When Dontre Wilson decided he would spurn Oregon and Texas and take his talents to Ohio State, the hype surrounding his commitment sent shockwaves throughout Buckeye Nation.
"They could have been in the national championship this year if it wasn't for the bowl ban, and I think I can go down there and be a great asset to that team," Wilson said Feb. 4, 2013 in front of a television camera with his family beside him after he chose the Buckeyes and donned a Block O hat. "They said I would get a lot of (playing time) and I would also be a great special teams player for the team."
Fans and media alike believed Wilson was the first link in an extensive chain of top skill players Urban Meyer and his staff set out to bring to Ohio State. The thought was that after a 12-0 season in 2012 that ended abruptly following a victory against rival Michigan due to sanctions, Wilson was the speedy, quick and dynamic playmaker Meyer's offense demanded to take some pressure off Braxton Miller.
More than two years later, Wilson's still trying to live up to those sky high forecasts of being the first Percy Harvin-type player for Meyer at Ohio State.
"He’s got to become a football player. Right now, he’s a novelty," Meyer said in October 2013, Wilson's freshman year. "We're working really hard to make him a football player. Right now he's a hood ornament."
As harsh as that statement sounds, it came after Wilson barely saw the field in his team's 40-30 road win against Northwestern.
He played early and often like he said he would the day he committed, but saw his production tail off by season's end. Wilson finished his first year on campus with just 460 total offensive yards and three touchdowns, becoming a decoy as the Buckeyes lost the Big Ten Championship Game to Michigan State and the Orange Bowl to Clemson.
"It's all in God's hands at the end of the day. It's been frustrating though, I ain't gonna lie. Can't do nothing about it, man. It's life. It's football. Injuries do happen."– Dontre Wilson
Meyer and then-offensive coordinator Tom Herman yearned for him to put on weight so he could provide some semblance of blocking on the edge. Thus, earn more touches his sophomore season.
"The biggest thing is he’s got to be able to go in the game and play different positions and it not be a red flag that this guy is either getting the ball or getting faked the ball," Herman said. “He’s got to just be a regular guy, whether it be as a slot receiver or in the backfield. He’s got to be trustworthy enough to put on the field and say he’s just a guy running a route."
It appeared as if Wilson was on his way to making that sort of an impression in 2014, getting the nod over redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall at H-back in the early portions of the season.
Then Marshall replaced him as Ohio State's primary punt and kickoff returner and Wilson broke his foot in his team's memorable 49-37 victory under the lights in East Lansing.
Wilson had surgery to repair the injury and Marshall thrived in his place to show he was the team's best option at the hybrid position.
It all culminated with this four-touchdown performance at home against Indiana, when he returned a punt for a score and caught three more passes for touchdowns — exhibiting the versatility Meyer desires from the spot.
"He's a talented guy. I think that was good for his confidence. He's going to be around here a while only a freshman and very talented freshman," Meyer said in November following the 42-27 victory against the Hoosiers. "Carrying a lot of the load. The position was manned by him and Dontre, now it's all him."
Even though Wilson played briefly in the national title game against Oregon, he wasn't healthy enough to make an impact. Meanwhile, Marshall tallied 149 total offensive yards in Ohio State's wins against Wisconsin, Alabama and the Ducks.
Marshall excelled in the postseason.
He made crucial catches on third down passes from Cardale Jones, leading many to wonder what Wilson felt about watching someone have success in his spot as he sat and watched.
"Everybody's always asking me since I've been hurt 'how do you feel about Jalin getting all the shine?' I don't hate on anybody. I'm glad he's doing that," Wison said Dec. 30 at Sugar Bowl Media Day. "That's what we all came here for, when I was playing everybody was getting equal opportunities and since I'm hurt now he's getting more of the shine. But I don't hate or nothing on him. I'm happy for him."
Even if that's the case, Wilson's rehab continued into the spring after yet another surgery. Curtis Samuel started taking reps with the wide receivers at Meyer's request with the hope he could morph fully into the talented H-back for which he was recruited.
Marshall, Samuel and a healthy Wilson would make for a viciously deep H-back position in 2015 for Ohio State, but the latter's likely always going to be fighting the superior buildup put in place for him even before he played a snap.
"It's all in God's hands at the end of the day," Wilson said in New Orleans. "It's been frustrating though, I ain't gonna lie. Can't do nothing about it, man. It's life. It's football. Injuries do happen."
