COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the fourth of his seven catches against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game, K.J. Hill became Ohio State football’s all-time receptions leader.
With a catch against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, Hill can tie Gary Williams’ program record for consecutive games with a reception at 48. If he does, and if the Buckeyes win, Hill could claim that record for himself as well in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Hill totaled 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Badgers in Indianapolis. While his targets dropped as the pass attempts throughout the offense decreased since last season, Hill has reliably stepped up when quarterback Justin Fields and the Buckeyes need him.
“He’s a guy that could have left early,” receivers coach Brian Hartline said. "He came back and he was a staple. If you pull K.J. Hill out of our room, we are not as talented in that room.
“That says a lot about him. That says a lot about his family. That says a lot about the belief he had in coach Day and the program and where it was going."
While Hill shard slot reps in recent seasons with Paris Campbell, he has dominated those first-team looks this season. Which means whoever takes over for him next season will be stepping into a bigger role than that have previously handled.
Natural candidates include senior H-back C.J. Saunders, a former walk-on turned captain who has pursued a medical hardship waiver for a sixth year of eligibility. Jaelen Gill totaled 51 yards and a touchdown on six receptions this season, though much of that production came on two catches against Rutgers. Jaylen Harris, a junior, has one reception in 2019.
The heralded four-man receiver recruiting class includes Mookie Cooper, a 5-9, 193-pound four-star prospect from Missouri. He combines the speed a solid build OSU looks for in the slot because of the blocking help it expects from its receivers.
However, Hartline also said he is not closing the door to any options, including shifting some players internally. Could that include trying someone like current freshman Jameson Williams, who has impressed with his breakaway speed in sparse opportunities, on the inside?
“Anything on the table,” Hartline said. “In the end you always want your best players on the field. We’ll take a hard look at that as an offense and see where each guy would be most successful.”
Hartline used the example of another outgoing senior — Austin Mack — as to why it can be a mistake to stringently limit players positionally early in their careers. He and Binjimen Victor split the 'X' receiver spot in previous seasons, but now he shares the deep threat 'Z' spot with Chris Olave.
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“I don’t ever like putting handcuffs on anybody and putting them in a box and, and telling them they won’t play one position,” Hartline said. “I feel like these guys coming in are great receivers. They can play any spot on the offense. So we’ll adjust week to week, we’ll adjust year to year — whatever it takes.”
Hill could still reach 200 career receptions and has 2,263 yards and counting going into the semifinals. His editing work on the records books will end after either one or two more games.
He and the other seniors can maintain a presence after they depart.
“His biggest legacy, hopefully, will be how the young guys turn out,” Hartline said. “The guys that you leave behind and how you leave the room is your true legacy.”
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