Dontre Wilson is Having an Impact for the Buckeyes Once Again
In early November of 2014, Ohio State went up to East Lansing and earned a 49-37 victory over then No. 8 Michigan State. It was a game that announced he Buckeyes as national championship contenders and put the team back in the College Football Playoff conversation after an early season loss.
It was a good day for the Scarlet and Gray, but not as positive for every member of the team.
Early in the fourth quarter, H-back Dontre Wilson, then a sophomore, caught a seven-yard touchdown on an out route and was thrown out of bounds by the Spartan defender. The play resulted in a score and a broken foot for the Texas native.
Two years later and Wilson is still dealing with the injury.
“He broke his foot at Michigan State in that big win we had two years ago,” head coach Urban Meyer said of Wilson. “When you break a foot, it's tough, especially a skilled athlete. So it's been one of injury. He's fighting like crazy. He's still not 100 percent now. He's still dealing with (it), doesn't practice early in the week.”
For Wilson, frustration went beyond his limitations on the field.
“When I first had my injury, I was going through a lot,” he recounted on Monday. “I was going through some stuff with my mother and I just had my child two days after my injury. But yeah, I was going through a lot. That was really frustrating.”
Although Ohio State went on to win the national championship in 2014, Wilson was not a factor. The foot injury carried over into a 2015 season where the H-back recorded a catch in only four games.
Following spring practice, the program sent Wilson to Nike in Oregon in order to get specially made cleats to fit his foot. “Those help a lot,” he said and the difference has been noticeable.
Halfway through his final year as a Buckeye, Wilson has 16 receptions and 13 carries for 338 total yards and four touchdowns. Although he admits he’s not 100 percent, he’s feeling as good as he has in years.
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...-Having-an-Impact-for-the-Buckeyes-Once-Again
When the Buckeyes began the 2016 season, senior H-back Dontre Wilson was an afterthought among much of the fan base. It had been nearly two years since he was last a major contributor, and the starter at his position -- Curtis Samuel -- was going to be a focal point of the offense.
Fast-forward six games, however, and Wilson finds himself as the team's second-leading receiver with 16 receptions and 232 yards. His four touchdown catches are also second-most on the team. He is finally able to contribute after dealing with injuries for so long. He's still not 100%, which is the first thing Meyer mentioned when asked to look back on Wilson's time as a Buckeye.
"The poor guy has been -- he broke his foot at Michigan State in that big win we had two years ago," Meyer said. "Those feet -- and we're not the only program dealing with it. When you break a foot, it's tough, especially a skilled athlete. So it's been one of injury. He's fighting like crazy. He's still not 100 percent now. He's still dealing with it. He doesn't practice early in the week.
"I just love his unselfish approach right now, and the fact he made a play to help us go win a game. He flipped the ball to the official, went back, and almost made another great one to help us. I like where he's at, and he's a team player that's doing the best he can."
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...-Notebook-Thats-pretty-scary-for-them-Im-sure
