McLaurin lets Victor know what’s expected of him

It’s going to be Binjimen Victor and friends populating the “X” receiver position for Ohio State when its season resumes at noon Saturday against Nebraska.

Coach Urban Meyer said a week ago that Victor would move into the starting spot in place of Austin Mack, who was lost for at least the rest of the regular season because of a fractured bone in a foot suffered in the loss at Purdue two weeks ago.

Victor is going to be backed up by the regular starting “Z” or flanker receiver, Terry McLaurin, hybrid back Parris Campbell and freshman Chris Olave. But Victor, a junior and one of the heroes of the comeback win at Penn State, will get his first college start, and McLaurin has reinforced what’s expected.

“I like coming over to ‘X,’ because me and Ben have a really good relationship, and I’m really tough on him in the way that I try to be that extra coach,” McLaurin said. “But he’s taken the initiative to try to just be that guy (starter).

“He’s 6-4, he has to play like that. He can’t just do it in practice. He made a great play today, but I’m always telling him, ‘The ball’s not always going to be perfect. Our job is to make the quarterback right. If you’re 6-4 you’ve got to play like it.’ I’m excited to see him get a lot more plays this week.”

It also could be a comingout moment for Olave, a late addition to the 2018 recruiting class who has been Binjimen Victor was elevated to start at the “X” receiver position for Ohio State. impressive since he stepped on campus in June, Campbell said.

“He’s living up to the standard right now,” Campbell said. “He practices hard; a great practice player. He makes plays. He’s able to track a deep ball very well. Great hands, great speed.

“There’s no doubt that when he gets in the game there’ll be no dropoff.”

Nebraska got off to a 0-6 start under first-year coach Scott Frost, but not only have the Huskers won their last two games — over Minnesota and FCS foe Bethune-Cookman, a late fill-in on the schedule — but they’ve looked good doing it.

“Night and day,” Meyer said, especially about the defense, which had struggled the past many years. “They’re playing really good defense right now. Then obviously statistically, look at the numbers on offense (18th nationally in total offense with a 471.3-yard average). This is a team that’s hitting their stride right now.”

Meyer has left hints for a couple of weeks that Wyatt Davis, a sophomore guard who was a five-star signee with the 2017 class, has worked his game into playing shape.

“Wyatt’s close, he’s the next in,” Meyer said. A couple of others are nearly ready, he added, “but the one I’m really impressed with is Wyatt Davis.”