COLUMBUS, Ohio - Dontre Wilson is back to contributing to Ohio State's scoring machine to the point that Wilson won his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on Monday.
Which allows those who have seen Wilson's speed and game-changing ability to wonder about future Mondays. And, more specifically, Saturdays.
"Wait 'til you see him next year," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.
Wilson is coming along. His performance in the Buckeyes 63-14 romp over Penn State last weekend was his best yet, with a 49-yard kickoff return setting up a touchdown and a 26-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter not only marking his second score of the season but putting on full display his open-field talents. Wilson has jets a lot of guys don't have, and he has a way of finding open space many players don't.
There aren't a lot of touches to go around with Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde playing at the level at which they're currently playing, and Meyer has made it clear that Wilson is going to have to continue to earn every one he gets. But the Buckeyes need Wilson to earn what he can and run like crazy when he gets the ball as they go forward.
"I see a guy who, on one of our big plays, he was blocking," Meyer said. "That means he's learning to be a full-time member (of this team); it's not just 'Hey, Dontre's in the game.' So he'll be more and more involved. The thing that I like about Dontre that you all see is incredible passion for the game."
Wilson has 170 rushing yards on 19 rushes and 14 receptions for 149 yards. He's also averaging 28.1 yards per kickoff return.
Neither Meyer nor veteran Ohio State players hid their excitement for Wilson in the preseason, and he proved buzz worthy on a handful of early-season touches. He all but disappeared for a stretch following a fumble early in the Wisconsin game on Sept. 28, and he didn't get a touch at Northwestern the following week.
Meyer then made it clear that Wilson needed to be stronger, a better blocker and a more complete player to earn the full trust of his coaches and teammates. He's never doubted that it was coming, and Wilson is explosive enough to get the benefit of the doubt.
"He's an energizer," Meyer said. "I don't want to say we mandated it, but he'll be more and more and more (involved). He played very well, by the way, (vs. Penn State). I mean, when I say very well, of course he carried the ball well and all that. But he did a lot of things well."
