'Freak Of Nature' Donovan Jackson Tackling New Role For Buckeyes

They say if you want to learn a new language quickly, immersing yourself in the culture is a great way to make it happen. That may be great advice for learning a language, but it’s a terrible way to make a debut at a new position on the football field.

That was the situation Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson found himself in last week at Penn State as he was making his first career start at left tackle.

The Buckeyes had already lost their top two left tackles to injury and the decision was finally made to move Jackson and give him a shot. Unfortunately for Jackson, that shot came on the road, immersed in a raucous stadium against one of the nation’s best speed rushers in Abdul Carter.

And yet it went pretty well. Ohio State schemed up some help for Donovan Jackson, and while Carter got him twice for sacks, the mood on the field after the Buckeyes’ 20-13 win was one of excitement for the way Jackson and the rest of his linemates played.

The Buckeyes held the ball for the final five minutes of the game, running the ball through a Penn State defense that knew the ball was staying on the ground.

By the end of the game, it was clear that Ohio State had found its new offensive line.

Afterward, all eyes were on Donovan Jackson because he may have just saved the Buckeyes’ season.

“Donnie did spectacular,” said Carson Hinzman, who got his first career start at Jackson’s vacated spot at left guard. “Donnie’s a freak of nature. If I could be anyone else, it would be Donovan Jackson. The way he moves, the way he plays, the kind of guy he is on all fronts. He works hard. He does the right things. And I think today he showed it on the field that even though obviously it’s a big transition to go from a phone booth to an island, he did a really good job.”

The Ohio State offensive line didn’t have any procedure penalties or holding penalties in the game. They rushed for 176 yards and established the line of scrimmage throughout the game. And they accomplished all of that despite having to go on a silent count because of the constant noise from the Nittany Lion fans.

On Tuesday, Ohio State starting quarterback Will Howard was asked for his thoughts on the line play, and he couldn’t have been more effusive in his praise.

“I think Donnie moving out to left tackle, for the first time he’s ever played tackle, like, that was unbelievable going against a guy like Abdul Carter, who’s a hell of a player,” Howard said. “And to play as well — it wasn’t perfect — but to play as good as he did, like, I mean, unbelievable.”

On the field after the game, offensive line coach Justin Frye and Jackson’s OSU teammates mobbed him because they all understood the immense task with which he was saddled.

Not only did he answer the call to make the move, but he didn’t hesitate. He played like the veteran he was, even if the experience at left tackle was almost non-existent.

“I think any time you’re making a move like that in a big game and going against a high-end player like Carter is, there’s a lot to process there. But he never flinched at all,” said Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. “He never thought twice about it. He embraced it. I think Justin did a great job of preparing him in one week. Now, he had been getting reps out there in practice, but it’s not the same as preparing to play in a game, especially when you’re on the silent count, especially against a great player like Carter.

“We really did tailor the game the best we could around that. There was a couple third downs, we just had to call it and play it. And we did help him with the cadence that one time. And then Carter got us on the other ones. But I thought Donnie absolutely just fought his tail off and played physical the whole time and wore those guys down and embraced a new role in a tough spot.”

The Buckeyes will once again take this version of the offensive line into action on Saturday at home against Purdue. It might be a lighter load for Jackson, but the role will still be critical. Ohio State has lofty goals and they need a solid left tackle in order to get there.

Based on last week, the possibilities look promising.

“I think he can be a very good tackle,” Day said. “I mean, just watching his athleticism, his length, the way his feet move, I mean, he can play a good tackle for us. Now we’ve got to keep getting him the reps and keep getting more and more of the experience of being out there, and confidence. But he’s showing now that he can play both positions. I think it’s only going to help him.”