Meyer challenges Wilson to become complete player
Paul Vernon
Ohio State running back Dontre Wilson (1) tries to get past Wisconsin safety Kyle Zuleger (27) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Wisconsin 31-24.
By Todd Porter
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Oct 10, 2013
COLUMBUS —
For the first six games of the season, any time freshman Dontre Wilson stepped on the field to play offense, he might as well have had a helmet with flashing lights. Wilson made such a splash during Ohio State’s fall camp even opposing teams across the country knew about him.
And they knew a true freshman who has been with the team for three months didn’t know enough of the offense to be a decoy.
The Buckeyes are challenging Wilson to become a complete football player during the next two weeks. Other than kickoff returns, he didn’t play against Northwestern because Urban Meyer obviously doesn’t trust Wilson enough to play a role outside of playmaker.
“Right now, he’s a novelty,” Meyer said. “Run a swing pass and throw it to him. He has to go out there and block. That’s why he didn’t play much (against Northwestern). We’re working hard over the bye week to make him a football player and not just a hood ornament that shows up out there all the time.”
Wilson has explosive speed. He originally committed to Oregon, but when Chip Kelly left for the NFL, he changed his mind and settled on Ohio State. The Buckeyes don’t get Wilson’s kind of speed often.
But speed alone isn’t enough. That’s a lesson wide receiver Corey Brown had to learn as a young player.
What makes Wilson a liability is his strength. He hasn’t had much time in the weight room with the Buckeyes. So to put him in the backfield, unless he’s getting the ball, defenses aren’t worried about him because they power past him. The same is true if Wilson is split wide with another receiver. He can’t block for a bubble screen.
“He just ... needs to get in weight room and get stronger so there’s not a play where coaches have to take him off the field because he has to run block or run a certain route,” Brown said. “If he hits the weight room hard, the coaches will have no choice but to put him on the field.”
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