Ohio State Football: Zone 6 ready to fly in 2018

With the amount of talent at the wide receiver positions on this year’s Ohio State football team, Zone 6 could put up huge numbers.

Zone 6, the renowned name for the Ohio State receiving corps, returns its top six players this season. Is it possible that all six gain over 500 yards this season?

Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, K.J. Hill, Johnnie Dixon, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack combined for 2678 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2017.

Campbell and Hill broke the 500-yard threshold last year, and McLaurin and Dixon were close, so the possibility it is not a stretch.

Receivers coach Zach Smith essentially has six starters.  Coupled with Demario McCall at halfback and C.J. Saunders as a reliable backup, depth and ability at receiver is the best it has been under Urban Meyer.

This has me believing that this unit has the potential to be like Clemson’s receivers in 2016, perhaps even better.

Mike Williams, Artevis Scott, Deon Cain, Ray-Ray-McLoud, Jordan Leggett and Hunter Renfrow combined for 4402 yards and 40 touchdowns in the Tigers’ championship season.

Not that Buckeye Nation needs a reminder, but this is the unit that carved up the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide in the playoffs for 685 yards and four touchdowns.

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The obvious difference is DeShaun Watson.  There is hope that Dwayne Haskins can deliver similar results.

He has an accurate arm and can be a threat on the ground if needed to keep defenses honest.

Haskins doesn’t have extensive game experience yet, but has performed well enough to compensate for the lack of time on the field.

For the Buckeyes’ offense to achieve its goals this year, selfless play will be required.  Especially from the receivers.

The offense will probably average around 73 plays per game, maybe less given its big play capabilities.

J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber will get about 45 carries per game.  This leaves roughly 27 plays for the receivers to do their damage.

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I think they’ll do it and edge out the 2014 and 1995 units to become the best in Ohio State history.