Tag: Kevin Wilson

Justin Fields now on a vegan diet, is leaner and faster

On a Zoom call with reporters Friday, Ohio State assistant Kevin Wilson said that Justin Fields is leaner and faster thanks to a vegan diet.

Count this one in a bucket that was a bit unexpected. According to Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, quarterback Justin Fields has been working hard to get better in practice, and that apparently includes changing everything about he can for the better.

One of those areas is apparently his diet according to Wilson. Like changing to a vegan diet to get leaner. As with anything Fields does, he went all-in when he made the decision to change up things with what’s going in his body.

“He made a commitment because he wanted to be a little bit leaner, wanted to take care of himself even better — wanted to be faster,” said Wilson. “He just made a commitment to a style of diet. Not that that’s the perfect diet, that was the one he wanted.”

Wilson said that even the nutrition staff for the football team have helped with specialized offerings to meet the vegan lifestyle.

“What’s neat is that our nutrition people here were also able to complement,” said Wilson. “Where every day even within our program we might have steaks and chicken, or whatever going on for a meal, he has the meals set for him that we’re able to provide — which I think is pretty cool. We have a couple kids that are actually doing that. That’s just how they want to eat, I think that’s awesome.”

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We’re hearing the reports from everyone in and around the program about Fields’ buy-in to being the best he can be, and it has to be like waiting to unwrap a Christmas gift for Ohio State fans.

Ryan Day recently said that Fileds has been an exemplary leader on the team, working hard, staying committed, including changing his diet. We now know what that change in diet entailed.

If a guy’s willing to make such drastic changes in almost every area that he can in order to reach his full potential, the Big Ten could be in a world of hurt this fall.

According to Wilson, the changes and hard work are paying off.

“I think he just did it to be leaner, take care of himself and be stronger and faster, and he looks that way,” said Wilson. “He’s a stronger and faster player.”

 

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Trey Sermon, Master Teague expected to get equal carries this fall

According to Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, running backs Trey Sermon and Master Teague are likely to split carries in 2020.

It’s been the question on everyone’s mind when it comes to the running back situation at Ohio State this fall. Master Teague was expected to be the starter in waiting with the departure of J.K. Dobbins to the NFL, but then he suffered an Achilles injury during the spring that put that in doubt.

In order to plug what seemed to be a hole in the roster, Ryan Day and company went out and convinced Oklahoma graduate transfer Trey Sermon to back the U-Haul up to the banks of the Olentangy with plans to be the guy in the backfield for the Buckeye offense in 2020.

However, based on recent reports, Teague has recovered from his injury and is all ready to go, especially with the longer timing of a late October start date. So now, there appears to be a two-man competition for the starting tailback spot.

So, how does the coaching staff assess the running back situation? Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson met with reporters on a Zoom call on Friday and spent some time discussing the status of the position as he sees it.

“I think it’ll be a 50-50 ballpark as we start,” said Wilson. “We’ve got five guys who are getting a lot of work, the bulk of it being split between Master and Trey with the ones and then Steele (Chambers) and the other guys are managing our second team right now.”

Ohio State fans likely know what Teague brings to the table. He’s got some straight-line burst to him but is a big, tough runner that can get yards between the tackles as well. What OSU fans may not be entirely familiar with is the skill set of Sermon and what role he will play.

“Trey has come in and he’s very smart, looks very good, catches it well, understands what we have,” said Wilson. “I haven’t seen him with pads in the hard practice environment or the game environment, you feel comfortable there.”

All of this is obviously a very fluid situation thought. There’s still a month until the start of the season, and with the pandemic, development, and situations that will present themselves in-game, things could change. Still, if what Wilson projects to be the case comes to pass, think more along the lines of 2018 when Dobbins and Mike Weber split carries rather than a feature back like what we saw last year with Dobbins.

The offense is projected to be a very dynamic one, and having two guys that can provide two different looks is not a bad thing at this point.

 

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ESPN names two Ohio State coaching assistant hires as two of the best ten of the decade

ESPN compiled a list of the ten best college football assistant coach hires over the past decade. There were mention of three at Ohio State.

Hiring the right head coach can completely change the trajectory of a program, but those wearing the headset don’t often get enough credit for the hires they make as support personnel around them. Luring and enticing the right mind on the offensive or defensive end can pay immediate dividends. Urban Meyer was one of the best head coaches in our generation, but he also had an eye for coaching talent.

ESPN believes so too. Adam Rittenberg compiled a list of the ten best assistant coach hires over the past decade, and there were two mentions of — stay with me — three guys Myer brought to Ohio State.

One of those is the polarizing, current Texas head coach Tom Herman. Say what you will about the man, but he put a stamp on a Buckeye offense that was absolutely horrendous before his arrival. Also, as a package deal, Rittenberg singles (or doubles) out Ryan Day and Kevin Wilson.

Here’s what he has to say about both timely and extremely instrumental hires, and where he ranks them among those ten.

Next … Tom Herman

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Four Ohio State football assistants will make more than $1 million this season

According to compensation numbers released by Ohio State, four football assistant coaches will be paid in excess of $1 million this season.

According to compensation figures released by Ohio State on Monday, and a subsequent report by the Columbus Dispatch, four Buckeye football assistants will be paid over $1 million this season.

Based on over a decade of tracking by USA TODAY, it’ll be the first time four assistant football coaches at a public university will pay seven-figure salaries to that many assistants on one staff. With where assistant salaries are today as opposed to ten years ago, it’s not a stretch to believe that’s never happened in the history of public universities, but that cannot be confirmed.

Those four coaches that will break the $1 million barrier are defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs ($1.4 million), offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson ($1.2 million), and both co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and defensive line coach Larry Johnson ($1.113 million each).

Prior to this year, the salary of Ohio State’s assistant coaches ranked the third highest in the country according to USA TODAY, with a total of $7.25 Million — trailing only Alabama and Clemson. The new total will now be $7.94 Million. It’s too early to tell if that puts OSU in the same ballpark or more than where the Tide and Tigers were last season.

I guess if you want to win these days in big-time college football, you have to pay not only your head coaches, but the guys that surround them. The teams winning everything are doing just that.

Ohio State assistant Kevin Wilson optimistic about the Master Teague injury

Ohio State assistant coach Kevin Wilson was asked about the severity of running back Master Teague’s injury. He sounded optimistic.

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News broke yesterday that Master Teague, the presumed starter at running back, will miss all of spring drills after sustaining an Achilles injury on the first day of spring practice. Most will cringe hearing about an injury of this magnitude, but how bad is it?

Ryan Day put Buckeye Nation in a bit of a panic yesterday by saying “We’re one injury away from a little bit of a crisis right now, but in the end, when it comes to September, we’re gonna be okay.” This statement came before the status of Teague’s injury was known.

However, Kevin Wilson was asked about Teague’s status today and he sounded a little more optimistic. When asked if Wilson thought Teague would be back for the start of the season he said “Yeah, I would think so.”

Wilson was quick to add that no one really knows how quickly or slowly each individual person will heal from various injuries. So if the typical timeline for an injury is three months, it may be shorter or it could be longer.

“Sometimes guys just heal faster,” said Wilson. “Their bodies recover faster. Sometimes they get treatment better than others and sometimes the injury is a little bit worse than you think. So, to say there’s a specific timeline… that’s why we do so much practices before spring ball, you get a chance to get them back.”

We’re hoping Coach Wilson is right. Not only for the Buckeye Football team, but for a young man who has been patiently waiting his turn. Wishing all the best and a speedy recovery for No. 33

* Lori Schmidt contributed to this story.

 

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Ohio State’s Kevin Wilson, Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins preview matchup with Clemson in Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State’s Kevin Wilson, along with quarterback Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins preview Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson.

While you were getting ready for Christmas and whatever shenanigans and celebrations you’ll be a part of tonight and tomorrow, the Fiesta Bowl set up a little media event for select Ohio State and Clemson players and coaches.

Normally we bring you some coaches and player comments postgame, but since the fine folks in the desert made this magic happen, we’ve got everything all the players and coaches that were present said.

We’ve already looked at what the Clemson offensive and defensive members said about facing Ohio State, and now we’re bringing you what the select Buckeye players and coaches said.

So, here we go, with the comments of offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, as well as QB Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins.

Next … Quotes from Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields

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