When Dontre Wilson arrived at Ohio State in the fall of 2013, it didn’t take long for the hype to grow. He was just an undersized true freshman, but his speed and playmaking ability blew his teammates away and eventually—or rather, inevitably—drew comparisons to former Florida great Percy Harvin.
“Dontre looks to be a special player,” former Buckeyes safety Christian Bryant said in July of 2013, according to Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer. “With the speed, and his agility, just when he catches the ball, you can just see how he moves. He’s going to be a special player.”
Fast-forward 16 months, though, and it’s redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall who’s producing the kind of highlights everyone expected from Wilson. In fact, Marshall has been so explosive filling in full time for Wilson—who broke his foot against Michigan State three weeks ago—that it raises a legitimate question.
Is Marshall a better option for Ohio State’s offense than Wilson?
The person playing the H-back position at Ohio State draws so much attention (from both defenses on the field and media off of it) because of its pivotal role in Meyer’s offense. The Buckeyes didn’t have anyone with the right skill set for the position in 2012, and Ohio State’s offenses suffered as a result.
That’s why Meyer hit the recruiting trail so hard that year. The Buckeyes desperately needed a Harvin-like player who could stretch the field…
Continue Reading: Is Jalin Marshall a Better Option at H-Back Than Dontre Wilson?
