Ohio State’s offense has operated at a record-breaking pace under Urban Meyer, but with Dontre Wilson in a featured role, the Buckeyes could be even more explosive in 2014.
The 5’10”, 185-pound blazer out of DeSoto, Texas, is primed for a breakout year after a quiet freshman season.
Meyer recruited Wilson to bring speed and playmaking ability to a group of skill-position players that desperately needed it. The former 4-star all-purpose back piled up 2,645 yards of total offense and 46 touchdowns as a high school senior—showcasing the versatility the Buckeyes coveted.
Wilson committed to Ohio State in February 2013 and flashed his potential during fall camp, but when the season kicked off, his opportunities were limited.
Meyer had one of the best pairs in college football with Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde. With that pair sharing a backfield, Wilson was used mainly as a decoy to distract the defense away from the real action.
“I just didn’t feel like I was that involved,” Wilson said, according to Daniel Rogers of The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper. “Basically most of the plays I was pretty much just faking and fly sweeping and the defense would bite and we would throw it downfield.”
He still found ways to produce.
Wilson rushed for 250 yards and hauled in 22 receptions for 210 yards to complement three total touchdowns. On most occasions, Ohio State would move him around pre-snap to take a defender out of the…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Why Dontre Wilson Will Be Buckeyes’ X-Factor in 2014
