Ohio State Offensive Coordinator And Tight Ends Coach Kevin Wilson Previews Rutgers

Following head coach Ryan Day’s weekly press conference, offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson stepped to the podium to talk with the media for roughly 15 minutes.

Here’s a brief recap of what he had to say:

  • Wilson said practices tend to get shorter late in the season and players can go on autopilot as a result. The key is to keep the team focused.
  • “This is a very talented team, but they’re young,” Wilson said, noting how eager this players are to learn and get better.
  • On games against Maryland and Rutgers before bigger tests against Penn State and Wisconsin, Wilson said, “We’re just trying to keep the momentum we have.”
  • Wilson on the tendency for successful teams to rest on their laurels. “Just as soon as you think you got it, you get (knocked off).”
  • Wilson mentions the old cliche about leading a horse to water, but said the key is making it thirsty. The same can be said about player development. They have to want to get better.
  • “Guys that work hard become great players,” Wilson said, mentioning former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson as someone with a strong work ethic.
  • “I’m very happy for those guys,” Wilson said of his former school, Indiana, which is in the Top 25 for the first time since 1994.
  • Wilson said offensive guard Jonah Jackson, who transferred from Rutgers this offseason, has been crucial to the offensive line’s development.
  • Wilson said backup quarterback Chris Chugunov has “really developed into being a quality backup for us right now.” Added the passing concepts he learned at West Virginia are similar to what Ohio State uses and that helped get him acclimated.
  • Wilson said he asked defensive line coach Larry Johnson about playing fifth-year senior Rashod Berry on defense. “I was happy to see him get a sack.” Berry won’t have the full playbook on either side of the ball to allow him to play both ways.
  • Wilson said he told Jackson, upon entering the transfer portal, they “have a tremendous team and a real need” once Michael Jordan left for the NFL.