Texas has had its brief spurts of snowy weather, particularly in the last five years. But nothing that compares to the consistent, extended cold of an Ohio winter.
Devin McCuin lived in Texas all his life before he walked through the doors of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus. He grew up in Texas, played his high school football in Jacksonville, Texas and attended his first three years of college at the University of Texas San Antonio, or UTSA.
But there’s no doubt, despite the winter cold – there was a lot of it this year in the city – that he wants to be at Ohio State now.
“It's been really good,” McCuin told Eleven Warriors during a blood drive at Ohio Stadium last week. “This has been a great experience. I've been playing with great players. So that's all I came here for. The weather's a little different in Texas, but it's been a great experience for me.”
Already making waves as he battles to be Ohio State’s third starting wide receiver this spring, McCuin is in Columbus to show he can compete with college football’s best. The senior’s speed and veteran approach are standing out.
“Devin's somebody who was serious during the recruiting process when he was in the portal, told us exactly what he wanted,” Day said. “We told him exactly what this was gonna be, and we're seeing a lot of that happen now. I think he's understanding the terminology, how we do things, the speed of practice. Guys have different habits and different programs, but we think that he has a chance to have a really good year for us.”
McCuin collected 65 receptions for 726 yards and eight touchdowns in his junior year with the Roadrunners, putting his three-year career total up to 1,696 yards. He was one of Ohio State’s earliest additions out of the transfer portal as he sought a high-level school to test the true level of his skill, and he, in kind, matched much of what the Buckeyes were looking for.
Ryan Day and Ohio State wanted an experienced Z receiver to pair with superstar Jeremiah Smith at the X and Brandon Inniss in the slot. The position group as a whole is trying to get more explosive with yards after the catch, too. McCuin is a senior and one of the fastest receivers in the country. He fits both those descriptions.
“Devin, man, great,” new Ohio State wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton said. “What a great kid, and extremely coachable. Wants to be great. But he has elite speed and if you watch his tape, when he gets the ball, he is truly exceptional in terms of accelerating after the catch.”
McCuin’s speed and savvy were on display at Ohio State’s Student Appreciation Day practice on Saturday. He made a litany of catches and showcased his moves afterward, putting a dead leg on a defender to slip free at one point and frequently creating yardage on routes over the middle by turning upfield in short order. He became the latest Buckeye transfer to shed his black stripe after the practice, joining defensive tackle James Smith.
A starting job or any reps McCuin gets will have to be well-earned, however. LSU transfer Kyle Parker shed his black stripe even earlier and brings plenty of speed to the table himself. Five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. is competing for immediate playing time, while fellow freshman Brock Boyd became one of the earliest black stripe removals in Ohio State history as he continues to impress.
“It's competitive, man,” McCuin said. “We got like 10 guys that can go. Yeah, it just builds a sense of awareness. You just got to make that play, or you got to work hard in the weight room, or you can't slack because you can get passed up. But it's good for us. It's good for us, and it's good for the team.”
Competition has never frightened McCuin. It’s still the same game, even if the talent level is higher.
“The players are bigger, stronger, faster,” McCuin said. “But at the end of the day, it's just ball. The same concepts, same, you know what I'm saying? So just going out and playing to the best of my abilities, and go from there.”
“(He’s shown) a veteran approach, somebody who's coming in and prepared every day, but then has to go put it on the field and prove himself,” Day said. “When you come in as a transfer, especially at Ohio State, you have to prove yourself. And that's part of the whole black stripe idea. And it's good, I mean, I've been getting text messages from players, what do I need to do to get my black stripe off? So it's competitive.”
In any case, McCuin is happy to be at Ohio State – winter or otherwise.
“You can tell there's something about this program that makes it special,” McCuin said. “And just walking through the building, you can tell football matters. Like, in the community, it matters. So it just feels good to be a part of something bigger than me. It's been a great experience.”
