It happens almost every year.
During Ohio State's annual spring game, someone almost always steals the show and is the clear-cut standout performer in front of nearly 100,000 people on a Saturday in April. As a result, the three months of the offseason are filled with chatter about how said player is going to have a huge impact on the field the following season for the Buckeyes.
Then, fall rolls around and the spring game superstar, for whatever reason, often fails to live up to that performance a few months prior.
The Ohio State spring game MVP: a tradition unlike any other.
The reason for this is rather simple. The spring game isn't for Ohio State's established players. It's for the new guys. It's a chance for unproven players to get a chance to play in a "game-like" environment for really the first time.
"This is not for Tyquan [Lewis], Sam Hubbard, Chris Worley and Billy Price," head coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday. "This is for those four corners and some young guys that haven't done much around here or the new guys. I love it. I love the fact these kids get to play in front of a crowd like that."
Some players take full advantage of the opportunity. Unfortunately, it doesn't always translate to the fall. Let's take a look at some examples of that under Meyer:
In last year's game, Torrance Gibson caught six passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 196 yards and three scores. In the fall, though, Gibson did not play due to a suspension while Burrow served as J.T. Barrett's backup the entire season and appeared solely in mop-up duty.
In the 2015 spring game, wide receiver Corey Smith hauled in six passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. During the 2015 season, Smith caught five balls for 62 yards and no scores. He had more catches, yards and touchdowns in one spring game than he did the entire following season.
In the 2012 spring game, Michael Thomas caught 12 passes. During the 2012 season, he caught just three. Now, Thomas went on to become a star during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, but there was real optimism he could be a major player for the Buckeyes after his dominant spring game effort. He wasn't during the 2012 season and then redshirted in 2013 before blossoming into the player everyone remembers.
This happened prior to Meyer, too. Everybody remembers the annual Taurian Washington and Bam Childress performances every April. It's somewhat become a running joke on message boards and other things alike.
It will undoubtedly happen after Ohio State's spring game Saturday, too. So, with that in mind, here are some candidates who could become this year's version of spring game MVP. There are more candidates, of course, and we strictly stuck with offensive guys because that tends to be who takes MVP honors home in this type of thing, but here are five nonetheless:
Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins — Quarterbacks
We lumped the two quarterbacks together here being that it seems unlikely J.T. Barrett gets more than a series or two. Burrow and Haskins will likely be split up and see the majority of the snaps with Tate Martell coming in a bit later. If any of the QBs has a big day like Burrow did a year ago, MVP honors could be theirs.
Demario McCall — Running Back
It's unclear right now how much starting running back Mike Weber will play so it could be McCall who grabs the attention of folks with his big-play ability. He flashed big time in limited action last season and this is his first spring game so he could be a prime candidate for this mythical award.
Johnnie Dixon — Wide Receiver
He's apparently healthy and had a great spring and as a receiver who hasn't played a ton, Dixon is likely to see quite a few snaps. Ohio State will probably throw a few deep balls Saturday and if Dixon is on the receiving end of one or two, he could be in for a big afternoon.
J.K. Dobbins — Running Back
An early enrollee who has impressed this spring, Dobbins will see plenty of opportunities Saturday at the running back position. This will be the first look at the talented freshman from Texas and, like McCall, Dobbins has game-breaking potential.
Luke Farrell — Tight End
Here's a bit of an off-the-wall prediction, but Farrell has seen increased reps this spring with Marcus Baugh sidelined and he's flashed some serious potential. If the Buckeyes get into the red zone and Farrell snags a touchdown or two, he could take it home.
