SPRING PREVIEW: CLOCK IS TICKING ON THESE FIVE OHIO STATE PLAYERS TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM
With roster attrition prevalent at every college football program in America in the form of NFL departures, graduation and transfers, coaches face varying degrees of separation between what they believe their team should look like and its reality. Part of that has to do with the NCAA-mandated scholarship restriction of 85.
Urban Meyer and Ohio State currently sit at 89 players on scholarship with a little more than a week left before spring practice commences at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. They remain unconcerned with being over the limit and frankly should be — programs don't need to be at the 85 limit until the first day of class in Autumn Semester or first practice of training camp, whichever comes first.
“We will be at 85 come August when we need to be,” Director of Player Personnel Mark Pantoni said on National Signing Day.
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Below are five Buckeyes that must show they can become worthy contributors in March and April in order to make sure they are still around come August.
JAMES CLARK, WIDE RECEIVER
Clark played a bit as a true freshman in 2013 but then took a redshirt after suffering an ugly ankle injury against Florida A&M. Since then, his impact has been negligible, if that.
Clark only has six catches for 47 yards in his career as he enters 2017, his fifth year in Columbus. A burner from Florida, Clark's lack of size and attention to detail in route running didn't make him much of a threat last season. Clark is a valuable special teams member, however.
Still, the Buckeyes need somebody on the outside to step up this spring and into fall camp that they can depend on ahead of the season opener at Indiana on Aug. 31. Clark has yet to show he is that guy in really any capacity despite playing significant snaps in 2016. Can Kevin Wilson find a way to utilize his talent more effectively than his predecessor? That remains to be seen but with so much youth at wide receiver — Clark is the only senior — Wilson won't wait too long turning to guys like Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor and K.J. Hill instead.
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