Eric Glover-Williams is moving from safety to H-back, and the Buckeyes in 2017 need to take a look at anyone at the skill positions who can scare defenses.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's Eric Glover-Williams played Deshaun Watson, Tommy Armstrong and Jabrill Peppers on the Buckeyes' scout team in 2016, two quarterbacks and a Wolverine defender who jumped in on offense.
How'd he do on the offensive side of the ball?
"You've seen his highlights, right?" defensive end Tyquan Lewis asked. "I mean, watch his highlights. That's how he is in practice. The guy can make some moves."
During the prep for the Fiesta Bowl, Glover-Williams drew raves for his duplication of Watson's running ability. During the season, he drew raves for his performance on special teams, as a vital gunner on punt coverage, racing down to make tackles, and on kickoff coverage.
But as a high school player, he turned heads as Superman. And Superman may just be the kind of boost the Buckeyes could use on offense in 2017.
Glover-Williams recently tweeted a reference to Zone 6, the nickname of Ohio State's receiver group, indicating his desire to get the ball in his hands has been successful. After two seasons as a backup defensive back, he's with the receivers now.
Maybe that shouldn't have been a shock.
"He has a lot of shake. He's a dynamic offensive player," cornerbacks coach and special teams assistant Kerry Coombs said before the Fiesta Bowl. "You always wondered 'what about him on offense?' He can make you miss in a phone booth.
"You've only got 85 scholarships and everybody has got to contribute. There's always special teams, but for some guys, that might mean switching sides of the ball. We haven't done that much here, but he's certainly a guy who could do that."
Glover-Williams was one of just four true freshmen to play and avoid redshirting in 2015, and for two seasons he's earned his way on special teams while serving as second-team safety.
But he's still the 5-foot-9, 178-pound dynamo who showed up at the 2013 Friday Night Lights recruiting event in a Superman T-shirt, a bold sartorial choice in the midst of the nation's top prospects.
He still has the T-shirt.
"Yeah, you know it," Glover-Williams told cleveland.com before the Fiesta Bowl. "Every once in a while I throw it on when I don't have enough clothes to wear."
He may still be that kind of player. So Ohio State should throw him into the offensive mix.
Beyond Curtis Samuel, the Buckeyes didn't have enough players who truly scared defenses. Glover-Williams will enter an H-back competition to replace Samuel that includes K.J. Hill and Demario McCall. But with new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson aboard, and the three leading receivers from 2016 gone (Samuel, Noah Brown, Dontre Wilson) the Buckeyes should be considering every option at receiver, H-back, tight end and running back.
Glover-Williams always kept that idea in the back of his head.
"When I first came out of high school, offense was the thing I liked to do, have the ball in my hands," Glover-Williams said. "Once I got to college, they wanted me to play defense, and I was like, 'Yeah, I'll play defense.'
"I'm in (receiver) Coach Zach Smith's ear a little bit, let him know I'm here. I'm pretty much just waiting. You've got to be patient."
A year ago, it seemed like safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore would have joined Samuel as the three most dangerous Buckeyes with the ball in their hands. We even did an entire podcast based on imaginary position switches based on that fact.
Ohio State's offense needs more of that in 2017.
* Watch the video at the top for a full projection of Ohio State's 2017 two-deep at receiver, H-back, tight end and running back
Maybe it's from McCall. Maybe it's from sophomore receivers Ben Victor and Austin Mack. Maybe incoming freshmen like Jaylen Harris and Trevon Grimes. Or maybe it's from Glover-Williams.
* WR breakdown: Mack's goal to be better than Michael Thomas
For two years, he did his part on special teams, Superman flying down the field. That's the kind of thing coaches notice.
"I really take it to heart and give it my all because I don't want to let my team down," Glover-Williams said. "Coming into college, you come in thinking you're the man and you get that reality check that you're playing against people who all have the same talent you do.
"I came in and I had a couple people in front of me, so I can be patient and wait for my time. It's all about the team at the end of the day, and whatever I can do to help the team I'll do to the best of my abilities."
Now that might be on offense. The first pledge to the 2015 recruiting class backed up his Superman nickname in Ohio Stadium in high school, wearing that shirt to prove to Urban Meyer what kind of competitor he was.
On special teams for two seasons, he showed it some more. In 2017, Superman may take flight with the football in his hands again.
Offensive depth chart Buckeye Talk Podcast
Defensive depth chart Buckeye Talk Podcast
Previous Ohio State 2017 depth chart projections
* Offensive line
* Defensive line
* Linebacker
* Secondary