After early struggles, Buckeyes embracing humility to key improvement

COLUMBUS — Playing at Ohio State was a dream come true for fifth-year senior Marcus Williamson.

His career has not gone the way he’d thought. He’s dealt with injuries, numerous coaching changes and every other roadblock that college football players have to shuffle through.

The nonstop challenges have made it hard to sometimes stay on the path he set for himself years ago. When Dallas Gant announced his decision to transfer out of the Ohio State program two weeks ago, Williamson and other veterans were likely entertaining similar actions.

“This season didn’t go how I personally envisioned it would,” Williamson told the media on Tuesday

And no one really could blame him had he left. Williamson made the decision to return for another season expecting to be a key cog in the Buckeyes defense. He only played sparingly in the early part of the season, though. The Buckeyes defensive struggles meant another change in coaching dynamics as Matt Barnes and Kerry Coombs juggled responsibility changes.

If Williamson thought about leaving, it’d be forgivable all things considered. But more importantly: If he thought about leaving, he thought again. The defensive back from Westerville was faced with a tough choice — and instead of choosing himself, Williamson chose his Buckeyes teammates.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to put your ego aside,” Williamson said. “Put the distractions aside. You know, the people in your ear, people in the community back home, whatever it may be. Just put your best foot forward and focus on the team.

“That’s what I’ve decided to do.”

To play in a program like Ohio State requires supreme confidence. Players without a strong sense of belief in themselves can’t make it because there are so many good players lined up and down the roster.

Confidence is a good thing, almost always. Sometimes it can be blinding, though — especially in sports. Nobody wants to consider that another player may be a better fit for the team or more able to make an impact. Thinking I’m not good enough is a career killer.

But there’s a difference between that thought and I can help this team in other ways.

Williamson is one of the veterans on the Ohio State roster embracing the latter. Of course he wanted something more for himself. But understanding his value and contributing from a position leadership is probably the most important thing he can do for his young teammates.

“It might be human nature to think: I’m the guy,” Williamson said. “But for a lot of guys it doesn’t go that way. There’s 100-some guys on the team and everybody has to find their role, find their niche, find what they’re different at, find what they’re good at.

“And then you have to find out your limitations and figure out where you fall from there. When you understand that role, I think it just allows you to go that much harder and see how far you can get. That’s what makes this team special. A lot of guys have that mindset.”

The weight of expectations for this season and his Ohio State career are off of Marcus Williamson. It’s visible on game days, especially in the last two weeks. The senior defensive back is having fun and he’s flying around unfettered like he’s not done before.

Ryan Day notices it, too.

“This past week, Marcus had his best week of preparation,” Day said Tuesday. “He even shared with me that he got a lot of distractions out of his head, he cleared a lot of noise out and just gave himself to the team. His energy level was off the charts, his attitude off the charts.

“And then lo and behold, he plays one of his better games. I think it was a great example of when you get focused and dedicate yourself to the team and listen to that noise how it can affect your performance. Hats off to Marcus.”

Football is a game that will at one point or another humble the people who play it. It’s happening to Marcus Williamson and other Buckeyes veterans as their playing time shifts to younger guys. How older players responds when that happens can make or break a team.

After moments of doubt, the lesson being learned by Williamson is turning into a net positive for Ohio State.

“It just comes down to humility,” Williamson said. “Just taking that servant mindset and I think there’s a lot of power in that.

“At the end of the day, you’re only hurting yourself when you try to put yourself ahead of the team. So I’m just taking that servant mindset, that love mindset. I’m going to put my best foot forward and help the team. It’s having just huge dividends for what we’re doing here.”

His Ohio State career hasn’t gone the way he wanted. But Marcus Williamson isn’t done yet.