Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard’s memorable 2020 debut can’t replace what Big Ten cost him: Nathan Bair – cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three observations from Ohio State football’s 49-27 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.

Justin Hilliard took the high road, because the Ohio State football linebacker is a senior and a captain and knows the Buckeyes’ season is not about him.

What happened at Penn State last week — or what happened before the game — was about Hilliard. The more I think about it, the more livid I am on his behalf.

First let’s jump ahead to Saturday night’s 49-27 Buckeye victory over Rutgers and why we were talking to Hilliard after the game. He forced a fumble from Scarlet Knights receiver Aron Cruikshank and recovered it in the second quarter. Ohio State took over at the Rutgers’ 32, and six plays later, Justin Fields hit Garrett Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown reception and a 28-3 lead.

Hilliard savored that moment in his 2020 debut. An undisclosed injury cost him the season opener against Nebraska. (Hilliard declined to elaborate on the specifics of said injury after the game.

His second game of the season was straight-up stolen from him by the Big Ten’s failure to plan for an inevitable scenario.

Hilliard, along with the rest of the team, took a rapid daily antigen test for coronavirus several hours before the Penn State game. He was the only known member of the team or traveling staff to test positive. He said he immediately went to a hospital in the State College area to take the more sensitive PCR test, which came back negative. (Hilliard indicated there may have been more than one test taken, which came back negative.)

However, Big Ten protocols dictated that, since not every team had immediate access to PCR tests, anyone who tested positive could not play the same day. Hilliard was allowed to be on the sideline with his teammates, which does not on its surface seem that much safer than actually playing.

The Big Ten changed that policy in the past week, according to Iowa athletic director Gary Berta. (My inquiry about whether the policy changed and why all teams did not have access to the PCR tests — considering they are the only way to clear a potential false negative — has thus far not been answered by the Big Ten.)

The setback was especially rough for Hilliard, who petitioned for and received a sixth season of eligibility due to injuries early in his career.

“I wanted to be a part of that big game,” Hilliard said. “I’m playing Penn State with my brothers for the last time. Obviously, there was frustration and a little bit of anger.

“But that was set aside quickly, because obviously we had a goal to win that game, and we did. So we’re moving forward from that.”

Hilliard played a decent chunk of snaps, either as the backup Sam linebacker or when the Buckeyes used four linebackers. That could not fully account for missing an entire game for what came down to a lack of imagination on the Big Ten’s part.

Eventually, a false positive was going to happen. I originally credited the Big Ten for being prudent and cautious with its delayed season and strict COVID-19 protocols. What good do they do when results like what Hilliard experienced undermine the integrity of the process?

“It’s just not fair,” senior linebacker and captain Tuf Borland said. “We were all heartbroken for him. A guy that has given so much to this program, you just feel for him. The energy he brings on a daily basis — those are the types of guys that mean the most to your program.”

2. If Demario McCall was going to have a big moment in 2020, it probably would come against Rutgers. Look at his previous career games against the Scarlet Knights:

• 2016: 85 rushing yards, 1 TD

• 2017: 103 rushing yards, 1 TD, 35-yard receiving TD

• 2018: three receptions, 10 yards

OK that trailed off fast. McCall also managed only 6 yards on one reception against Rutgers in 2019. He simply was no longer part of the offense in any meaningful way — even in mop-up duty. He specialized as the team’s kickoff return man but entered Saturday’s game without a touch on offense.

McCall changed that on back-to-back plays in the second quarter. Lined up in the slot in an empty set, McCall motioned into the backfield, took the handoff and rushed for 12 yards. Facing third and 3, Justin Fields made an easy toss to McCall, who raced off for 27 yards.

“He’s a huge leader for our team,” Fields said. “He does a great job leading the guys in the receiver room. He’s very dynamic. I feel like we can use him in a multitude of ways.”

Except the Buckeyes don’t. Master Teague finished that drive, covering the final 40 yards on three touches. Teague has been the Buckeyes’ most-trusted back thus far, and even took a larger role in the passing game against Rutgers.

McCall is not a between-the-tackles running back. Playing him even over the adequate-so-far Trey Sermon seems unwise. To play him more in the slot, Ohio State would either need to play more four and five-receiver sets or take either Garrett Wilson or Jameson Williams off the field.

McCall may have had his moment for 2020. He’ll likely eave Ohio State as a Scarlet Knights killer who never quite found his role otherwise.

3. The lack of a true blowout deprived everyone of an extended look at freshman CJ Stroud. He entered the game for the final possession, handed off to fellow freshman Miyan Williams and watched the clock run out.

Here’s the thing: What are the chances either freshman quarterback will have the opportunity to really show something in game minutes? Jack Miller drove for a touchdown against Nebraska’s backups by handing the ball off and keeping a few carries for himself.

This quarterback competition is real, but it is happening every day at practice more than it is happening in mop-up duty. Perhaps if either freshman comes in and shows a remarkable lack of poise, that would alter the decision-making process.

Until then, don’t make too much of the fleeting glimpses you catch of Stroud and Miller.

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