The Ohio State football team takes the field for the 2018 Spring Game at Ohio Stadium between Team Scarlet and Team Gray. Credit: Jack Westerheide | Photo Editor
Ohio State entered the spring hoping to have an answer to who will line up under center by the time the Spring Game rolled around.
Redshirt sophomore Dwayne Haskins, redshirt junior Joe Burrow and redshirt freshman Tate Martell had their opportunities to show why they’re the top quarterback. But the answer remains unclear after Saturday’s intrasquad game in which none of the three signal-callers proved he deserved the top spot over the other in Team Gray’s 37-14 win against Team Scarlet in the Spring Game at Ohio Stadium.
“We’re going to have to make some decisions, those decisions have not been made,” head coach Urban Meyer said. “We’re going to have some very good meetings, productive meetings, I want to see all of the statistical data that we have charted, everything, and go from there.”
Haskins’ arm stood out on both of his touchdown throws, and he finished the game 9 for 19 with 120 yards. Burrow showed consistency, going 15 for 22 for 238 yards.
Martell displayed his dual-threat capabilities, rushing for 69 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown, while also completing 5-of-16 passes for 28 yards and an interception.
“Data is second, it’s just something that helps you, it’s also factual,” Meyer said. “Intangibles are, obviously that’s going to be very involved in the decision.”
Haskins made the most impressive throw of the first half, finding sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Harris on a bullet pass in the corner of the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Burrow completed the longest pass of the day, a 49-yard touchdown to junior H-back Demario McCall in the fourth quarter to put Gray up 31-14.
McCall ended the day with 163 total yards and two touchdowns, both on throws from Burrow.
“Demario got way better, transitioning from running back to receiving, he had the whole Spring to work at it,” junior wide receiver Binjimen Victor said. “I feel like he’s getting there and he’s going to help us contribute in the Fall.”
Freshman running back Master Teague scored the first touchdown of the game midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard run.
Immediately following the Teague touchdown, redshirt junior running back Mike Weber broke off a run for 63 yards, and Martell scored on a two-yard run to put Gray up 10-7.
Junior running back Antonio Williams scored from three yards out with only 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give Gray a 17-14 lead going into halftime.
Burrow, Haskins and Martell were just three players at one position among several others that had one last impression to make before summer workouts and fall camp for the starting spots for the 2018 football season.
“At tight end, you noticed I pulled out Luke Farrell, and as of we finished spring practice, he’ll be the starting tight end,” Meyer said. “The field safety is probably our number one concern on our team, right now we’re just not quite sure who that is.”
Ohio State has more than four months to make those decisions before returning to Ohio Stadium for its season opener on Sept. 1 to play Oregon State.
