Humans aren’t typically supposed to have as much confidence as Dwayne Haskins.
He carries himself with the moxie of an NFL quarterback and speaks with the conviction of somebody who’s 31 years old, not someone who just turned the legal drinking age six months ago. Haskins feels more seasoned at quarterback after having started nearly a full season, but that doesn’t mean the game has become any easier for him mentally.
“I feel like it's always been slow, since the first game,” Haskins said.
Even last season, when he entered Ohio State’s game against Michigan after J.T. Barrett went down with an injury, Haskins says he wasn’t anxious or fearful.
“I'd say I was pretty calm in that situation,” Haskins said. “I didn't have any, like, too many racing thoughts. I didn't have any thoughts of concern or self-doubt.”
He remembers the last time he wasn’t completely calm behind the center. It’s been five years, but he remembers the game, his first as a starting quarterback in high school.
His team, Bullis (Maryland), was taking on St. John’s College in the opening week of the season. Terrell Davis, an Alabama linebacker who was committed to Ohio State for a few months, played for St. John’s and led a defense that picked off Haskins three times.
“I don't really like to talk about it,” Haskins said. “That's probably the only time I've felt nervous.”
So, is there any chance he’ll be nervous when the Buckeyes head to College Park, Maryland, to take on the Terrapins at noon on Saturday?
Probably not.
“I don't think it's nervousness,” said Urban Meyer, who mentioned Haskins has 10 starts of experience. “So, I think it's just pride because he loves Maryland and that area and knows a lot of those players and has great respect for the quality of team we're getting ready to play.”
Saturday’s game offers Haskins a homecoming to play in front of a local crowd that will assuredly be filled with many friends and family members. He said he’s already working to secure 20 tickets for the matchup against the Terrapins.
“I felt like it's good to have my own self-scout report on them going into this week.”– Dwayne Haskins
At one point in his life, though, it didn’t seem like Haskins would ever need a homecoming. He planned to play for Maryland and secure the top prospects in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas, while helping to turn a floundering Maryland program into national prominence.
Then, Ohio State came calling.
Haskins had a tough decision to make. He had a great relationship with Mike Locksley, the offensive coordinator at the time, and liked the idea of staying home. Ultimately, he ended his eight-month commitment to Maryland and opted for the Buckeyes.
“I'd probably say it was very hard just because of the relationships I'd built there at the university with the coaches, teachers and players and commits. Just how hard it was to say no, I wasn't going there any more,” Haskins said. “And then for me to come here to Ohio State, it's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. Just to be here and just to see how great we're doing right now and being a part of it, actually playing instead of just watching the last couple years. So, it's been really cool. I don't regret the decision to come here.”
After redshirting as a freshman, then tossing just 57 passes in eight games mainly in mop-up duty last season, Haskins won the starting quarterback job at Ohio State in the spring and didn’t waste much time making the most of it.
In the season opener against Oregon State, he came one touchdown from tying the program record with five passing touchdowns. He tied that record with six touchdown tosses versus Indiana five weeks later. Haskins has broken the single-game program records for passing yards, pass attempts and pass completions.
The eternally confident Haskins hasn’t been overly surprised in his breaking of records.
“I probably would think that it would happen,” Haskins said. “Would I think it's realistic? Probably not.”
He’s 51 yards from overtaking Joe Germaine’s record for most passing yards in a season, which was set 20 years ago. Haskins also needs three touchdowns to surpass J.T. Barrett’s program record of 35 passing touchdowns, which was set last season.
With the Buckeyes playing the Terrapins this weekend, Haskins will have the opportunity to make history in front of a local crowd.
“That's going to mean a lot,” Haskins said. “Pretty excited about that. But I take one play at a time. I'm looking forward to doing that in front of a whole bunch of family. Just a blessing.”
With Haskins being in his third year of college, he “pretty much know(s) everybody that's playing right now” for Maryland. For a while, he thought he’d be their teammates.
Now, he plans to use that knowledge to Ohio State’s advantage.
“I felt like it's good to have my own self-scout report on them going into this week,” Haskins said. “Coach (Alford) asked me questions about who's this, who's that, what does he do well, what does he not do well. I've got a lot of answers for him. I feel like I'm helping a lot with the scheme and the gameplan going into this week.”
