Ohio State Football: Wide receiver play key to explosive Buckeye offensei

When the Ohio State football team takes the field this season the offense has the potential to be explosive, and the wide receivers will make that happen.

Since two of the strongest groups on the Ohio State football team are the running back and H-back units you can expect plenty of scoring by the Buckeyes this year. However, with outstanding wide receiver play the Buckeyes could have the most explosive offense in college football.

If the players who line up closest to the sidelines are deep ball threats, imagine how that will open up opportunities for other skill position players. With defensive backs playing deeper there won’t be a safety in the box to hold J.K. Dobbins to an eight yard gain and he could be off to the races. A short drag pattern to Parris Campbell or Demario McCall in open space could go for 60.

The wide-outs who will line up for the Buckeyes this season have the potential to be field-stretchers who could make that happen. It is one of the most experienced group of Buckeye wide receivers in recent memory and possibly the most talented. And they just keep improving.

Each of the returning wide receivers in the two deep had their best season in 2017 and it’s expected each will be even more effective this year.

First let’s take a look at the returning seniors who have big play potential beginning with the player who finally had a breakout season in 2017.

Johnnie Dixon was finally healthy and displayed the speed that made him a coveted recruit in the 2014 recruiting class. He only caught 18 passes but 8 were for touchdowns and he averaged 23.4 yards per reception. Just think what numbers he may put up this year with a full season under his belt.

Terry McLaurin was another speedster in the 2014 Ohio State recruiting class who has improved his numbers every year as his opportunity for playing time increased. Last season McLaurin caught 29 passes for 6 touchdowns averaging 15 yards per reception. Expect his stats to be even better this year.

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Juniors Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor had fine seasons in 2017 but have only scratched the surface when it comes to their big play potential. Mack caught 24 passes for 2 touchdowns and averaged 14.3 yards per catch. Victor averaged 15.2 yards on his 23 receptions which resulted in 7 touchdowns.

It’s hard to say just how impactful these two wide receivers will be this season but expect big things from each.

Two second year players, Jaylen Harris and Elijah Gardiner, will see playing time as well. The 6 ft. 5, 215 pound Harris is extremely athletic, has good speed and was targeted often in the spring game.

Gardiner had a nice catch and run for 20 yards that same day. Keep an eye on both of these young guys.

The new Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins has a big arm and will have wide-outs who have proven they can get deep and catch the ball if he puts it on the money. He has other young players who have the potential to do so as well. Don’t you think that will make opposing coordinators loosen up the back-end of their defenses?

That’s what will give J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber the opportunities to break more long runs when they get past the first level of defenders. Also, the H-backs should have a field day with single coverage in the flat and on crossing patterns.

Next: Three reasons why Buckeyes win the Big Ten

With the talented skill position players he has to work with, could the Ohio State offense be as explosive as the one Kevin Wilson coached at Oklahoma in 2008? That year the Sooners averaged 50 points per game. If the Buckeye offense matches that number this year it will be due in large part to the fact a wide receiver can make a big play downfield at any time.

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