PETE WERNER AMONG OHIO STATE LINEBACKERS IMPRESSING URBAN MEYER ON SPECIAL TEAMS
Pete Werner might already be emerging as one of Ohio State’s best special teams players after just one game as a regular contributor for the Buckeyes.
The true freshman linebacker from Indianapolis didn’t see any playing time in Ohio State’s first three games of the season. He made his debut for the Buckeyes against UNLV, seeing playing time on both defense and special teams, but only substituted into that game after its outcome was well in hand. In Saturday’s 56-0 win against Rutgers, however, Werner saw regular playing time for the Buckeyes on both kickoffs and on punt block/return attempts, lining up as a first-team player on both special teams units.
Werner ended up being a consistent presence around the football when he was on the field, especially in kickoff coverage, and was named as Ohio State’s special teams player of the game as a result.
No player received more praise than Werner during Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s latest press conference on Monday.
"One of the most improved players on our team the last couple of weeks," Meyer said of Werner. "Buy stock in that guy for his career. He's got some good stuff going right now."
Even though Werner wasn’t in Ohio State’s regular special teams lineups for its first four games of the season, it appears that his role in that phase of the game is set to only increase. That could open the door for Werner, who has played 26 late-game snaps at linebacker over the last two weeks, to see more significant playing time on defense, too.
Entire article:
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ckers-impressing-urban-meyer-on-special-teams
Just sayin': I'm sure that isn't lost on anyone at Ohio State that a very good special team player, even if he doesn't play that much (or never even starts) on defense, can have a decent NFL career.