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.
JOHNNIE DIXON, WIDE RECEIVER
Seems like this is an annual thing, doesn't it? Dixon got his body — mainly his knees — in good enough shape to play in six games and make six catches for 26 yards during 2016. He even scored a touchdown on a jet sweep against Rutgers.
Still, the knee tendonitis that led to surgery and a redshirt in 2014 won't go away despite Mickey Marotti and the strength team's best efforts to build up Dixon's legs. He is one of those players blessed with unbelievable straight line speed when healthy, the only problem is you can't have one without the other.
Dixon enrolled in January 2014, a major pull on the recruiting trail from South Florida. So 2017 represents his fourth spring with the program, yet another chance to see if his body allows him to become a real player in the wide receiver rotation. Jaylen Harris, Trevon Grimes and Elijah Gardiner are scheduled to arrive in June. K.J. Hill, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor seek more of a role in their sophomore seasons. There are questions for Dixon and other older guys at the position like James Clark, Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell. But none of those players has consistent knee problems like Dixon.
Whether or not Dixon remains on scholarship as a redshirt junior in 2017 probably hinges on how this spring goes and if he is healthy enough to play a significant part.
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