Ohio State Football: 5 potential breakout stars for 2017
By Phil Poling
It seems like everywhere Urban Meyer coaches, skill-position players just flock to him with a glimmer of hope they’ll get an opportunity. Parris Campbell falls directly into that group — and he’s made the most of it thus far.
Playing mainly on special teams his first two years in Columbus, Campbell is in position for a breakout year at wide receiver. He only managed 13 receptions for 121 yards last year and failed to reach the endzone through the air, but he did score on one of his four rushing attempts. Meyer always finds ways to put the ball in his play-makers’ hands, and Campbell could be the guy in 2017.
Replicating the production of former Buckeyes Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel will surely bring pressure, but if Campbell’s able to produce, the Buckeyes will enter stadiums with an x-factor other’s can’t match.
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Don’t expect him to completely abandon the return units, though: Campbell was a state champion sprinter in high school, anchoring the 4×100 and 4×200 teams. Conference coaches dubbed him a third-team All-Big Ten return specialist last year after his 27.8 return average ranked him 11th in the nation.