JUSTIN HILLIARD AND THE FIGHT TO STAY HEALTHY TO PROVIDE OHIO STATE WITH DEPTH AT LINEBACKER
Despite what his lofty recruiting ranking would suggest, Justin Hilliard's ability to be an impact college football player remains a mystery.
“We all had no idea what he could do because he’s been hurt for I believe two years now,” Urban Meyer said on Tuesday. “And it’s time.”
Hilliard wore an orange, non-contact practice jersey during Ohio State's sixth spring practice, a result of what his head coach said was a recent strain of one of his biceps muscles. The highest rated prospect in the program's 2015 recruiting class — and the group's only 5-star prospect — the Buckeyes expected him to contribute right away in some capacity and push for a larger bit of playing time after exits by Darron Lee, Joshua Perry and Raekwon McMillan.
It hasn't happened yet. A tear of his biceps muscle forced a redshirt two years ago, then Hilliard only played in three games last season (mostly on special teams) before he ripped the same muscle on the other arm in September. The injury carries with it a six-month recovery and rehabilitation period after surgery.
Like Meyer said, the Buckeyes haven't really seen what he could do at the college level because he can't stay on the field.
Early in spring ball, though, Meyer and new linebackers coach Billy Davis like what they see from the St. Xavier product — the one who wears Chic Harley's legendary No. 47.
“He’s been very impressive the first few days and he’ll be in the mix,” Meyer said.
Davis added last week that Hilliard is “doing great.”
Davis has extensive experience in the NFL, having coached 26 years with eight different franchises. One of the names Davis brought up when asked about Hilliard was D'Qwell Jackson, a linebacker he coached in Cleveland with the Browns in 2011 and 2012.
“I had D’Qwell Jackson with the Cleveland Browns and he had popped both biceps also. I shared that with Justin and D’Qwell has gone on to have a great Pro Bowl career in the NFL so there’s no issue with the biceps at all,” Davis said. “Sometimes you’re snake bit like D’Qwell Jackson was and Justin is having a good start to spring ball right now.”
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