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RB/WR/DB Demario McCall (Official Thread)

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6 Buckeye Football Players Facing Important Springs: Offense

Spring practice might not be the most high-profile time of year for college football teams, but for many players it can define their career.

Once the team gets more than a week or two into fall camp, the focus starts shifting toward the season.

Once the season starts, the focus is almost entirely on the next week’s game.

But spring ball is different. The previous season’s seniors and NFL Draft departees are gone, leaving not just open slots on the depth chart, but opportunity in their wake.

All the snaps taken last fall by guys like J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young, and Jeff Okudah are now up for grabs. That opens up chances for talented younger players like Master Teague, Zach Harrison, and Cameron Brown who played a part-time role in 2019 to rise up and claim a bigger spot on the 2020 Buckeyes.

It’s also a chance for some players who have been around for a few years, but not yet made their mark to start doing so.

Ohio State is annually among the top programs in the nation for attracting talented high school stars. That’s great for the Buckeyes on the whole – fantastic high school players often turn into fantastic college players.

But for guys who are still fighting for a spot on the two-deep after a couple seasons in the program, those freshmen represent another group of talented competition trying to beat them out for a spot on the field.

A player’s third or fourth spring in the program can be the difference between finally winning a spot in the rotation, like Baron Browning and Amir Riep did in 2019, and getting totally buried on the depth chart.

Here’s a look at six players on offense facing very important springs entering their third year or later, with the opportunity to take the next step toward earning regular playing time.

RB Demario McCall, Senior

McCall has established himself as a starter on special teams, and shown explosive big-play ability on limited snaps on offense.

He seemed like a front-runner for the No. 2 running back spot behind Dobbins early last season, but got passed by Master Teague. Outside of an extended stretch against Maryland, McCall only saw the field for a few plays each game.

McCall’s talent is obvious. He rushed 49 times for 270 yards as a true freshman in 2016, but a combination of injuries and tough competition from other backs has kept him from reaching those numbers again.

With Dobbins gone from the running back room and K.J. Hill no longer taking most of the snaps at H receiver, it seems like McCall should be able to find a spot somewhere on offense this spring.

He just has to stay healthy and make the most of his opportunities.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2020/01/5-buckeye-football-players-facing-important-springs-offense/
 
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With Crowley injury, Miyan needing some S&C work, Hill and Dobbins off to the pros ... could this finally be McCall's year?
Teague is more of a bruiser, so it seems ripe for the taking to get a lightning guy to compliment him.
Somebody that can run that wheel route from the backfield.
Appreciate that he hasnt transferred... like so many do these days.
 
Upvote 0
kujirakira said:
With Crowley injury, Miyan needing some S&C work, Hill and Dobbins off to the pros ... could this finally be McCall's year?
Teague is more of a bruiser, so it seems ripe for the taking to get a lightning guy to compliment him.
Somebody that can run that wheel route from the backfield.
Appreciate that he hasnt transferred... like so many do these days.
Click to expand...
McCall needs to stand out in spring practices..or it might be ..hard to get pt.
 
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Demario McCall (Four-star; No. 2 APB, No. 44 Overall in 2016)

I know, I know. You’ve heard this every year, but just bear with me.

The Buckeyes are tasked with replacing their all-time single-season rushing record holder with the departure of J.K. Dobbins to the NFL. While Master Teague is likely the next man up as he was No. 2 on the depth chart this past season, there is really no guaranteed starter heading into camp. Can Demario McCall finally make the impact everyone has been waiting for in his final year at Ohio State.

McCall was the No. 2 all-purpose back in that 2016 class, and was a top-50 national recruit. It seems as though he has all of the tools to be an absolute weapon in Ryan Day’s offense, but for one reason or another he just hasn’t been able to get onto the field. Whether it be a result of injuries or scheme fit, McCall has played a total of 24 games in his four years at OSU, compiling 553 rushing yards and 273 receiving yards with eight total touchdowns. The running back/wide receiver hybrid features tremendous speed and play-making ability, but has not been able to put it all together to result in consistent playing time.

2020 will be McCall’s last chance to become an impact player at Ohio State. He will certainly have his share of opportunities. The 5-foot-9 athlete could be an option as a pure-speed back to spell whichever running back winds up winning the starting job, but the Buckeyes have seemed hesitant to do that in recent years. He could also earn touches at H-back, where OSU has to find a replacement for K.J. Hill. With a large influx of talent at wide receiver and a crowded RB room, it will take an impressive camp for McCall to actually see the field. It seems as though the entire fanbase has been rooting for him to succeed throughout his Ohio State career, but it will be up to McCall to ultimately get it done.
 
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Onebuckfan said:
Is he really going to see much playing time?
Click to expand...
I don't think so, unless it comes at the expense of injury. I'm off of the McCall train, and would much rather see his touches go to the more youthful speedsters on the offense in equally creative ways. All of the routes that @scarletngray mentioned can be provided to guys like Gill, Jameson Williams, or Cooper, JSN. And the way that OSU has recruited at WR, Olave, Wilson and Fleming can all also play in the slot/H. And speaking of H, you can also utilize Ruckert as well on those same routes. McCall may be just reduced to KR at this point due to his level of inconsistency and being recruited over.

This article basically states why McCall may see little touches in the offensive gameplan

https://theozone.net/2020/02/running-game-returning-buckeye-h-backs/
 
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Upvote 0
pnuts34 said:
I don't think so, unless it comes at the expense of injury. I'm off of the McCall train, and would much rather see his touches go to the more youthful speedsters on the offense in equally creative ways. All of the routes that @scarletngray mentioned can be provided to guys like Gill, Jameson Williams, or Cooper, JSN. And the way that OSU has recruited at WR, Olave, Wilson and Fleming can all also play in the slot/H. And speaking of H, you can also utilize Ruckert as well on those same routes. McCall may be just reduced to KR at this point due to his level of inconsistency and being recruited over.

This article basically states why McCall may see little touches in the offensive gameplan

https://theozone.net/2020/02/running-game-returning-buckeye-h-backs/
Click to expand...
Before the dismissals I wondered if he would be talked to by Day..
 
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