OSU CB Williamson sets aside distractions
Marcus Williamson envisioned his final season at Ohio State going differently.
The cornerback took advantage of the NCAA'S decision to grant an extra year of eligibility to return for a “super senior” season. The Westerville native started in the slot last year. With outside corners Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown rehabbing from significant injuries this offseason, Williamson had reason to believe he'd have at least as prominent a role in the secondary this season.
Instead, his role shrunk. Young players such as Denzel Burke emerged, and Williamson played sparingly early in the year. Against Minnesota in the opener, he had no defensive snaps and only nine against Oregon. Williamson played 408 snaps last year.
It would have been understandable if Williamson had followed the path of Buckeye senior linebackers Dallas Gant and K'vaughan Pope into the transfer portal. Williamson acknowledged he had moments when he questioned his decision to return this year.
“It's human nature maybe to have second guesses, second thoughts if things don't go your way,” he said.
But instead of quitting, Williamson decided to embrace his role on the team, whatever it may be. With that peace of mind has come improved performance
and increased playing time. Williamson graded as a "champion" by coaches against Rutgers after he made two nice tackles and broke up a pass in his 15 snaps.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Williamson had his best week of practice before the Rutgers game.
“He shared with me that he got a lot of distractions out of his head,” Day said. “He cleared a lot of noise out and just gave himself to the team. His energy
level was off the charts. His attitude was off the charts. And then lo and behold, he plays probably one of his better games.
"I just thought it was a great example of when you get focused and you dedicate yourself to the team and you don't listen to all the noise, how that can affect your performance. Hat's off to Marcus.”
As Ohio State prepares for Saturday's game against Maryland, Williamson described that process.
“I've always considered myself a team player,” he said. “Sometimes you've got to put your ego aside, put the distractions aside – the people in your ear, people in the community back home, whatever it may be -- and just put your best foot forward and focus on the team. And that's what I decided to do.”
Williamson said humility was the key. As much as every player wants a major role, he said, not everyone plays as much as they believe they should.
“Everybody has to find their role and find their niche, find out what they're good at, and then find your limitations and figure out where you fall within there,” Williamson said. “When you understand that role, in my opinion, it just allows you to go that much harder to see how far you can get.
“I think that's what makes this team special. A lot of guys have that mindset, top to bottom. It's all starting to come together.”
Williamson was in the same 2017 recruiting class as Chase Young and Jeff Okudah. He hasn't found stardom as they have, but he's cherishing the role he has now.
“You're only hurting yourself when you try to put yourself above the team,” he said, “and so it's taking that servant mindset and love mindset that I'm going to put my best foot forward and help the team. I think that's having huge dividends.” brabinowitz@dispatch.com @brdispatch