Overcomers

Evan Spencer's career statistics at Ohio State aren't going to scare anybody. In four seasons, he had 52 catches for 579 yards and seven touchdowns. There are Ohio State receivers who have produced numbers like that in one season. Spencer needed four. Yet, Urban Meyer eventually named him the MVP of a national championship team. That probably tells us something about statistics.

Spencer was a three-year starter, but by his senior season in 2014, Ohio State had plenty of players who were going to get the football before him. You probably remember some of these names: Devin Smith. Michael Thomas. Jalin Marshall. Ezekiel Elliott. Spencer finished that championship season with only 15 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

But Ohio State didn't need Evan Spencer to catch 80 passes. They needed him to do everything else. Receivers coach Zach Smith once explained that Spencer didn't light up the stat sheet because nobody kept statistics for the things he did best. On film, however, Smith called him one of the best blockers he had ever coached and said Ohio State's perimeter running game wouldn't have been nearly as effective without him.

Then came Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Sugar Bowl. Ohio State barely made the cut. The Crimson Tide was ranked #1. Despite showing early that they belonged, Ohio State trailed 21-6 before mounting a comeback. With 19 seconds remaining before halftime, the Buckeyes reached Alabama's 13-yard line. They called a trick play.

Cardale Jones handed the ball to Jalin Marshall. Marshall reversed it to Spencer. And the wide receiver who wasn't known for catching touchdowns suddenly became a quarterback. Spencer floated a pass toward Michael Thomas, who somehow got one foot down in the corner of the end zone. Touchdown. Ohio State trailed only 21-20 at halftime.

But Spencer's biggest contribution may have come later. Ohio State led 34-28 with 3:24 remaining when Elliott broke through the Alabama defense. Spencer was downfield. He blocked two Alabama defenders. I love watching this replay! Two linebackers were removed by a wide receiver! Elliott was gone for 85 yards and a touchdown we all remember like it was yesterday.

Everybody remembers Zeke running "through the heart of the South." But not everybody remembers the guy who cleared traffic for him. And Spencer still wasn't finished. When Alabama scored again and attempted an onside kick, Spencer recovered it. He threw a touchdown, made the block that sprang his teammate to a historic run, then recovered an onside kick. Not a bad night for a guy who caught zero passes.

Ohio State eventually beat Alabama 42-35, then defeated Oregon for the national championship. Later, Meyer made Spencer an official team captain and recognized him for his selfless play. Evan Spencer finished his Ohio State career with 579 receiving yards. That's what the record book says.

Fortunately, football is about more than what the record book measures. Because sometimes the most valuable guy on the field isn't the guy carrying the football. He's the guy making sure somebody else is in position to score.