Ohio State football: Wilson’s move strengthens offense

The Ohio State football team had their Spring Game today. Garrett Wilson showed his move to the outside is going to work well.

Like Urban Meyer before him, Ryan Day believes in getting his best players on the field even if it means moving guys around. Garrett Wilson’s move from slot receiver outside to the X-position is the latest example. It is a move that will strengthen the Buckeye offense.

The Ohio State football staff isn’t going to move a guy who was first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American to a new position unless they have a replacement. That guy appears to be sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s been working with the first team offense, and Day along with receivers coach Brian Hartline agree he’s had a great spring.

When you look at the Buckeyes’ receiving stats for 2020, it’s obvious a move has to be made. Wilson and Chris Olave combined to make nearly sixty percent of the team’s receptions. Break it down by each player and it is even more apparent a change is needed. Olave had 50 catches, Wilson 43. The next on the list is Jeremy Ruckert with 13. That’s far too lopsided of a disparity.

Last season’s X-receiver, Jameson Williams, is certainly a big-play threat (averaged 17 yards per catch), but had one fewer reception than Smith-Njigba (Williams had 9, Smith-Njigba 10) and was on the field for nearly twice as many plays. Without question, Wilson will far surpass the numbers Williams put up at the X in 2020.

Playing the slot receiver means you get a lot of coverage from safeties and linebackers. Wilson tortured them last year (watch his season highlights here), and averaged nearly 17 yards per catch. Smith-Njigba will undoubtedly expand on his ten catches for 47 yards and one highlight reel touchdown (watch that here). He doesn’t appear to be as explosive as Wilson, but make no mistake, the former five-star recruit out of Texas is supremely talented and will be a handful for defenses.

The move outside means Wilson will deal with far more press coverage than he did last year. His release from the line of scrimmage will not be as easy. It is something he’s well aware of and has worked at this spring. He feels the move is good for his development and wants to be a receiver who can play anywhere on the field. Despite his success so far, Wilson is still working to get better, “For me, that’s the biggest thing and that wakes me up every morning, knowing I can get so much better.”

We knew the Ohio State receiver’s room was crowded before the beginning of spring practice. But, with the emergence of true freshman Marvin Harrison, Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, who both had good Spring Game performances, that room has gotten VERY crowded. Right now, Harrison, Jr. and Egbuka are running with the second-team offense, along with Williams. It will get even more crowded when Julian Fleming gets completely healthy.

With Olave, Wilson, Smith-Njigba, and all of that talent emerging behind them, those young Buckeye quarterbacks will certainly not have a lack of targets. Buckeye fans are going to have fun watching this group in 2021.