Ohio State Football: Torrance Gibson Could Be Difference-Maker at Wide Receiver

Torrance Gibson was one of the most coveted high school prospects during the 2015 recruiting cycle, but when it came time to make his collegiate choice, he spurned SEC schools such as Auburn and Tennessee because he wanted to play quarterback for Urban Meyer and Ohio State.

With blazing 4.4 speed and a 6'4", 205-pound frame, a lot of coaches pitched Gibson their vision to play wide receiver. It was a tantalizing thought—with his game-breaking speed and off-the-charts athleticism, he could be a matchup nightmare on the perimeter and especially in the red zone.

He signed with Ohio State, though, because the staff recruited him as a signal-caller, and he reported to fall camp as a part of a deep stable of Buckeyes quarterbacks.

But it only took him one practice to make the move to wide receiver, and it didn't take long for him to showcase his playmaking abilities. That, simply put, is why he made the move. 

“Well, I just want to play,” Gibson said, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. “I don’t want to sit on the bench for a whole year, just wasting a whole school year. It just doesn’t make any sense. Just helping the team out, that’s basically what I am doing. Because if I sat on the bench for a whole year [just to play quarterback], that would be selfish."

Gibson's unselfishness could provide a huge boost for the Buckeyes.

One of Meyer's biggest concerns for the 2015 season was with Ohio State's wide receiver unit, which has to replace Devin Smith, college football's best deep threat a season ago, and Evan Spencer, who was the team's MVP and emotional leader.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

That concern was amplified when the Buckeyes suspended three of their most dangerous perimeter playmakers—Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith—for the season-opening clash with Virginia Tech. The Hokies, of course, forced Ohio State into one of its worst offensive performances last year because they bottled up the Buckeyes receivers so effectively.

Having a deep threat like Devin Smith is what the Buckeyes need for their Week 1 matchup. According to Meyer, Gibson has that potential.

“Torrance is a guy—we still haven't found our ‘Inside Nine’ guy—he's the Devin Smith,” Meyer said, per Ward.

So how is Gibson coming along in fall camp? Is he adjusting seamlessly to the perimeter after spending his high school career catching shotgun snaps instead of down-the-field receptions?

So far, Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith has nothing but good things to say.

"He has skills that most human beings should not have," Zach Smith said, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors. "His size and speed is very, very unique."

That size and speed were on full display during the Buckeyes' first scrimmage of fall camp. Gibson was featured heavily in Ohio State's video highlight of the scrimmage, most notably at the 39-second mark, when he hauled in a long touchdown pass from Cardale Jones, and at the one-minute mark, when he weaved through the defense for a huge play.

As far as Gibson's long-term future, he still envisions himself as a quarterback. But he doesn't see any point of riding the bench while he could be making an impact for the offense this year. And if he does make his way back behind center next season, that's something Zach Smith will be OK with.

"I think he can be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. That's a pretty important position," Zach Smith said, per Seger. "So if that's true, I don't know how you don't do that. But I know this: From what I've seen he can be a ridiculous receiver."

To his credit, Gibson is just taking things one day at a time. 

“If I have a great season, who knows? But it’s not a worry right now," Gibson said, according to Ward. "I just have to take it one day at a time, and I’m working at receiver right now, and I haven’t done any quarterback things since I changed position. I’m just going to focus on playing receiver now."

And with that development, Ohio State's already loaded offense has the potential to be even more dangerous.

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.