COLUMBUS, Ohio – Even when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, Dontre Wilson's speed keeps defenses off balance.

Wilson is always a threat.

But now that Wilson will be lost for a significant amount of time after breaking his foot and undergoing surgery, Ohio State needs to find new ways to get the most at the H-Back spot.

Of course, the Buckeyes will utilize redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall, who has really come on as one of their biggest offensive players this year, but he won't be the only one Urban Meyer experiments with. Other names Meyer brought up as potential fill-ins are wide receivers Noah Brown and Corey Smith, tight end Nick Vannett and even Evan Spencer.

Let's take a closer look at the options.

• Meyer has referred to Evan Spencer as invaluable, but he sometimes gets forgotten because he isn't one of the Buckeyes' main targets with the football. Wilson's injury could be a creative way for Meyer to change that.

Spencer is one of the best blocking receivers Meyer has seen, and also has made big catches downfield. Meyer said he doesn't feel Spencer gets his fair share of touches, which now could change.

Ohio State wide receiver Evan Spencer hauls in a one-handed touchdown catch against in the Buckeyes' blowout win over Rutgers.

"He's my MVP as far as just all around what we asked him to do," Meyer said of Spencer. "Evan Spencer deserves more than he's getting. He really does. The good thing is he understands the big picture."

• The player who will likely get the load of Wilson's touches is Marshall, simply because he is the most capable of matching Wilson's speed and playmaking ability. Most would even argue that he has been far more effective doing it this season.

A former high school quarterback and five-star prospect, Marshall's versatility is what Ohio State fell in love with during his recruiting process. He already has played H this year, and will likely see his touches increase.

"We lost a fundamental part of our speed with (Wilson's injury), and it's going to be a big loss," offensive tackle Darryl Baldwin said. "Whoever the next guy is – I think it's Jalin – can step in. Whoever it is has to do a great job."

• Sometimes when you recruit at the level Ohio State does, prospects who once were highly-rated get lost in the shuffle. Let's not forget that Brown is a former four-star receiver of Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XIII who was considered one of the top gets in the 2014 recruiting class.

Brown isn't like Wilson, though. A 6-foot-2, 240-pound specimen, the freshman won't be able to match the speed and mismatches Wilson brought to the field. But as J.T. Barrett continues to grow as a passer, adding another big target onto the field could expand the Buckeyes' downfield threat.

Junior tight end Nick Vannett also is an option for Ohio State at H-Back after the Buckeyes lost Dontre Wilson to a broken foot.

"It's not exactly like Dontre, but 240-pound H-back Noah Brown brings a little something to the table," Meyer said. "He's earned some right to play."

• Meyer has raved about Vannett's development, and the Buckeyes' tight end is interchangeable to use at the H-Back spot. Though you'll never see Vannett take a jet sweep, he is a versatile enough to block and slip out for a pass. This could also be a way to get the junior some more play with Jeff Heuerman still on the roster.

• Smith, a junior college transfer who redshirted last year, grabbed Meyer's attention with two tackles on the kickoff team vs. Michigan State. If there's any way to get on the field more, earning it on special teams is the best way.

Though Smith has struggled at times as a receiver this year, Meyer has said some positive things about the junior.