HB Dontre 'DeSoto' Wilson (Official Thread)

[ScriptOhio]

My issue seemed to be his propensity to go down on first contact.

Most all running backs seemed to go down a lot easier their freshman year than they do in the next three (or so) years. Unfortunately with Dontre having 2 foot operations he may not have been able to undergo all the strength/conditioning training that he might have had this off season if he hadn't been injured. Anyway I expect he will show some significant improvement in the "not going down after the first contact department" this season.

 

[jwinslow]

Dontre has flaws when looking at him as the starting H back. As a depth guy, especially with Samuel joining them (let alone Braxton), he is a nice piece of the puzzle to come off the bench.

I don't want him starting over Jalin but the rest are hardly proven commodities. I need to see Curtis catch the ball more consistently, see Paris catch anything with regularity and observe the other newbies settle in before they are even in the conversation with Dontre.

There's also the matter of whether Jalin stays inside long term. He has the strength and versatility to play outside and is a spot where osu is very thin (and Thomas is not a safe bet to return).

 

[jwinslow]

Most all running backs seemed to go down a lot easier their freshman year than they do in the next three (or so) years. Unfortunately with Dontre having 2 foot operations he may not have been able to undergo all the strength/conditioning training that he might have had this off season if he hadn't been injured. Anyway I expect he will show some significant improvement in the "not going down after the first contact department" this season.

He ran a lot stronger and quicker last year. The s&c work was obvious and the no longer resembled the "stompy" runner from his freshman season.

He's still quicker than he is fast and does not possess any physical advantages over Jalin but as a 6th to 8th weapon in this offense, he is pretty useful.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

He ran a lot stronger and quicker last year. The s&c work was obvious and the no longer resembled the "stompy" runner from his freshman season.

He's still quicker than he is fast and does not possess any physical advantages over Jalin but as a 6th to 8th weapon in this offense, he is pretty useful.

Perfect description of Dontre's development. Dontre's agility has always been great but his stride was so short in the open field that he wasn't making up much ground. Dontre's distribution of weight and increased stride length made him look more explosive and increased his ability to run through tackles. I can't wait to see his speed this year and strength this year. Watching the development of players through mickey's system has raised the ceiling of this teams talent and has been unreal to watch.

 

[pnuts34]

I like the descriptions from above, but what needs to be highlighted the most in his maturation is his hands. You can tell from his first to second year, he has worked on his catching, which is something that will be a question mark for many HS RBs trying to make a transition to WR(or in Dontre's case a hybrid role requiring him to catch the ball more) in college. It's a rough transition, as we're seeing from Samuel and Campbell, but Wilson was able to take a big step up in his second year

 

[RB07OSU]

I like the descriptions from above, but what needs to be highlighted the most in his maturation is his hands. You can tell from his first to second year, he has worked on his catching, which is something that will be a question mark for many HS RBs trying to make a transition to WR(or in Dontre's case a hybrid role requiring him to catch the ball more) in college. It's a rough transition, as we're seeing from Samuel and Campbell, but Wilson was able to take a big step up in his second year

Good point, he seemed much more comfortable catching the ball, particularly down the stretch before his injury. And I would say another attribute that has been downplayed is his willingness to learn another position enabled others to step up and to develop continuity at the position. Dontre splitting out more enabled Jalin and now Samuel this year to ease into the spot by rotation. Probably Campbell as well this year. Now we are going to have a long line of guys who can be rotated in at the HB spot.

On an unrelated note, I totally forget sometimes that we did not have him during our run in addition to both QBs being out before. This offense is going to be scary good if we stay relatively healthy.

 

[pnuts34]

Good point, he seemed much more comfortable catching the ball, particularly down the stretch before his injury. And I would say another attribute that has been downplayed is his willingness to learn another position enabled others to step up and to develop continuity at the position. Dontre splitting out more enabled Jalin and now Samuel this year to ease into the spot by rotation. Probably Campbell as well this year. Now we are going to have a long line of guys who can be rotated in at the HB spot.

On an unrelated note, I totally forget sometimes that we did not have him during our run in addition to both QBs being out before. This offense is going to be scary good if we stay relatively healthy.

And don't forget that each HB can also take carries as well. That's why I don't see EzE having the same stats as the previous year. With all of Dontre, Parris, Curtis and Jalin being able to get carries, that will be a healthy stable of carries to keep guys healthy. Especially since all of those guys came into OSU being more comfortable carrying the ball. There's an insane amount of versatility, and not to sound like a homer, but idk of a team in the country with so many players that can play multiple positions at high levels.

 

[Hstead]

Personally, I like Dontre returning kicks, especially punts better than Marshall and Samuel. I held my breathe every time Marshall fielded a punt, too much excitement for my blood. I also liked Dontre better on the jetsweep. I felt like Marshall turned the ball up too soon too often and never looked to get on the sideline like Dontre did. Just my observations. I don't think we have seen the last of Dontre contributing big time on offense or the return game.

 

[Schust75]

I think people are tending to forget how good Dontre was starting to play prior to his injury. After he was hurt, Jalin picked his game up and never looked back. Because of the run we had without him, it seems like people are writing him off. I think it's a big mistake because he is a game changer and will be better this year than last. He wasn't overtaken by Campbell or Samuel last year and I think it's obvious he works hard or he wouldn't get carries...so I have no reason to believe he's now buried behind those guys. My only hope is that everyone else we play writes him off. I, however, can't wait to see him healthy and shredding VaTech.

 

[mendensa]

Personally, I like Dontre returning kicks, especially punts better than Marshall and Samuel. I held my breathe every time Marshall fielded a punt, too much excitement for my blood. I also liked Dontre better on the jetsweep. I felt like Marshall turned the ball up too soon too often and never looked to get on the sideline like Dontre did. Just my observations. I don't think we have seen the last of Dontre contributing big time on offense or the return game.

I agree with you about the holding of the breath every time Marshall fielded a punt. There is a fine line between aggressive and risky/stupid and he passed it on many occasions. But I'll disagree about turning up field too quickly on the jet sweeps. The guys are taught to get north and south as quickly as they can and to not run east and west towards the sideline. For one, the sideline aids as an extra defender for the defense. And second, it allows the defense to pursue while he isn't picking up yards. I love how Marshall sticks his nose in there. He may miss some bigger plays by not bouncing it but he is also a stronger runner, can break tackles and avoids negative plays by doing so. He also isn't going to be brought down by defenders trailing the play. Until Dontre starts breaking some tackles, maybe he should take a lesson from Jalin.

 

[pnuts34]

I think people are tending to forget how good Dontre was starting to play prior to his injury. After he was hurt, Jalin picked his game up and never looked back. Because of the run we had without him, it seems like people are writing him off. I think it's a big mistake because he is a game changer and will be better this year than last. He wasn't overtaken by Campbell or Samuel last year and I think it's obvious he works hard or he wouldn't get carries...so I have no reason to believe he's now buried behind those guys. My only hope is that everyone else we play writes him off. I, however, can't wait to see him healthy and shredding VaTech.

No one is writing off Wilson, but his injury came at an unfortunate time and no one has seen him play since last year. He couldn't be overtaken by Campbell last year as he was redshirting and Samuel was a true frosh learning to adapt to being a college RB let alone learning HB. This year both have been with the program over a full season and know what it takes to be successful in college. If both bring to the table what Dontre can't, then its not out of reason to think Dontre would lose some reps

 

[siebs7]

Remember when all we had to run the ball was Lydell Ross? It's amazing what Urban has done to the depth.

 

[Hstead]

I agree with you about the holding of the breath every time Marshall fielded a punt. There is a fine line between aggressive and risky/stupid and he passed it on many occasions. But I'll disagree about turning up field too quickly on the jet sweeps. The guys are taught to get north and south as quickly as they can and to not run east and west towards the sideline. For one, the sideline aids as an extra defender for the defense. And second, it allows the defense to pursue while he isn't picking up yards. I love how Marshall sticks his nose in there. He may miss some bigger plays by not bouncing it but he is also a stronger runner, can break tackles and avoids negative plays by doing so. He also isn't going to be brought down by defenders trailing the play. Until Dontre starts breaking some tackles, maybe he should take a lesson from Jalin.

I played running back in college and I was a north/south guy, so I know all about running a football. If you break contain, it is what we used to call AMF (adios mother f=er). The jet isn't designed to be turned up quickly. There were several occasions where Jalin turned it up way too soon. When you have speed that kills you want to get the corner, that is the whole point and why you hear guys talking about getting the corner. Break contain and it is all she wrote. The defense does not want you on the sideline outside of contain.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Dontre was starting to be deadly right up until his injury. He's a very smart player on the field and you can't teach that especially when matched with his crazy athletic ability. If he is healthy, he'll be a go-to guy for this offense I have no doubt.

MSU had a great defense but they couldnt get to all the weapons in Smith, Thomas, Wilson and Marshall. Then Zeke and Barrett starting running also and it was all she wrote. THAT is the kind of weaponry we can have on the field this year if Wilson is 100%. Just have to find that replacement for Devin which I think we will find.

 

[Hstead]

He broke some tackles in this video. I think he is shiftier than Jalin. They are both weapons but we need not forget how good Wilson can and will be.