Binjimen Victor becomes a red zone threat

COLUMBUS, Ohio- The wide receiver room is full of guys that can run to get into open space. However, according to Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor is the option when it comes to red zone targets.

“He is a cheat code, man,” Mack said. “There is no reason why, with his size, he shouldn’t be making those catches every time.”

Mack is not the only one who thinks this way. Victor has played himself into the role of the main red zone target for quarterback J.T. Barrett and the rest of the Ohio State offense.

As a 6’4” receiver, Victor has the size to be a factor in scoring opportunities. In Tuesday’s Big Ten teleconference, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer compared his jump-ball ability to Buckeye legends Cris Carter and Michael Thomas.

“Getting that type of hype, it’s amazing because those two guys are great,” Victor said. “I look up to them and I watch them all the time, so it’s real good that he said that.”

As one of the main quarterbacks throwing to Thomas in his Ohio State career, as well as his scout team teammate in 2013, Barrett says tBinjihat Victor is making progress to get to that point.

“He is definitely getting there,” Barrett said. “I think, if anything, just making sure, be more physical, you know what I am saying, being that he is a tall guy and Coach Mick is pushing him in the weight room, so making sure he is physical in that aspect, but I think he is coming along well.”

Victor has developed a good rapport with Barrett as of late. In the last three games, he has had eight catches for 136 yards, catching three of his four touchdown passes this season.

Victor is in the process of embracing the role as the deep target in the Buckeye offense.

“That has always been a part of my game,” Victor said. “I just wanted the opportunity to do it. It’s patience and do what I have to do to go get the ball at all times.”

Victor said that Barrett and him worked on the timing of those kinds of red zone targets throughout the spring and summer developing a sense of trust when those kinds of plays are called upon.

However, even if the ball is offline, Barrett trusts Victor to use his size as an advantage to make a play anyway.

“If anything, you could, I guess, not necessarily be as accurate and, with his wingspan being so wide, it helps you out a lot,” Barrett said. “If anything that would be more of a case for him.”

Victor agrees saying that he uses his height and ability to make plays on what he refers to as the 50/50 balls.

Even with all of the success in the past three games, Victor says that there are things in his personal game that he could improve on to become better for his teammates.

“I have a lot to work on,” Victor said. “I’m not where I need to be right now and that is one thing that I am very conscious of and working on. I feel like I can become that and I am working towards that, so if I can make this offense and help my teammates get better at it.”

This is the part that makes Meyer excited. He knows that Victor is nowhere near done developing as a receiving threat and is looking forward to the impact he will make on the Ohio State passing game in the near future.

“It is amazing to say this but we are not even scratching the surface of his ability level,” Meyer said. “He has so much more left and we have not even seen near the ceiling that he has.”