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Senior Spotlight – Dontre Wilson
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Although injuries have plagued much of Donte Wilson’s Ohio State career he still entered his senior season as the most experienced player on the 2016 Buckeye roster. Wilson has played in 33 games in his career at Ohio State and is one of only six seniors on scholarship on this Buckeye team. Dontre was at one time committed to the Oregon Ducks, but a late push by Ohio State and Urban Meyer was enough to get him to flip his commitment two days before national signing day. Let’s take a look at the career of Dontre Wilson in this week’s senior spotlight.
Wilson was a highly rated recruit coming out of DeSoto, Texas in 2012. He was ranked as the #6 all-purpose back in the country and the 9th ranked player in the vastly talent rich recruiting state of Texas. Wilson originally had a top two of Texas and Oregon, and visited both before committing to the Ducks on May 25th of 2012. Chip Kelly then decided to try his hand at the NFL and left for the head coaching job of the Philadelphia Eagles in January causing Wilson to give his commitment pause. Urban Meyer and Tom Herman then flew to Texas and put the full court press on Wilson to try and get him to flip to the Buckeyes. Wilson then went on a mini campus tour, visiting Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Texas before making his final decision. On February 4th, Wilson publicly decommitted from Oregon and pledged his verbal to Ohio State. Wilson was poised for big things and immediate playing time as a true freshman.
Wilson is one of a very few players under Urban Meyer so far to not have redshirted at all during his career at Ohio State. He got on the field immediately and played in all 14 games for Ohio State in his freshman year. He carried the ball 31 times for 250 yards and a touchdown and had 22 receptions for 210 more yards and two touchdowns. He was a little buried on the depth chart with Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith and others but still managed to have a decent freshman campaign.
His sophomore season was plagued by a nagging foot injury that sidelined him for six games during the regular season. He broke his foot at Michigan State, and has been hampered by it ever since. He continued to be the primary kick returner for the Buckeyes on kickoffs during the games he played. He racked up 100 yards rushing and 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the abbreviated season. He had his career high in receptions and yards with 6 catches and 71 yards in the win over Cincinnati along with two touchdowns. His touchdown at Michigan State happened after he broke his foot, and put the Buckeyes up 41-24 early in the 4th quarter. He did get to play three plays in the National Championship game, although he didn’t touch the ball.
His junior season was much the same as his sophomore season in that his foot injury kept him out of any extended action for the season. He managed to play nine games on the season, but only had seven catches all season and no rushing attempts. The Buckeyes were led by Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel during the season, so the loss of Wilson was not felt, but his big play capability was certainly missed on special teams and on offense. Maybe he could have been the difference against Michigan State?
He entered his senior season with high expectations, and a finally healthy foot. He remains on the kickoff team and is the primary punt returner this season. He is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list, which is awarded annually to the player who plays a significant role on special teams, multiple positions on offense, and has an impact in big games. Wilson is majoring in Criminology, and is a 3 year varsity letter winner for Ohio State.
Photo via Bleacher Report
While the career of Dontre Wilson has not been what most expected when he decided to attend Ohio State back in 2013, he still has a chance to go out with a bang. If his foot can stay healthy, he along with Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber will likely split a lot of carries out of the backfield. Wilson will also line up in the wildcat and take direct snaps as well due to his burst and vision. #2 will probably have a chance at the next level due to his speed and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, so I expect him to be drafted next May to an NFL roster. Here’s hoping to a huge senior season for Dontre, and to a great career at the next level.
The post Senior Spotlight – Dontre Wilson appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Although injuries have plagued much of Donte Wilson’s Ohio State career he still entered his senior season as the most experienced player on the 2016 Buckeye roster. Wilson has played in 33 games in his career at Ohio State and is one of only six seniors on scholarship on this Buckeye team. Dontre was at one time committed to the Oregon Ducks, but a late push by Ohio State and Urban Meyer was enough to get him to flip his commitment two days before national signing day. Let’s take a look at the career of Dontre Wilson in this week’s senior spotlight.
Wilson was a highly rated recruit coming out of DeSoto, Texas in 2012. He was ranked as the #6 all-purpose back in the country and the 9th ranked player in the vastly talent rich recruiting state of Texas. Wilson originally had a top two of Texas and Oregon, and visited both before committing to the Ducks on May 25th of 2012. Chip Kelly then decided to try his hand at the NFL and left for the head coaching job of the Philadelphia Eagles in January causing Wilson to give his commitment pause. Urban Meyer and Tom Herman then flew to Texas and put the full court press on Wilson to try and get him to flip to the Buckeyes. Wilson then went on a mini campus tour, visiting Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Texas before making his final decision. On February 4th, Wilson publicly decommitted from Oregon and pledged his verbal to Ohio State. Wilson was poised for big things and immediate playing time as a true freshman.
Wilson is one of a very few players under Urban Meyer so far to not have redshirted at all during his career at Ohio State. He got on the field immediately and played in all 14 games for Ohio State in his freshman year. He carried the ball 31 times for 250 yards and a touchdown and had 22 receptions for 210 more yards and two touchdowns. He was a little buried on the depth chart with Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith and others but still managed to have a decent freshman campaign.
His sophomore season was plagued by a nagging foot injury that sidelined him for six games during the regular season. He broke his foot at Michigan State, and has been hampered by it ever since. He continued to be the primary kick returner for the Buckeyes on kickoffs during the games he played. He racked up 100 yards rushing and 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the abbreviated season. He had his career high in receptions and yards with 6 catches and 71 yards in the win over Cincinnati along with two touchdowns. His touchdown at Michigan State happened after he broke his foot, and put the Buckeyes up 41-24 early in the 4th quarter. He did get to play three plays in the National Championship game, although he didn’t touch the ball.
His junior season was much the same as his sophomore season in that his foot injury kept him out of any extended action for the season. He managed to play nine games on the season, but only had seven catches all season and no rushing attempts. The Buckeyes were led by Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel during the season, so the loss of Wilson was not felt, but his big play capability was certainly missed on special teams and on offense. Maybe he could have been the difference against Michigan State?
He entered his senior season with high expectations, and a finally healthy foot. He remains on the kickoff team and is the primary punt returner this season. He is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list, which is awarded annually to the player who plays a significant role on special teams, multiple positions on offense, and has an impact in big games. Wilson is majoring in Criminology, and is a 3 year varsity letter winner for Ohio State.
Photo via Bleacher Report
While the career of Dontre Wilson has not been what most expected when he decided to attend Ohio State back in 2013, he still has a chance to go out with a bang. If his foot can stay healthy, he along with Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber will likely split a lot of carries out of the backfield. Wilson will also line up in the wildcat and take direct snaps as well due to his burst and vision. #2 will probably have a chance at the next level due to his speed and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, so I expect him to be drafted next May to an NFL roster. Here’s hoping to a huge senior season for Dontre, and to a great career at the next level.
The post Senior Spotlight – Dontre Wilson appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...