We can finally watch some football in the ‘Shoe again on Saturday when the annual LifeSports Spring Game kicks off at Noon. It can be a little like Christmas morning for many Ohio State fans because they get a first look at some early enrollee freshman, and get to see some of those hotly contested position battles.
To that end, here’s three things to watch for during the LifeSports Spring Game.
Justin Fields vs. Matthew Baldwin
Neither quarterback is going to cement a starting spot Saturday, but seeing how Fields (the presumed No. 1) plays vs. Baldwin (the underdog challenger) in a setting as close to game-like as you can get might go a long way towards some further separation.
All reports coming out of spring ball seem to point to Fields beginning to assert himself and show why he was one of the highest rated quarterbacks ever to come out of high school. But for Baldwin, he can spin it too, and it’s a chance to try and stay in striking distance, close the gap a bit in a pressure cooker, and go into the summer in a good spot.
Oh, and by the way, both are on the first team offense (the gray team), so don’t be surprised to see them split reps right down the middle against a first-team defense (scarlet).
Next … A wide-receiver from Texas that might be the next great one
Garrett Wilson
You should be excited about what early enrollee freshman wide-receiver Garrett Wilson can do immediately. Every program seemed to want the five-star recruit, but it was Ohio State who lured him away from the state of Texas.
He possesses a skill set that hasn’t been seen in Columbus very often at the wide-out position straight out of the box — a kid that has a high, high ceiling that could contribute this fall. He has a blend of great hands, speed and athleticism that will hopefully be on display Saturday.
Here’s to hoping that Wilson gets targeted often and flashes some of that realized potential. He could be the next great wide-receiver in Columbus. In fact, I’d lay money on it.
Next … Both lines on display
The trenches
The Buckeyes lost a lot of talent on both sides of the line, but there’s always the next man up at a place like Ohio State. I feel better about the amount of guys that can rise up and make some noise on the defensive line, but I’m not as convinced about the offensive line. We’ll see.
Zach Harrison seems to be a star in waiting on the D-line, but there’s a whole host of others ready to fill void left by the departure of Dre’Mont Jones and Nick Bosa (though that happened earlier than we thought). Chase Young is going to be a beast this year, and look out for guys like Tyler Friday, etc.
On the O-line, there’s just a couple starters back, but guys like Branden Bowen have experience and just need to stay healthy. How far has Nicholas Petit-Frere come? He too figures to factor into which five guys get the nod there.
