COLUMBUS – One of the big talking points of this offseason for Ohio State is who will replace Curtis Samuel.
The Buckeye H-Back <a href="http://www.dusenadup.com/paul-soliai-jersey-c-1_28.html">http://www.dusenadup.com/paul-soliai-jersey-c-1_28.html</a> recorded 171 total touches as a junior for 1,636 yards and 15 total touchdowns before he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the NFL Draft this spring
Parris Campbell is expected to attempt to fill those shoes for the Buckeye offense in 2017, but according to receivers coach Zach Smith, the two are not the same players and OSU fans should expect them to be.
"He’s not Curtis Samuel," Smith recently said of Campbell. "And we’re not going to have another Devin (Smith) or Mike (Thomas)."
Campbell had just 13 receptions for 121 yards a year ago, a far cry from Samuel's numbers. Yet the Buckeyes elected to move him to the hybrid role.
"It was probably after the season ended," Smith explained of the decision. "It wasn’t like this mastermind, calculated plan. It was <a href="http://www.hl-sapporo.com/daeshon-hall-jersey-c-1_43.html">http://www.hl-sapporo.com/daeshon-hall-jersey-c-1_43.html</a> kind of the natural transition with guys like Terry (McLaurin) and Bin (Victor) and Austin (Mack) and Johnnie (Dixon) coming along and expecting them to develop.
"I know Parris can play outside and tomorrow I can move him back outside and he can play. So it was the natural transition to move him inside so I could utilize the personnel a little better."
The former high school running back did score his first career touchdown on a rush last season.
The fourth-year junior is also working on his hands and receiving ability, something Samuel also had to do, and the coaching staff saw an improvement over the spring.
"I think he worked really hard in the offseason," Smith said of Campbell. "I don’t know that anything clicked. He played a lot last year, but he’s performing at a more consistent level right now because of the work he put in <a href="http://www.hssmstore.com/fozzy-whittaker-jersey-c-1_4.html">Fozzy Whittaker Authentic Jersey</a> after the season for sure."
For Campbell, it will be about putting it all together. Using the running back skills from his high schools days plus his speed while also continuing to develop as a receiver is the recipe for success in 2017.
"Parris is really talented," Smith said. "He could play all three (positions), he has played all three. He definitely has some of those running back skill sets; he played in high school. He’s a big, tough kid, smart kid that’s electric. He can really go."
When Braxton Miller left for the NFL, it was hard to imagine that a former running back turned slot receiver would be able to replicate his role at H-Back. Samuel was never Miller; he was actually better.
Campbell may not be Samuel, or Miller for that matter, but the Buckeyes like what they have in Parris Campbell.
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure <a href="http://www.ky-oo32.com/sam-mills-jersey-c-1_28.html">Sam Mills Youth Jersey</a> you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!
The Wall