When Braxton Miller went down with a season-ending injury just two weeks prior to Ohio State's season opener, the Buckeyes were adamant about having a "next man up" mentality.
In stepped J.T. Barrett and, well, you know how that has turned out.
But in Saturday's 49-37 win over Michigan State, another significant playmaker on Ohio State's offense suffered an injury when sophomore H-back Dontre Wilson broke his foot. Wilson played the rest of the game, but head coach Urban Meyer said Monday he expects the DeSoto, Texas, native to be out "a few weeks."
The most likely replacement for Wilson is redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall, who has rotated at the position this season and will undoubtedly play a more prominent role now that Wilson is out.
But Meyer also mentioned some other candidates to fill the shoes of one of Ohio State's fastest players even though it may not be in the same way.
"Noah Brown gets in the mix and Corey Smith gets in the mix. Evan Spencer is a multiple guy that can do a lot of things. Nick Vannett is a guy. So the good thing there's some personnel," Meyer said. "It's not exactly like Dontre, but a 240‑pound H‑back Noah Brown brings a little something to the table, too. He's earned some right to play."
Next man up.
Replacing Wilson certainly isn't an easy thing to do. He's Ohio State's main kick returner, leads the Buckeyes in all-purpose yards with 1,064 and has scored three touchdowns on the year.
“We just have to step up," wide receiver Michael Thomas said Monday. "Coach always says when one person goes down, first it was Braxton, someone else has to pick up the rifle so we just have to step up.”
The H-back, a position made famous by Percy Harvin at Florida, is one of the most important spots in Ohio State's offense.
It requires a certain type of player to fill that role — one that takes a special skill set. It's a very versatile position and Meyer said he looks for someone with those skills in every recruiting class.
"We put the APB out every year for the multi‑dimensional athlete on offense and that's the tight end H and it's the tailback H and just over the years that position has evolved," he said. "You like moving those checkers around when you can have guys that can take direct snaps. ... So Jalin Marshall played quarterback in high school. That's right where he should have played. He was probably the best — I do know because I watched him, he was the best player on that team. So the APB's always been out for those kind of athletes that can do multiple things."
Losing Wilson certainly is a hit to the Buckeyes' offense, but they seem confident enough going forward with the bevy of talent on the roster they'll be able to overcome the injury.
"It's a big blow, but we won't harp on it too much," Thomas said. "Other guys just have to step up and they'll be held accountable."
