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Former Ohio State H-back Dontre Wilson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers after being passed up on in the 2017 NFL Draft, according to Land of 10’s Ryan Ginn. Getting skipped in the draft wasn’t the most surprising thing in the world, given the injuries that hampered Wilson in his last few seasons in Columbus. But now he’s healthy and ready to try to crack a roster.
How did Wilson do at the combine?
Wilson wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, so he had to settle for trying to impress scouts at Ohio State’s pro day. He attempted the 40-yard dash twice, clocking his best time at 4.59. His reputation as a speedster made this figure a little disappointing, but he did report that he’d tweaked his hamstring shortly before running in the event.
He also ran receiver drills, reeling in a nice one-handed grab in the back of the end zone and showcasing his route running ability.
How good was Wilson in college?
In the high-octane 2016 Ohio State offense, Dontre Wilson managed to find the end zone six times (five of those coming through the air), and totaled 430 yards between the ground game and passing game. He also returned 17 punts (with four fumbles, only one of which was lost) and three kickoffs, with averages of 6.3 and 20.7 yards respectively.
The DeSoto, TX native came into Columbus with high expectations, given his speed and game-breaking ability. He rose to the challenge in his first season as a Buckeye, and looked to be on track for big numbers his sophomore season before he started missing games with a foot injury.
Wilson struggled at times to find breathing room in an offense loaded with weapons that often went conservative at the first sign of trouble. He finished his Buckeye career with 62 carries and 77 catches totaling 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns. That he was good for almost 10 yards per touch shows he’s got skills; the only question he has left to answer is whether or not he can finally put all of those skills together to make his numbers match his talent.
Seriously, Wilson’s got skills. It felt like he was always a shoestring tackle away from busting a run wide open during his Buckeye years, but he showed flashes of tremendous running, catching, and even blocking ability at times under Urban Meyer.