From Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, Garrett Wilson was a 5-star prospect and the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2019 class. He was the No. 20 player overall and a US Army All-American.
The very first time Buckeye head coach Ryan Day saw Wilson in person, he was in Austin to watch quarterback teammate Matthew Baldwin throw. While doing so, he also noticed a receiver blocking a defensive back off the field of play and into a tree.
“Who’s that,” he asked.
“That’s Garrett Wilson,” came the response.
Day was more than intrigued.
Wilson eventually chose Ohio State over every other school in the nation.
As a junior, Wilson caught 98 passes for 1,774 yards, scoring 32 total touchdowns on offense and special teams. Despite missing some time due to injury as a senior, Wilson put up another 1,151 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns in 2018.
Wilson enrolled early at Ohio State and was one of the stars in OSU’s spring game.
He lost his black stripe in the spring, which is a rarity for freshmen.
What To Like
You know how your fourth grade teacher taught you that a preposition was “anywhere a cat can go?”
When it comes to “what to like” about Garrett Wilson, he has prepositional abilities. Anywhere he can go on the football field, he’ll do something you like.
He can find ways to take screens the distance.
Garrett Wilson reminds me of Peter Warrick. pic.twitter.com/ZfrdL5PMW6
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 30, 2018
Or at least most of the way.
Wilson is as comfortable on the football field as you are on your couch watching him.
He could be a Division I basketball player if he wanted.
And probably a pretty damn good cornerback.
Here is Garrett Wilson at corner against 5-star WR Theo Wease. pic.twitter.com/P5OnEE6hJE
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) December 23, 2017
Listed at 6-0 and 188 pounds, Wilson plays much bigger this his size. He has a good reach, can jump, and has very strong hands. Wilson times his leaps perfectly and naturally and routinely out-positions the competition. He is very much a red-zone weapon.
Here’s two clips for you.
And even when things don’t get perfectly, they still go pretty well.
Garrett Wilson isn’t just a screen guy, or a red-zone guy. He’s an everywhere guy, and when he gets there, he makes you say ‘Wow.’
Oh my goodness Garrett Wilson… pic.twitter.com/Toriwc90Qv
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) December 23, 2017
The Potential
Garrett Wilson is fast enough to get open deep, agile enough to pick up yards after the catch, talented enough to simply go up and over people, and far from satisfied with any of it.
Wilson has tremendous potential, but more importantly seems to possess the desire to reach it. He has worked hard every day since he arrived at Ohio State and is matching his natural abilities with the teachings and techniques it takes to be a great player.
The only thing Garrett Wilson can’t do is be 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.
Except in the end zone, of course.
The Expectations
Garrett Wilson is part of a deep group of receivers at Ohio State.
He projects to the Z receiver outside, where he is currently joined by expected starters (in a rotation) Austin Mack and Chris Olave. Also in the group for playing time there is fellow freshman Jameson Williams, who lost his black stripe after just six practices.
Regardless of the depth chart, Wilson is still going to play this season, and should be playing from the outset.
Whether it comes from the outside as expected, or even in the slot in some different personnel packages, Wilson will be a playmaker for the Buckeyes this season. He is too talented to simply be a spectator.
A season similar to Chris Olave’s second half last year shouldn’t be out of reach.
The Bottom Line
Garrett Wilson is one of the most naturally gifted receivers in recent Ohio State memory.
The fact that he is so talented is one of the reasons head coach Ryan Day is more concerned right now about developing his discipline and skill. The ability is there, so they’re working the little things to give him more than a fighting shot against college defensive backs.
Wilson is only going to get better, but he should still be pretty darn good this season as a true freshman.
And then look out down the road.
His future is probably outside, but if this Ohio State offense continues to feature the slot receivers more than the outside guys, moving Wilson inside like a KJ Hill could result in some tremendous numbers over the next year or three.
Freshman Focus
Some of his moves on the screen in the first clip remind me of Ted Ginn,Jr.
Hopefully this kid is not made to sit behind Mack and Victor…just because they’re seniors.