When Binjimen Victor joined the likes of Dwayne Haskins and Keandre Jones as Ohio State commits on Jan. 18, 2016, it appeared that Victor could be the next breakout receiver in Columbus.
Standing at an impressive 6-foot-4, Victor's size and speed figured to translate immediately to the football field, assuming he could add weight. He earned spot playing time in 2016 as a freshman, and figured to make a splash in 2017. But while he finished his sophomore year with seven touchdown receptions, there still seemed to be a sense around Columbus that Victor had yet to tap into his full potential.
In Saturday's Spring Game, Victor flashed what his potential could be, hauling in five passes for 91 yards and a score. He was the lone rotational starter from last season to play the full game, and Urban Meyer said that was because he wants to push Victor to take the next step in his development.
"I kept him in there because he has to just keep getting better. He has still got a ways to go. That's one of the most talented receivers we have ever had," Meyer said. "It's just consistency and fight and when he does, it's fun to watch. Very talented guy."
Victor made a pair of highlight-reel catches Saturday, including a 43-yard pass from Dwayne Haskins, which set up his own 2-yard touchdown reception later in the drive.
Dwayne Haskins to Bin Victor I: pic.twitter.com/N0GyLHSgj7
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 14, 2018
Dwayne Haskins to Bin Victor II: pic.twitter.com/faNNHPQPh2
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 14, 2018
With Ohio State struggling to find a deep-threat receiver in recent years, Victor said he worked on getting separation from cornerbacks in the offseason, something that showed up in Saturday's scrimmage.
"I feel like I needed to make plays today and coming into the spring, what I really wanted to focus on was separation, and that's what I did this offseason," he said. "Coming in and out of breaks and my separation. I still have a lot of things to work on with that as well, but that was my main focus, and I feel like I did pretty good at it. But come summer, I still have a lot of things to work on."
As Meyer mentioned, consistency has been an issue for Victor in his first two years at Ohio State. After recording at least one catch in each of the Buckeyes' first seven games last season, he failed to corral a reception in five of Ohio State's final seven games and did not collect a catch in the final three games of the 2017 campaign.
Receptions might be even harder to come by in 2018, as Ohio State returns its top six receivers from last season (Victor included). Meyer said Saturday that sophomore Jaylen Harris has also made a push this spring for playing time.
With a competitive wide receiver room only getting more crowded as the 2018 season approaches, Victor is using Meyer's comments about his potential ceiling as motivation, as he heads into an offseason that will be critical for his personal development.
"I have a ways to go. I feel like he says that because he sees what kind of player I am and what I can be in the future," Victor said. "I just have to keep working to reach that highest potential."
