Accountability. Toughness. Fight.
Those three qualities are what it means to be a Buckeye.
Those three qualities, among many others, are where Ohio State wide receiver Xavier Johnson stands out the most.
The Ohio State veteran – affectionately nicknamed “X” by teammates – was named the program's Block O recipient on Saturday. Johnson became the fourth Ohio State player to be awarded the No. 0 jersey behind former Buckeyes Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021) and Kamryn Babb (2022).
The Block O award was created in memory of Bill Willis, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer whose No. 99 is retired in the Horseshoe. He was one of the first two players to break professional football’s color barrier for the Cleveland Browns in 1946, alongside fellow Hall of Famer Marion Motley. The No. 0 jersey, awarded annually, is given to a team leader who – like Willis – is the "epitome of toughness, accountability and fight."
On Wednesday, the Ohio State football media team took us behind the scenes at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to share what made Johnson the perfect selection for this year's Block O award.
Grab your popcorn.
Ohio State University Football Team Block O Recipient Xavier Johnson. pic.twitter.com/2jaohDsX7c
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 23, 202
