Ohio State and Washington Commanders fans have been waiting for this moment since the NFL trade deadline passed. The Commanders traded for cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints, but the veteran missed almost two months with a hamstring injury. 

This week, Washington will start their new star corner against his former team. Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post first reported Lattimore's increase in practice participation. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Lattimore's availability.

“It’s really a culmination of the weeks — the strength, the top-speed work, the change-of-direction stuff, the flexibility,” Coach Dan Quinn said. “We weren’t going to miss one step and rush it with a soft-tissue injury. The fact that he hit all the markers, we’re just pumped to have him back.”

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With 15 interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 405 tackles in his career, the four-time Pro Bowler is an impact addition for Washington. He hasn't caught an interception this season, but the struggling Saints have failed well beyond Lattimore's issues. The 28-year-old is in Year 3 of his five-year extension, but is out of guaranteed money after this season.

Lattimore's time at Ohio State really showcased his talent as a defensive back and paved the way for a promising NFL career. He joined the Buckeyes in 2014 but redshirted his freshman year due to some injuries. After overcoming those hamstring issues, he burst onto the scene as a standout player during his redshirt sophomore season in 2016.

In that 2016 season, Lattimore became a key cornerback on one of the top college football defenses out there. With his agility, speed, and top-notch coverage skills, he quickly earned a reputation as a lockdown corner, often shutting down rival receivers and keeping big plays to a minimum.

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He racked up four interceptions, including one that he took to the house, and added nine pass deflections, which helped him land a spot on the First-Team All-Big Ten list. His knack for reading quarterbacks and predicting routes made him a real threat in Ohio State’s secondary.

His standout performance didn’t go unnoticed, and before long, NFL scouts had their eyes on him. He declared for the 2017 NFL Draft and ended up being picked 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints.

Even though his college days were relatively short, Lattimore definitely left his mark on the Buckeyes' defense and is remembered as one of their top defensive backs, continuing Ohio State’s strong tradition of producing NFL-ready cornerbacks.