broke his arm in Ohio State's last-second win over Marshall.

When Fox returned, Youboty flip-flopped to the other cornerback spot and held that job for the rest of the season.

He was the Buckeyes' fourth-leading tackler with 56 stops as a junior. He added one interception, one sack, and one fumble recovery.

There are many who believe that Youboty would have benefited greatly from staying at Ohio State for his senior year.

He isn't one of them.

Youboty enters the 2006 NFL draft much the same way Gamble did in 2004 - as a raw player with a lot of upside.

Youboty doesn't know how high he will be drafted, what team will pick him, or where he'll end up.

The only thing he knows for sure is that in less than three weeks, his address will change once again.

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