Buckeyes WR Xavier Johnson Named Block 'O' Jersey Recipient
The Ohio State Buckeyes have selected their fourth-ever Block "O" jersey recipient.
Ohio State wide receiver Xavier Johnson was named the Buckeyes' Block "O" jersey recipient and will wear No. 0 in 2023. To this point, Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021) and Kamryn Babb (2022) are the three to have been given one of the more prestigious honors in the Buckeyes' program.
The Block “O” jersey is awarded annually in honor of the late defensive end Bill Willis, who was an All-American and national champion during his career with the Buckeyes from 1942-44.
His No. 99 was retired in 2007, but the program decided to further honor his legacy by presenting the No. 0 to a player who displays the values he did, including accountability, character and toughness.
Johnson is a former walk-on receiver who joined the Buckeyes in 2018. He was mainly a special teams contributor, returning five kickoffs in his first three years and rushing four times for 17 yards.
However, this past season, Johnson's role expanded to more offensive involvement and that was evident in the Buckeyes' season opener against Notre Dame. Former quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Johnson twice for 34 yards — 24 of which came on a the receiver's first-career touchdown of his career.
Against Indiana, he zigged and zagged his way through the Hoosiers' defense 71 yards to the end zone, which jump-started his end-of-season ground game production.
In the last three games, Johnson ran for 123 of his 146 yards.
Against Georgia in last year's Peach Bowl, Johnson caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, putting the ribbon on his 13-catch, 151-yard, two-touchdown 2022 season.
He graduated in December 2021 with a degree in consumer and family sciences.
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